McIlroy pulls way ahead of Burns, Reed on Masters leaderboard heading into third round

[p]Defying fast and firm conditions at Augusta National, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcilroy-rory/djwanksN/"]McIlroy[/a] fired a seven-under-par 65 in the second round to stand on 12-under-par 132 at the midpoint of the year's first major.[/p][p]World number two McIlroy's closing run included holing out a spectacular 29-yard pitch at the par-four 17th hole and sinking a six-foot birdie putt at the 18th to break the old 36-hole record lead of five shots.[/p][p]The craziest part? He's ranked 90th out of 91 for driving accuracy this tournament so far.[/p][embed guid="368388c7-ba40-425b-9f7f-f7aad25580df" url="https://twitter.com/i/status/2042739241185083594" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"Just an amazing end to the round,"[/b] McIlroy said. [b]"When I was standing on the 12th tee, I didn't imagine I would be six ahead going into the weekend."[/b][/p][p]McIlroy, trying to become only the fourth player to capture back-to-back green jackets, sank seven-foot birdie putts at the par-three 12th and par-five 13th holes to start the epic run.[/p][p][b]"If you just keep your patience and make smart decisions around this golf course, the course will reward you with chances," [/b]McIlroy said.[/p][p]He added another from 10 feet at the par-five 15th and sank a three-foot birdie putt at the par-three 16th. [/p][p]Then came the pitch-in stunner.[/p][embed guid="7a6de4e2-ac4f-4da9-b491-18003de62ac2" url="https://twitter.com/i/status/2042733950834016735" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"I could just see over the crest of the hill, and then I could see everyone start to stand up,"[/b] McIlroy said. [b]"I knew when it came off that I hit it pretty perfectly.[/b][/p][p][b]"That was a bonus that it went in."[/b][/p][p]His impressive approach to six feet at 18 was followed by a clutch putt for his fourth straight birdie and Masters history.[/p][p][b]"This golf course, you can get on runs,"[/b] McIlroy said.[b] "And for me, it's all about staying patient until I feel good enough that I can get on them."[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/reed-patrick/OtRhqCKL/"]Patrick Reed[/a], the 2018 Masters champion, missed a six-foot putt and made bogey at 18 to shoot 69 and share a distant second with fellow American [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/burns-sam/Ya8WURp6/"]Sam Burns[/a] on 138.[/p][p][b]"My irons were pretty solid, and my short game was pretty good,"[/b] Reed said.[/p][embed guid="61425f67-af7c-4298-a6f1-bae52044f8bb" url="https://x.com/TheMasters/status/2042704142867550453?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]England's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rose-justin/rR1fSdat/"]Justin Rose[/a], a three-time Masters runner-up, and compatriot [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fleetwood-tommy/Svq63qoo/"]Tommy Fleetwood[/a], seeking his first major title, shared fourth on 139 with Ireland's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lowry-shane/pAUj2FN5/"]Shane Lowry[/a], the 2019 British Open winner.[/p][p]The only prior defending Masters champions to hold the 36-hole lead the following year were Arnold Palmer, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/woosnam-ian/lzi3Eyto/"]Ian Woosnam[/a], and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/spieth-jordan/p0739Ny4/"]Jordan Spieth[/a].[/p][embed guid="10f2bccf-6ed2-4c4e-8742-b51076f1073c" url="https://x.com/SportsCenter/status/2042659282705908215?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]McIlroy sank a six-foot birdie putt at the par-five second hole to first grab the lead at six-under.[/p][p]He added a three-foot birdie putt at the third hole and sank a 22-footer for birdie at the par-three fourth before taking a bogey at the fifth and another at the 10th after putting his approach in a bunker, setting the stage for a finish for the ages.[/p][p]McIlroy, however, isn't taking a repeat victory for granted despite his historic edge.[/p][p][b]"I know what can happen around here, good and bad, so you don't have to remind me not to get ahead of myself around this place," [/b]McIlroy said. [b]"There's a long way to go. I've got off to an amazing start, but we reset, and everyone goes back on the course tomorrow."[/b][/p][p]Five-stroke Masters leaders after 36 holes included winners [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/scheffler-scottie/bXfIuBYu/"]Scottie Scheffler[/a] in 2022, Jordan Spieth in 2015, Ray Floyd in 1976, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nicklaus-jack/6qVIRQU3/"]Jack Nicklaus[/a] in 1975, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/keiser-brian/trUuSMM4/"]Herman Keiser[/a] in 1946 with Harry Cooper in 1936 settling for second.[/p][p]A pack on 140 included China's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/haotong-li/Asfe84Ed/"]Li Haotong[/a], Americans [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/clark-wyndham/x4NXN7qb/"]Wyndham Clark[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/young-cameron/WAjf7EFq/"]Cameron Young[/a], England's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hatton-tyrrell/nZnQbO2h/"]Tyrrell Hatton[/a], Australian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/day-jason/YFf7Pfqa/"]Jason Day[/a], and Norway's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/reitan-kristoffer/46auSV8f/"]Kristoffer Reitan[/a].[/p][p]World number one Scottie Scheffler, seeking his third Masters victory in five seasons, fired a 74 to stand on 144.[/p][p]Two-time US Open winner [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dechambeau-bryson/vZG7Cn7s/"]Bryson DeChambeau[/a] closed bogey-double bogey to shoot 74 and stand on 150 to miss the cut to the low 50 and ties, which came at 148 and also kept Scotsman [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/macintyre-robert/SGvTWqfP/"]Robert MacIntyre[/a] from the weekend.[/p][p]Spain's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rahm-jon/h41jCwka/"]Jon Rahm[/a] made the cut on the number.[/p][embed guid="9204d3f9-f738-4f6d-b1c6-6f3adb6cabe1" url="https://x.com/espn/status/2042644746833702982?s=20" social-type="twitter" /]