McIlroy leads, but Day and Woods on fire

By Peter Auf der Heyde Apr 8, 2011, 23:57 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, who carded a three-under 69 on the day to stand on 10-under for the tournament, leads by two from Australian Jason Day, with South Korean KJ Choi and Tiger Woods a shot behind in joint-third.

McIlroy 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.

McIlroy missed some putts in his round, but when asked if he was disappointed with his score, he said he had no reason not to be happy.

'I am two ahead at a Major Championship,' he said. 'You can't be disappointed with that.'

He said he was confident that he could go all the way. 'If I continue playing the way I have, I feel as if I have got a great chance.'

McIlroy, who was born in Holywood in Northern Ireland, said having some of his friends from his local club in Holywood in Augusta was making a huge difference.

'It is a big help having the guys with me this week, especially in the position I am in, because I can switch off. I would rather talk about anything but golf whenever I leave this place.

'It is great to have them there. It is a nice bit of company. It takes your mind off it and lets you get a good night sleep.'

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

Day, who is playing in his first Masters, said that even though he had scored well, he thought experience was important.

'You need the experience on Saturday and Sunday. They are the two big rounds that you obviously need to play well in.'

Day, who played both opening rounds with McIlroy, said he thought McIlroy's round of 65 had prompted him to do well.

'I learnt a lot from Rory's game yesterday,' Day said.

Woods, who went into the round on one-under but bogeyed the first, played five birdies on his back nine for 66, which was the second- best round of the day.

The four-time champion was delighted with his round. 'I am back, I closed the gap and I am right where I need to be,' he said.

Woods and Choi were one shot ahead of Australian Geoff Ogilvy and Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, who was the joint-overnight leader with McIlroy going into the round.

Behind them five players were tied on five-under for the tournament at joint-seventh. Amongst them was 1992 winner Fred Couples, who had an excellent round of four-under 68 for the day.

He said that he enjoyed being competitive at the Masters. 'I don't know when the day that I am not competing but just being here will come. But when it does, then I'll have to figure out why I am still out here playing at Augusta,' he said.

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, which was at one-over.

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