The Masters 2016: Rory McIlroy updated leaderboard after Round 2

A look at where Rory McIlroy sits after Round 2 of The Masters

Despite an up-and-down start, Rory McIlroy caught fire at the just the right time and looks ready to pose a serious challenge to defending champion Jordan Spieth, who has been in control of this year’s Masters from the beginning.

For the second day in a row, McIlroy got to four under, but almost as quickly gave the strokes back as he searches for the elusive green jacket to complete his trophy case of golf’s four majors.

A double bogey at the par-3 4th hole dropped McIlroy back to two under.

Another bogey on the par-4 11th hole left McIlRoy at even par for the tournament, but a mammoth drive and beautiful second shot on the 13th left McIlroy with a tap in putt to get back in red figures. Another birdie on the 15th put McIlroy alone in second place. A wayward tee shot on 18 left him a difficult second shot from the pine needles, but a beautiful up-and-down from the middle of the fairway left McIlroy pumping his fist with his 10-foot par save. McIlroy played the last six holes at three under, and with an excellent chance of playing in the final group on Saturday.

It has been five years since McIlroy’s epic final round collapse, where he held a four shot lead heading into Sunday’s final round. Still leading at the 9th hole turn in 2011, McIlroy dropped six strokes in just three holes to fall out of contention. He finished in a tie for 15th place, 10 strokes behind winner Charl Schwartzel.

Recent history has to be encouraging for McIlroy, however, as he has finished in the top ten in each of his past two Masters, including a solo fourth place finish last year. His -12 score at the 2015 Masters was his best since first playing the tournament in 2009.

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