Defending champ Jordan Spieth got his quest for a second straight Green Jacket off to a strong start in the opening session. And if he could hold onto first place at the end of Day Two, he would set a tournament record by leading for six consecutive rounds, dating back to last year.
Spieth starts the session well, but then misses this bogey putt on the fifth green. He double bogeys the hole.
McIlroy then looks to chip away at his two-stroke lead with efforts like this birdie at the third hole.
US amateur champ Bryson DeChambeau working on a strong surge up the leaderboard as he tees off at 12, and the ball comes down in position for the fifth of his six birdies. But he's one shot off the lead when his tee shot at 18 goes out of bounds. He triple bogeys the hole to fall four strokes back.
Danny Lee stays in the hunt with this birdie putt on the 16th green. The New Zealander is tied for third place, at two under par.
Right there with him is Scott Piercy. This is his birdie putt at the 13th hole. It's a perfect read of the curve, and the 37 year old is rightfully pleased with that effort.
McIlroy continues to figure out all the angles as well. The Northern Irishman was 7-shots off the pace at one point, but got three birds on the back nine, including this on 16. The World Number 3 goes on to wrap up the afternoon alone in second, at minus-three.
Meanwhile Spieth is determined to close on a high note as he sinks this par putt at 18. That helps him shake off bogeys at 16 and 17. He leads McIlroy by one, heading into Moving Day.
So as Spieth alluded to, he and Rory will be paired together on Saturday -- with the defending champ holding a 1-shot lead. Piercy and Lee are two off the pace. DeChambeau is at even par with Sergio Garcia and five others. Two-time champ Bubba Watson was the last man to make the cut. Missing the weekend will be the likes of three-time winner Phil Mickelson, World Number 5 Rickie Fowler, and Chinese teeneager Jin Cheng at plus-13, and the 18-year-old was able to catch up with our Jonas Gilbart to discuss his experience at Augusta.