Augusta, GA – The sun rose over Augusta National on April 11, 2025, casting a golden glow across the manicured fairways and treacherous greens, as the second round of the 89th Masters Tournament unfolded with drama, redemption, and the kind of magic only this hallowed ground can conjure. After a scintillating opening day led by Justin Rose’s 7-under 65, the field faced a course that was firm, fast, and unforgiving, with whispers of redemption and heartbreak hanging in the air.
At the top, Rose, the classy 44-year-old Englishman, stood resolute. His first-round brilliance had given him a three-shot cushion, but day two demanded grit over flash. Rose’s game plan was measured — only five drivers off the tee compared to ten the day prior, a nod to Augusta’s punishing nature. His putter, still warm from Thursday’s heroics, carried him through a workmanlike 1-under 71. A par-save on the 18th, where he coaxed a slippery downhill putt to safety, kept him at 8-under, one stroke clear of the chasing pack.
“It’s nice to be in that mix,” Rose said, when asked about the star-studded leaderboard. But history loomed: only one player since 1980, Jordan Spieth in 2015, had led outright after both rounds one and two and gone on to win. Rose’s lead was real, but fragile.
Nipping at his heels was Bryson DeChambeau, the reigning U.S. Open champion, who carded a 4-under 68 to sit at 7-under.
DeChambeau’s day was a masterclass in short-game wizardry, his wedge play saving par after errant drives and his putter finding the cup when it mattered most. A birdie on the 17th erased a bogey on the 16th, and his hulking presence on the leaderboard signaled a man ready to claim a second major.
“I was hitting it a lot better today,” said DeChambeau, with a grin matching his confidence. “And there’s just a few moments where, like on 10, I kind of got out of whack, and I was able to save this round with my wedges and some huge key putts.
“Getting up-and-down on 10 was one of the better up-and-downs of my life. Hit a great shot in on 9. Just didn’t control the spin like I’d wanted to. Spun that off the green.
“But overall, today was a fantastic day of golf in some testing conditions.”
But the story of the day belonged to Rory McIlroy, whose rollercoaster Masters journey took a thrilling turn. After a devastating finish to round one — double bogeys on 15 and 17 left him even par and seven shots off the lead — McIlroy arrived Friday with fire in his belly.
The Northern Irishman, still chasing the career Grand Slam, unleashed a bogey-free 6-under 66, the day’s low round, vaulting him to 6-under and a tie for third with Canada’s Corey Conners (70).
McIlroy’s back nine was a symphony of precision: three birdies and an eagle in a six-hole span (Nos. 10-15), capped by a par-save on 18 that felt like a victory lap. His iron play sparkled, hitting 14 of 18 greens, and his putter danced, gaining strokes where others faltered.
“I think overall just proud of myself with how I responded today after the finish last night,” said McIlroy. “I just had to remind myself that I played really good golf yesterday, and you know, I wasn’t going to let two — you know, two bad holes sort of dictate the narrative for the rest of the week.
“But yeah, just ultimately, yeah, just proud of how I got back into it today.”
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, battled his own demons. After a bogey-free 68 on Thursday, Friday brought turbulence. Five bogeys, a career high at Augusta, marred his card, including a costly miss on the 7th and a wayward tee shot on 18 that led to another.
Yet Scheffler’s resilience shone through — a chip-in birdie on the 12th and a clutch par-save on 13 kept him at 5-under, tied for fifth with Shane Lowry (68), Tyrrell Hatton (70), and Matt McCarty (68).
“It wasn’t my cleanest day,” Scheffler admitted, “but I’m still right there.” His 1-under 71 left him three back, a dangerous lurker.
The leaderboard was a star-studded affair. Conners, steady as ever, matched McIlroy at 6-under, his quiet consistency a contrast to the fireworks around him.
Viktor Hovland, buoyed by four straight birdies on Nos. 13 through 16, reached 6-under before settling at 4-under after dropping shots on 17 and 18, while Lowry and Hatton, both at 5-under, nursed their own ambitions. Hatton, however, fumed after three-putt bogeys on 16 and 17 dropped him from contention’s doorstep.
