Saturday 8 April 2017 11:20, UK
Rory McIlroy declared himself "right in this tournament" as a second-round 73 left him just five shots off the lead heading into the weekend at the Masters.
McIlroy was again erratic in cool and breezy conditions for the second day running at Augusta National, carding four birdies against five bogeys, including an unlucky five at the last as his arrow-straight approach cannoned off the flagstick and bounded off the green.
The world No 2 bogeyed the first and third, as he did on Thursday, although this time he sandwiched the dropped shots with a birdie at the long second.
But he got under the card for the round with excellent back-to-back birdies at five and six, where he was somewhat fortunate to chip in, although he missed a good chance for another at the eighth and then bogeyed the ninth to turn in 36.
McIlroy again went long at the 12th and failed to get up and down after a solid pitch, and he was unable to take advantage of either of the par-fives before atoning with a superb second at the 17th which he converted to get back to level par for the tournament.
His unlucky break at the last took him back into black numbers, but with overnight leader Charley Hoffman coming back to the field and slipping into a tie at the top with Sergio Garcia, McIlroy is confident of making a big move on Saturday.
"I was disappointed to finish like that, but I'm still within five of the lead going into the weekend with better conditions on the way and I still feel like I'm right in this tournament," he said.
"I made a few bogeys at the start and then a couple of birdies. And it was just one of those days again where you had to grind out pars and pick up birdies when you could.
"I was in position after birdieing 17 on the last to maybe get in at under par for the tournament, and I didn't quite do that, but I'll try to get off to a fast start tomorrow and that will all be forgotten.
"The weather's going to be better, the wind's not going to be as strong, I'm five behind at the minute and there's probably going to be a good few guys that finish ahead of me going into the weekend. So, if I can put together a 67 or a 66, I feel like I'll be right in there for Sunday.
"Even just being in position going into Sunday, I know more than most what can happen on Sundays around here, good and bad. I've shot 66 in the last round and I've shot 80! So, it's just all about getting yourself in position, but I feel like I need something in the 60s tomorrow at least to get myself in there.
"Obviously, it's easier said than done around this golf course, but when you take advantage of the par‑fives and pick up a few others, there's something in the mid-60s out there and it would be a great score to go into Sunday with."
