McIlroy takes two shot lead into Saturday; Day on fire

By Peter Auf der Heyde Apr 8, 2011, 22:31 GMT

Augusta, Georgia - Young Northern Irish player Rory McIlroy will take a two-shot lead into Saturday's third round at the Masters being played at the Augusta National Golf Club.

The 21-year-old carded a three-under 69 on the day to stand on 10- under for the tournament - two ahead of Jason Day, who was on fire on Friday, coming within a shot of equalling the course record of 63 with an excellent 64.

McIlroy finally dropped his first shot of the tournament when he bogeyed the par-three 12th, but then immediately went back to 10- under with a birdie on the 13th, before playing out the round with five pars.

The round of the day belonged to the 23-year-old Australian Day, who managed a birdie on the second, seventh and ninth going out and then added another five birdies coming in.

Behind them South Korean KJ Choi stood on seven-under for the tournament after playing a two-under par 70 on the day. He is one- shot ahead of Australian Geoff Ogilvy and Alvaro Quiros.

The Spaniard Quiros had shared the overnight lead with McIlroy, but bogeyed the first and ninth and played a double bogey on the par- three 12th. He managed to pull one back with an excellent putt on the 18th to finish with a one-over 73 for a total of 138.

'I know that if you play a par on this course you will score well, but I am still a bit disappointed as some of the putts I missed were short,' he said.

Behind the two, Tiger Woods was in a group of several players on five-under for the tournament and the four-time champion Woods was clawing his way back into contention on five-under for the tournament after 14 holes.

Woods, who went into the round one-under, managed seven birdies in his opening 14 holes, but also gave away three bogeys.

Pre-tournament favourite Phil Mickelson was on two-under for the tournament at the end of his round.

World number one German Martin Kaymer was amongst of group of stars to miss the cut.

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