Masters 2025: Rory McIlroy plays way back into contention with second-nine surge Friday

Rory McIlroy needed to get off to a great start in the second round of the 89th Masters.

He was coming off a disastrous, disheartening finish to Round 1. He had the better end of the draw, weather wise.

Friday, he birdied the par-5 second and then ... nothing.

McIlroy parred his next seven holes to turn in 1-under 35, 1 under for the tournament and eight off the lead.

But McIlroy birdied the par-4 10th.

He birdied the par-4 11th.

He got an incredibly fortunate break on the par-3 12th, where his ball bounced hard into the bushes behind the green and kicked into a safe spot, from where he putted from off the green and saved par.

Three straight 3s became four when he hit his second shot off the pine straw to within 10 feet at the par-5 13th. What McIlroy thought might be a water ball turned into an eagle.

That put McIlroy at 5 under par — ahead of where he was when he collapsed late Thursday with double bogeys on Nos. 15 and 17 — and three off the lead.

Following a brilliant par at the 14th (video below), McIlroy hit the green in two at the par-5 15th and two-putted from 90 feet for birdie (three shots better than in Round 1).

He remained at 6 under thanks an up-and-down save after missing the green right at the par-3 16th as well as pars on Nos. 17 and 18.

McIlroy shot 66 to sit two back of leader Justin Rose.