Why Rory McIlroy called himself an ‘idiot’… and everything else that happened on Friday at Augusta

Everything that happened on Friday at Augusta

As the cut loomed and the world’s best players jostled for position, our team in Georgia brings you everything you missed from day 2 at Augusta.

Well, folks, we have ourselves a leaderboard at the 89th Masters!

With defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Grand Slam-chasing Rory McIlroy, and fellow major champs Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Rose, Jason Day and Shane Lowry all in the mix, we have got some weekend ahead of us here at Augusta.

So what happened on Friday? Here are a few bits and bobs you may have missed in all the excitement…

Third times a charm for Rose?

Justin Rose finds himself with the 36-hole lead at Augusta for the third time. In 2004, he carded an 81 on Saturday before going on to finish tied-22nd, while in 2021, the Englishman was overtaken by Hideki Matsuyama and a handful of others to end five back in 7th. 

Normal sport

Strewth, mate

Jason Day was inches away from making Masters history. Had the Aussie’s par putt dropped on 18 he would’ve joined Ed Sneed (1979) as the only players to go bogey free through 36 holes. Still, 35 ain’t bad around here.

Hats off to Hatton

In 28 Masters rounds between 2017 and 2023, Tyrrell Hatton was 45-over par and vocal in his dislike of Augusta now. He was level par last year and is 5-under at the halfway stage this year, despite missing a two-foot putt on 17. Could he be rocking a Green Jacket over his Legion XIII gear come Sunday night?

Ah, golf

Nick Dunlap, who shot one of the worst rounds in Masters history in round one bounced back with a one-under 71 to leave the Masters with his head held high(er than it was on Thursday). A 21-shot swing in little more than 24 hours. Unfortunately, he’s stil DFL.

Dunlap commented that he’s been battling frustration on and off the course, “It’s hard to put everything you have into something and feel like you’re not getting any better.”

Speaking to the media after his second round at Augusta, Dunlap was asked if he considered withdrawing at any point on Thursday. “I would never let myself do that. Never going to quit. I’ve never withdrawn from anything. I’ve never teed it up and not finished. I take pride in that, and that’s always how I’m going to be.”

Four-gone

Cam Young was on the cutline when he reached the 16th tee. Then this happened. 

Schauffele’s cut streak

It has now been exactly three years since Xander Schauffele last missed a cut.

Over the course of 1,095 days and 60 events, Schauffele has maintained an extraordinary level of consistency, and avoided taking an early exit, and secured two major championship victories along the way.

I’m going to look uniq… oh, FFS!

Can only assume Viktor Hovland and Matthieu Pavon recreated the Spiderman GIF in the locker room.

Bryson is one of us

“If I’m really trying to find my golf swing, I can go through a hundred swing thoughts pretty easily,” DeChambeau said after his 68 to sit 7-under. “I’m telling you, like 15 to 20 on a range session, easily. Maybe more sometimes, if I’m really trying to find something. I’ve got a lot going on up in there. You wouldn’t want to be in there.” I really would, Bryson, but maybe just for a day.

Relief for Rors

Rory McIlroy earned the biggest roar of the day with this ludicrous shot at 13 to set up eagle.

Speaking to the media after his round, McIlroy said he wasn’t overly happy with himself when the ball left his club.

“When the ball was in the air, I was like, ‘You idiot! What did you do?’ It’s a pin that even if you do hit it into the hazard, it’s not a routine up-and-down.”

Brooks checks out with a snowman

LIV Golf star Brooks Koepka booked his ticket home when he carded a quadruple-bogey eight on the 18th hole to miss the cut. Koepka is a four-time major champion and has five top-11 Masters finishes, including runner-up in 2019 and 2023.

Stating the obvious

During their Honorary Starters press conference on Thursday, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Wason and Gary Player all backed Rory McIlroy to win the Green Jacket this year.

When McIlroy spoke to the press after shooting a 6-under 66, he had a cheeky dig at his older colleagues…

Rookie Matt’s birdie-fest

Rose continued his masterclass

Justin Rose continued his incredible first-round performance into day two at Augusta National. His first dropped shot came at the 4th hole, but a couple of birdies on his card later in the round and he finished up at eight-under-par, with Bryson DeChambeau in hot pursuit. Maybe his Masters strategy is paying off.

Bryson the machine

There have been some additions to The Masters App for 2025, one of which is the inclusion of practice shot data from the driving range at Augusta. Looking into the stats, it shows Bryson DeChambeau has hit 824 practice shots since Tuesday. That’s more than most of us hit in an entire year!

Silver Cupset

After all the drama of amateur Neal Shipley playing alongside Tiger Woods last year, the Silver Cup will not be handed out this year after all five amateurs in the field missed the cut.

• Justin Hastings (+4)
• Hiroshi Tai (+6)
• Jose Luis Ballester (+X)
• Evan Beck (+9)
• Noah Kent (+11)

Tantalising our tastebuds

Thanks to whoever runs the Masters social media accounts, interrupting their coverage of the tournament to bring us these mouthwatering shots of what’s on offer at Augusta. If you want to know what the food is really like, then editor Rob Jerram has you covered, as he has literally eaten his way through the entire menu, and ranked every item for you.

And these lot are going home…

Find out who missed the cut.