Overview
- McIlroy, following Friday's 65, moved to 12 under par and took a six-shot lead over Sam Burns and Patrick Reed, the largest halfway margin in Masters history.
- The defending champion caught fire on the back nine with birdies on six of his last seven holes on Augusta National's fast, firm greens.
- Burns and Reed are closest at six under, with Justin Rose next at five under after a second-round 69.
- Several big names faltered, as World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler shot 74 to slide to a tie for 24th and Bryson DeChambeau missed the cut after rounds of 76 and 74.
- A win would make McIlroy only the fourth player to defend a Masters title, in a year with no German entrants and with Tiger Woods not competing as he undergoes treatment after a car accident.