The second round of the Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club saw a thrilling battle for the lead between Justin Rose and Bryson DeChambeau, with players like Rory McIlroy, with an exceptional back nine, Corey Conners, Matt McCarty, Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton, and, of course, the World Number One, Scottie Scheffler, trying to join in. A sensational day of golf in Georgia, with ideal weather in the morning session that the wind slightly complicated in the afternoon, which we review statistically with the best numbers, courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau.
• Justin Rose, at 44 years and 255 days, is the third oldest solo leader after 36 holes of the Masters, only behind Raymond Floyd (47 years, 214 days in 1990) and Sam Snead (44 years, 313 days in 1957). It is the third time Rose has led after the first 36 holes of the tournament. On all three occasions (2004, 2021, and this year), he was the solo leader at the tournament’s halfway point.
• For the tenth time, Justin Rose is the leader or co-leader at the end of a round in the Masters. He is tied with Tiger Woods and Raymond Floyd for fourth place all-time, behind Jack Nicklaus (19), Arnold Palmer (18), and Gary Player (12).
• It is the third time Rose has been the solo leader at the end of the first and second rounds of a Masters, having done so in 2004 and 2021. He is the first player in Masters history to be halfway to a true wire-to-wire three times. Surprisingly, Jack Nicklaus was the solo leader at the end of the first and second rounds of a Masters only once, in 1972.
• There are only three Americans (Bryson DeChambeau, Matt McCarty, and Scottie Scheffler) among the top 10 and tied on the leaderboard after 36 holes. It is the lowest number in Masters history. In 2002, the only Americans among the top 10 and tied on the leaderboard after 36 holes were Tiger Woods (tied fourth), Chris DiMarco (tied ninth), and Phil Mickelson (tied ninth).
• In the last 19 Masters (2006-2024), the eventual champion was no worse than 11th place and tied at the end of the first round. The last final winner who was outside the top 11 and tied at the end of the first round was Tiger Woods in 2005 (tied 33rd).
• Scottie Scheffler shot a bogey-free 68 in the first round but matched his worst career record in the Masters this Friday with five bogeys in the second round.
• Scheffler, currently tied for fifth, has been among the top of the leaderboard at the end of each of the last six rounds of the Masters, dating back to the first round of last year’s tournament.
• Jason Day did not commit a bogey in his first 35 holes this week before making a bogey on the 18th on Friday. He matched Jack Nicklaus (1972) for the second-longest bogey-free streak in the tournament. Ed Sneed holds the record with 40 consecutive bogey-free holes at the start of the 1979 Masters.
• Rory McIlroy recovered from making two double bogeys at the end of the first round to shoot the lowest round of the day this Friday (66 strokes). It is the second time in his Masters career that McIlroy has achieved the best round of the day, having done so in 2022 (64 in the first round).
• Today was McIlroy‘s sixth bogey-free round in his Masters career. He ties with Gene Littler for second place all-time, only behind Jack Nicklaus (eight).
• Only two players have won the Masters with more than one double bogey suffered during the tournament. Craig Stadler made three in 1982, including two in the first round; and Gay Brewer made two in 1967.
• Bryson DeChambeau (68), Xander Schauffele (69), Shane Lowry (68), and Russell Henley (68) were among the 13 players who shot below 70 in the second round. The four are among the players with the most rounds below 70 in majors since the start of last year: DeChambeau (10), Schauffele (10), Lowry (eight), Henley (eight), and Billy Horschel (eight).
• Ten eagles were achieved in the second round on Friday. Looking back to the Masters of 2020, it is only the second time in the last 20 rounds that 10 or more eagles have been recorded in a single round. In 2023, there were 13 eagles in the first round.
• Jon Rahm made the cut on the limit to extend a patriotic streak. At least one Spaniard has made the cut in the Masters every year since 1985.
• The hole 5 has played 69 strokes over par through two rounds, which is the highest over par on the course for the entire week. It is the third time in the last five years that Magnolia has played the most over par through two rounds (also in 2021 and 2023).
• Corey Conners is tied for third place after two rounds, with 68-70 strokes (six under par). He is the third Canadian to be among the top three on the leaderboard after 36 holes of the Masters, joining Stan Leonard (second after 36 in 1959 before finishing tied fourth) and Mike Weir (solo leader in 2003 on his way to winning the Green Jacket).
• In the last 20 Masters (2005-2024), the average position of the final winner on the leaderboard was 3.5. Of the 20 winners, eight had been leaders or co-leaders after 36 holes, while 12 came from behind. Each of the last 13 winners was among the top 10 after 36 holes, with Charl Schwartzel (tied 12th in 2011) as the only exception.
• The average score over two rounds is 73.13, more than a stroke less than last year in the first two rounds (74.25).
