Rory McIlroy shoots a 6-under 66, climbs Masters leaderboard - ESPN

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Second-round leader Justin Rose was playing the 18th hole Friday afternoon at the Masters when the white analog Augusta National scoreboard caught the patrons attention.

«Rory's coming back on the board!»

As the sign reading «McIlroy» was inserted back into place, the red numbers that followed told the story: Rory McIlroy had eagled the par-5 13th hole after making birdies on the 2nd, 10th and 11th holes. He had started the round at even par following two shocking double bogeys in his last four holes during Thursday's round. Suddenly, he was 5-under and back in contention.

«I was so frustrated last night because I played so well,» McIlroy said Friday. «I'm proud of myself with how I responded after the finish last night.»

McIlroy's final birdie of the day, which pushed him to 6-under and placed him just two back of Rose heading into the weekend, came on the 15th hole — the same hole that, on Thursday, had been his undoing. After hitting it over the green with his second shot, McIlroy chipped it into the water and proceeded to make a double bogey. He compounded his mistake by carding another double on 17 and his opening round of 72 was the seventh straight time he failed to break 70 on Thursday at the Masters.

On Friday, McIlroy hit yet another perfect drive on the 15th and this time, his long approach landed on the green and barely stayed on the surface. The putt for eagle was left short, but McIlroy was able to make the birdie and finished with three straight pars for a round of 66, including a 31 on the second nine — tied for his best score on that stretch.

«I had to remind myself that I played really good golf yesterday,» McIlroy said. «I wasn't going to let two bad holes dictate the narrative for the