Justin Rose Leads Masters With Stars In Pursuit \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Justin Rose maintained his Masters lead Friday, shooting a steady 71 to stay atop the leaderboard. Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy surged into contention, while Scottie Scheffler hovered close. The leaderboard is packed with contenders as Augusta winds picked up in Round 2.
Quick Looks
- Justin Rose leads the Masters at 8-under after a 1-under 71 in Round 2.
- Rose holds a one-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau and two over Rory McIlroy.
- Rose birdied both par 3s on the back nine to recover from mid-round mistakes.
- McIlroy posted a 66 with a brilliant back nine featuring a 10-foot eagle on 13.
- DeChambeau matched Rose’s overall score until a bogey on 16 set him back.
- Defending champion Scottie Scheffler was two shots back at the turn.
- Jon Rahm holed a clutch 10-foot putt to stay above the cut line at +2.
- Fred Couples (65) and Bernhard Langer (67) aimed to become the oldest to make the cut.
- Brooks Koepka imploded with a quadruple-bogey on 18, finishing with a 75.
- The 36-hole cut sat at 2-over-par, top 50 and ties advancing.
Deep Look
Justin Rose remains the man to beat at Augusta National, holding on to a narrow lead at the halfway mark of the 2024 Masters Tournament. After a scorching opening round, Rose carded a 1-under-par 71 Friday, keeping him at 8-under 136 for the tournament — and just ahead of a growing crowd of elite challengers.
The leaderboard is filled with major champions and household names, including Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, and defending champion Scottie Scheffler. With Augusta’s famous winds picking up late in the day, Rose’s steady performance in tricky conditions put him in prime position heading into the weekend.
Rose Steady Amid Augusta’s Swirling Winds
Rose, who entered the day with a three-shot cushion, knew the challenge would be sustaining that momentum. And while his second round wasn’t as sparkling as Thursday’s opener, it was controlled and efficient.
The Englishman recovered from a couple of loose shots by birdieing both par-3s on the back nine, including a smooth putt on the 12th and a precise strike on the 16th. Those strokes helped offset earlier missteps and kept him just ahead of DeChambeau.
“This is the company I’ve aimed to keep my entire career,” said Rose, referencing the top-tier leaderboard behind him. “I’ve been a top-10 player for over a decade, and it’s good to be back in this mix.”
Rose, who won the 2013 U.S. Open, has held the Masters first-round lead multiple times. This marks the fifth occasion he’s led or co-led after Round 1, though he’s never followed with a better round than 71 in those instances.
McIlroy Roars Back Into Contention
After a disappointing Thursday finish that included two double bogeys in his final four holes, Rory McIlroy was teetering near the cut line. But Friday brought a remarkable turnaround — and perhaps his most complete back nine at Augusta.
He played the front nine cautiously with eight pars and one birdie, before catching fire on the inward stretch. A near-perfect 8-iron to tap-in range on 10 was followed by a similar shot on 11. His defining moment came on 13, where he hit a 4-iron off pine straw that barely cleared Rae’s Creek and led to a 10-foot eagle.
“I had to remind myself I was playing well,” McIlroy said. “It’s easy to let two bad holes change your mindset, but today I stayed patient.”
McIlroy, seeking his first green jacket to complete the career Grand Slam, posted a 66 to sit just two shots behind.
DeChambeau Solid Again, Scheffler Lurking
Bryson DeChambeau, known for his big-hitting style, is off to his best start ever at the Masters. After an opening-round 65, he followed it up with a 68. Despite a bogey on 16, he quickly responded with a birdie to pull back within one.
DeChambeau appears focused and controlled, playing Augusta with more strategy than force — a notable evolution in his game.
Scottie Scheffler, meanwhile, remains ominously close. The defending champion made the turn just two back and is trying to become only the fourth player to win consecutive green jackets.
Veterans, Surprises, and Disappointments
Matt McCarty, making his Masters debut, bounced back from a rough start to post a 68, joining Shane Lowry three shots behind Rose at 5-under. McCarty birdied four straight holes to close the front nine and kept his momentum going.
On the other end of the leaderboard, Brooks Koepka’s round unraveled on 18, where he carded a quadruple-bogey 8 after hooking his drive and three-putting from 12 feet. The 75 left him well outside contention and likely headed home.
Jon Rahm provided drama of a different kind, sinking a crucial 10-foot par putt on 18 to stay at +2 and on the cut line. With 17 pars and just one birdie, Rahm’s gritty 71 could keep his title hopes alive.
Golf legends Fred Couples (65) and Bernhard Langer (67) aimed to become the oldest players to make the Masters cut. Couples previously set the record at age 63 in 2022.
What Lies Ahead
The 36-hole cut was set at 2-over par, with only the top 50 and ties advancing to the weekend. With a star-studded leaderboard and Augusta’s unpredictable conditions, Round 3 promises fireworks.
Rose may lead for now, but with names like Scheffler, McIlroy, and DeChambeau charging — and the course expected to play tougher — the 2024 Masters is far from decided.
As Rose put it, “Sometimes it’s hard to follow a low round with another one. But if you’re playing good golf, you’re playing good golf.” At 44, he’s hoping to channel some Nicklaus magic — the Golden Bear won at age 46 — and keep the dream alive.
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