“Naturally disappointed. I mean, I’m trying to think how many — I have four dropped shots today and probably three out of the four shouldn’t really have happened,” muttered Hatton, shaking his head.
“Yeah, I mean, 17 is just like ridiculous. Obviously tapping in there and hitting a little mark and goes straight left and lips out left and all of a sudden you look stupid.
“But I don’t really know what to say about that. When you hit a decent putt from a foot, you expect it to go in.”
Max Homa, defying skeptics who bet he’d miss the cut, posted a 2-under 70 to sit at even par, fist-bumping his caddie with weekend plans secured.
Not all stories ended happily. Bernhard Langer, the 67-year-old two-time champion, played his final Masters with grace but missed the cut by one at 3-over, a bogey on 18 sealing his fate. He vowed to linger as a spectator, soaking in Augusta’s aura one last time.
“Yeah, it was a very special last two days for me,” said an emotional Langer. “Even starting off walking to the first tee yesterday, I got a standing ovation and the people really, you know, applauded.
“I almost teared up and almost started crying right there, and I said, Come on, get it together, you’ve got some golf to play.
“It kind of kept going. There were lots of standing ovations throughout the golf course in various spots. Today coming up 18 was mixed emotions because I was still inside the cut line, and even when I made bogey, I wasn’t sure I’m totally out of there or not because I actually thought 3-over would make the cut, as windy as it was today.
“I thought it was harder than yesterday. But it doesn’t look that way.”
Past champions Fred Couples and Phil Mickelson also fell short, their exits a reminder of time’s relentless march.
Jordan Spieth, clinging to the cut line at 1-over, bogeyed 18 to land on 2-over but survived, exhaling as he marked his ball for Saturday. Justin Thomas, meanwhile, electrified the crowd with a chip-in eagle on the 2nd, finishing at 1-under to comfortably make the weekend.
As the Georgia sun dipped below the pines, the cut line settled at 2-over, sparing some and sending others home. Friday at the Masters was a tapestry of redemption and resolve. McIlroy’s rally stirred hearts, DeChambeau’s power loomed large, and Rose’s steady hand held firm (for now). With two rounds left, the 2025 Masters was anyone’s game, and the stage was set for a weekend where legends would be forged or dreams would fade.
2025 Masters Tournament Leaderboard
Top 10 Leaders: Round 2
Pos-Player-Score (Rd 2)
Pos-Player-To Par (Score)
1. Justin Rose -8 (-1)
2. Bryson DeChambeau -7 (-4)
3. Rory McIlroy -6 (-6)
3. Corey Conners -6 (-2)
5. Matt McCarty -5 (-4)
5. Shane Lowry -5 (-4)
5. Tyrrell Hatton -5 (-2)
5. Scottie Scheffler -5 (-1)
9. Rasmus Hojgaard -4 (-5)
9. Viktor Hovland -4 (-3)
9. Jason Day -4 (-2)
Notables: Round 2
12. Hideki Matsuyama -3 (-4)
12. Ludvig Aberg -3 (+1)
12. Patrick Reed -3 (-2)
17. Xander Schauffele -2 (-3)
17. Tommy Fleetwood -2 (-3)
17. Brian Harman -2 (-1)
22. Bubba Watson -1 (E)
26. Justin Thomas E (-1)
26. Wyndham Clark E (-4)
26. Max Homa E (-2)
26. Matt Fitzpatrick E (+1)
40. Jon Rahm +2 (-1)
40. Jordan Spieth +2 (+1)
40. Joaquin Niemann +2 (+2)
Notables: Missed Cut
Russell Henley +3
Dustin Johnson +3
Bernhard Langer +3
Keegan Bradley +3
Tony Finau +4
Sergio Garcia +4
Fred Couples +4
Adam Scott +5
Billy Horschel +5
Phil Mickelson +5
Brooks Koepka +5
Cam Smith +5
Jose Maria Olazabal +7
Will Zalatoris +8
Credits: Getty Images, Masters, X, PGA Tour
