The Masters 2022 round two review: Scottie Scheffler opens up five shot lead at Augusta as Shane Lowry heads chasing pack and Tiger Woods makes weekend

The newly-established world No1 shot the lowest score of the day on Friday (five under) as only 14 members of the 89-strong field broke par in tricky conditions caused by gusty winds.

It puts the in-form Texas resident on eight under for the tournament and in pole position to land his first major, with no player blowing such an advantage heading into the weekend at Augusta since 1945.

Nearest challengers Charl Schwartzel (69), Sung-Jae Im (74), Shane Lowry (68) and defending champion Hideki Matsuyama (69) – who are all on three-under after two days – won’t care what the history books show.

Nor will the likes of Tiger Woods, who shot a second-round 74 to sit tied for 19th on one-over-par at the halfway point in Georgia.

But as they and others have ground to make up in tough conditions that show no sign of relenting, Scheffler knows he can perform when the weather adds to the drama at Augusta National – even if his day two heroics took him by surprise.

‘I thought even par was going to be a really good score,’ said Scheffler after a tasty second-round showing that included seven birdies.

‘I was pleased. Really, the only thing that went through my head before Friday’s round was I just wanted to get off to a decent start.

‘I bogeyed, I think, one and three, and then after that I played really good golf.

‘I think my tee shot on seven kind of changed the day for me. I hit a great shot off the tee there and put it out on the fairway, and hit a great shot into the green, and I just kind of got things rolling from there.’

Five birdies, in fact, followed as Scheffler stretched the field at Augusta.

The 25-year-old will now be paired with 2011 Masters champion Schwartzel in the final group (7.50pm BST) when the action resumes today.

But there’s another former Augusta winner that the Ryder Cup star would no doubt love to have by his side as he eyes a famous green jackett – Bernhard Langer.

He added: ‘One of my goals coming into Friday, with the way the wind was, was to try to play this golf course like Bernhard Langer does and just kind of plot your way around.

‘The guy seems to play good every year, and he continues to beat people around this golf course.’

Lowry goes low to head European charge

Teeing off immediately in front of Scheffler and Schwartzel will be 2019 Open champion Lowry in the company of Im (7.40pm BST).

The Irishman went into day two on one-over-par following an opening-day score of 73.

Yet, fast forward 24 hours and Lowry finds himself as the leading European heading into moving day following an impressive four-under 68.

Three of the 35-year-old’s five birdies came on the back nine to make it a round to remember.

But while the Augusta patrons liked what they saw from the world No 35, it seems Lowry didn’t exactly revel in the experience.

‘I didn't enjoy it really much at all,’ confessed Lowry, who knows he’s well placed heading into the weekend.

‘It was so hard out there.

‘Look, it was one of my better rounds of my career, I think.

‘It was quite tricky out there, quite difficult, and I managed to play some good golf and hole some nice putts at the right times.

‘I'm obviously very happy with my score. I'm in a great position going into the weekend.’

Tiger roars back to give patrons what they want

Saturday and Sunday will prove even more special for the Masters patrons with Woods remaining on the guest list.

The 15-time major winner followed up his opening-day 71 by recording a two-over-par 74 on Friday.

That puts him on +1 at the halfway mark and in the company of Kevin Kisner when he returns for day three at 6pm BST.

Woods had to dig deep to ensure he stuck around for the weekend after bogeying four of his first five holes.

And he knows he’ll have to dig even deeper if he’s to catch runaway leader Scheffler over the next two days.

‘it was a good fight,’ said Woods after his second round.

‘I got back in the ball game. But Scottie is running away with it right now.

‘Saturday is going to be tough. It's going to be windy. It's going to be cool. It's going to be the Masters that I think the Masters Committee has been looking forward to for a number of years. We haven't had it like this.‘It's going to be exciting, and it's going to be fun for all of us.’

Leaderboard

1 Scottie Scheffler (-8)

T2 Charl Schwartzel (-3)

T2 Sung-Jae Im (-3)

T2 Shane Lowry (-3)

T2 Hideki Matsuyama (-3)

T6 Harold Varner III (-2)

T6 Dustin Johnson (-2)

T6 Kevin Na (-2)

T6 Cameron Smith (-2)

T10 Corey Connors (-1)

T10 Collin Morikawa (-1)

T10 Will Zalatoris (-1)

T10 Danny Willett (-1)

T10 Justin Thomas (-1)