Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth will go head-to-head on Saturday at the Masters Tournament after the four-time Major Championship winner cut the defending champion's lead to one shot at Augusta National.
Spieth came into the second round with a two-shot advantage and extended that to five in the early stages as the bulk of the field struggled with the windy conditions that made it a devilishly difficult day in Georgia.
McIlroy, chasing a career Grand Slam of Major victories, was eight behind after 11 holes as he dropped to two over for the day, but three birdies in his last six holes saw the Northern Irishman sign for a 71 and a three under total with Spieth playing the back nine.
The American came home in 38 with bogeys on the 16th and 17th in a 74, his first ever over par round at this event, but extended his record of holding the outright lead to six straight rounds.
"I've been concentrating on myself out there," said McIlroy. "I've only got the mental capacity to focus on me right now and especially how tough it is out there.
"I'm just focusing on myself, battling and grinding and digging deep when I need to; I think I'm going to have to do that again tomorrow
I've played this golf course well on the weekend the last couple years, and I have to take confidence from that - Rory McIlroy
"I'm trying to beat guys on this leaderboard that I've beaten before, so I need to take confidence from that and know that I've been in this position before. Maybe not on this golf course, but I've been in this position before in big tournaments and been able to get the job done."
Amateur Bryson DeChambeau, playing alongside Spieth, was putting together the round of the day at four under after 15 holes but then dropped four shots in his last three, including a triple-bogey on the 18th, to drop to level par.
Danny Lee and Scott Piercy were at two under, with Søren Kjeldsen, Hideki Matsuyama and Brandt Snedeker the only other players under par a further shot back.
There was then a strong European Tour challenge at level par with Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Sergio Garcia, Shane Lowry and Danny Willett all just four shots off the lead.
World Number One Jason Day was in the group at one over, alongside Bernd Wiesberger, Chris Wood and former champion Bernhard Langer.
McIlroy turned in 37 with a double-bogey on the fourth and when Spieth birdied the first and third, the US Open Championship winner looked like he would blow the field away.
A double-bogey on the fifth halted Spieth's momentum and while he gained a shot back on the eighth, he bogeyed the ninth and tenth to let McIlroy apply the pressure.
The 26 year old recovered from a bogey on the 11th with his three birdies on the 13th, 15th and 16th and, with Spieth heading in the other direction, the stage was set for a dramatic weekend.
"It will be a fun round tomorrow," said Spieth. "We enjoy playing with each other.
We've both played well. We've both played poorly. We just both seem to be on our games right now and obviously really focused on this week with a lot of fantastic players behind us - Jordan Spieth
"There's the potential tomorrow for someone to shoot a few under and move up into the lead from outside the top 25. So I don't think either one of us is focused on each other. I think we're focused on the golf course."
