Shane Lowry says he is happy to be in contention at the halfway stage after carding his first bogey-free Masters round round with yesterday's 69.

The Irishman knows how to go low on the big stage. At the 2024 USPGA Championship, he missed a putt for a major record 61 on Valhalla's final green. That was on moving day, too.

Such preposterously low scores may not be possible at Augusta this evening, but he will need a low one to put the pressure on his friend Rory McIlroy.

Keegan Bradley knocks in a bounce-back birdie on the 17th hole from downtown.

The 39-year-old, who captained the United States at the Ryder Cup last September is still rueing double bogeys on both par-five 13th and 15th holes but that'll make him feel a bit better about things.

Chris Gotterup, who came into the Masters as one of the dark horses to triumph after winning twice earlier this season, eagles the second and then flips a wedge into 14 feet to have a look at a birdie putt on the third.

We're seeing plenty of birdies and eagles out there, but spare a thought for Aaron Rai.

The Englishman - he of the two black gloves - was one-over after 36 holes but he's enduring an Augusta nightmare today.

Six-over through seven, he has just dropped another shot after a visit to the magnolia bushes on the 11th.

Rai has not had a birdie since the eighth hole yesterday.

How many shots is Rory McIlroy ahead by again?

Scottie Scheffler’s streak of 11 consecutive Masters rounds of shooting par or better ended on Friday when he signed for a two-over 74.

But the world number one is taking it out on the course today and has given up the ghost just yet.

He goes close to an eagle at the eighth as he chips on from the front edge of the green and that just leaves him to tidy up for birdie and move into a tie for ninth.

Another former champion along with Scottie Scheffler making up some serious ground is Hideki Matsuyama, who has picked up birdies on the third, fourth and fifth to catapult himself into contention.

Japan's only men's major champion has vaulted up into a tie for fourth place now, still some seven shots behind Rory McIlroy but positioning himself nicely among the chasing pack in case there's any slip-up from the leader.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy speaks to BBC Sport NI's Stephen Watson after building a record 36-hole lead at the Masters with a stunning second-round 65.

Image source, Getty Images

Scottie Scheffler's round is definitely trending in the right direction.

He moves to three under with a birdie on the seventh, zipping in to seven feet after getting a free drop, with his stance impaired by a sprinkler cover.

That moves him up to a tie for 15th and he is now nine shots off the lead.

Image source, Getty Images

Off the back of a runner-up finish at the Players Championship and a win at the Valspar, Matt Fitzpatrick was heavily fancied coming into this week.

He's taken a while to find his groove, but the world number six is making an early move today.

Having already picked up a birdie on the second, he sinks a tramliner for a two on the par-three fourth to move to three under.

More of that, Fitzy!

Watch Rory McIlroy take Augusta National apart on the back nine on Friday.

Easier on Friday than it was on Thursday, with six holes playing under their par - including the par-three 16th thanks to a friendly pin in that front bowl.

Not sure they're as kind today with the flags...

There's only one winner here, right?

Well, maybe not, we've seen big leads disappear before at Augusta, but what do you think?

Vote for your winner and let us know your thoughts using the feedback form...

Here's when the main contenders are teeing off tonight.

• 18:55 Jason Day (Aus), Cameron Young (US)
• 19:06 Li Haotong (Chn), Kristoffer Reitan (Nor)
• 19:17 Wyndham Clark (US), Tyrrell Hatton (Eng)
• 19:28 Shane Lowry (Ire), Tommy Fleetwood (Eng)
• 19:39 Patrick Reed (US), Justin Rose (Eng)
• 19:50 Rory McIlroy (NI), Sam Burns (US)

Image source, The Masters

There are a few more tricky pins today than yesterday - watch out for that stinker on 11 right next to the water, nobody will be taking that one on today surely?

Scottie Scheffler started his round by doing Scottie Scheffler things.

Namely knocking a seven-wood close at the par-five second and then rolling in for eagle from around four feet.

The world number one hasn't been able to add any more birdies to his card since then, with four straight pars, but if he does find some momentum he could end the day right in the mix.

As we ease into Saturday, take a look back at Friday's best shots.

How good has Rory McIlroy been? Well only two players have ever held a larger lead after 36 holes of a men's major championship - that's how good he's been.

Five of the six below all went on to win as well, with only Abe Mitchell failing to convert at the 1920 Open Championship as he actually went on to finish fourth at Royal Cinque Ports.

George Duncan came from a whopping 13 shots back at the halfway stage to win the Claret Jug - although I can't see that happening at Augusta this weekend, can you?

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

It's moving day at the Masters but the big question is can anyone shift Rory McIlroy from off the top of the leaderboard?

The Northern Irishman's superb seven-under 65 on Friday delivered a record six-shot lead after 36 holes and probably had the Cincinnati-based tailors for this tournament starting work on sizing up a second consecutive Green Jacket for the 36-year-old.

However, with some of the world's best players queuing up behind him and with 11 of those within eight shots, the slightest stumble might well throw the first major of the season wide open again.

The sun is shining, the temperature is currently 29°C and the greens look like they are pretty agreeable at present, so expect birdies galore and a fascinating third round at Augusta National.

Time to get this show on the road.