World Number One Scottie Scheffler shared the lead with fellow Americans Bryson DeChambeau and Max Homa heading into the weekend at the Masters Tournament after a testing second day at Augusta National Golf Club.
DeChambeau entered the round with a one-shot lead but a 73 in very windy conditions dropped him to six under where he was joined by Scheffler, who carded a level-par 72, and Homa who signed for a 71.
Nicolai Højgaard was at four under on his Masters debut, one clear of Australian Cameron Davis and American Collin Morikawa and two ahead of Swede Ludvig Åberg, whose 69 was the lowest round of the day.
In the morning, 27 players had returned to finish round one after two-and-a-half hours had been lost to storms and among them was five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods.
The American, who admits he can struggle to walk courses after a host of injuries in recent years, had to play 23 holes but made it through to the weekend for a record-breaking 24th Masters in a row.
Playing partner Homa had previously only broken par twice in 12 rounds at Augusta but he has now done it back-to-back and was quick to credit his patience and mental outlook.
"I've really done everything quite well on the golf course but most proud of what's gone on with our course management and just controlling thoughts and expectation and all that," he said.
"So it's been fun, and I feel like these conditions have helped almost lean into the patience and all the things you hear, the clichés. So I feel like I've done a great job of that and then hit some good shots alongside that."
Scheffler - the 2022 champion - has finished first, first and second in his last three starts and was living up to his billing of favourite coming into this week.
I'm very excited. I get an opportunity to show my skill set and hopefully it's good enough to do something special this weekend - Bryson DeChambeau
"I think Major Championship golf has a tendency to just be very mentally grinding and days like today I think are the extreme of that," he said,
"Just with how much the wind is blowing. It can be so difficult, and you've just got to do your best to relax as much as possible out there and try and execute."
DeChambeau was Low Amateur at the Masters in 2016 but that tie for 21st is his best finish in seven appearances at the year's opening Major Championship.
"I'm playing great golf," he said. "Golf swing is in an awesome place. Putting is in a great place. Chipping is in a great place. Just have to be smart around this place and give myself an opportunity come the back nine on Sunday.
"I'm very excited. I get an opportunity to show my skill set and hopefully it's good enough to do something special this weekend.
"I feel like the game is in a great spot. Mindset is in a solid place. Caddie is keeping me in check. We're joking out there, having fun in some tough conditions."
Homa had five holes of his opening round to complete in the morning and while he picked up shots on the 16th and 17th, he bogeyed the last to sign for a 67.
He made a two-putt gain on the par-five second in round two and then joined the lead from 36 feet on the par-three fourth.
A bogey after coming up short on the 11th then dropped him back to six under and DeChambeau was there after failing to get up and down on the fourth.
A 20-footer on the seventh had DeChambeau back in the solo lead but he soon had company as Scheffler set up a birdie at the second with an exquisite chip.
The weekend will be well earned. #themasters pic.twitter.com/2oul3YVPiH
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2024
DeChambeau bogeyed the 11th but put a brilliant tee-shot to seven feet on the next and when he made the most of the par-five 13th despite playing his third from the 14th fairway, he led by two.
Bogeys on the 14th and last followed, however, and it was left to Scheffler to challenge the leaders.
He bogeyed the fifth and seventh but another smart chip on the eighth and a brilliant second to five feet at the tenth had him back at seven under before he found water at the 13th.
Dane Højgaard had shared the lead at six under but bogeyed the 17th and 18th in a 73, one shot more than Davis and three more than Morikawa.
Åberg made six birdies and three bogeys to sit a shot ahead of English duo Tommy Fleetwood and Danny Willett, South Korean Byeong-hun An, Kiwi Ryan Fox, Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, Australian Cameron Smith and American Cameron Young.
