Dustin Johnson Runner-Up at Masters in 2019 -9 J Thomas (US ), D Johnson (US), A Ancer (Mex), C Smith (Aus); -8 P Cantlay (US), S Im (Kor); -7 T Fleetwood (Eng), D Willett (Eng), J Rose (Eng) Selected others: -5 P Mickelson (US), B Koepka (US); -4 R Fowler (US); -3 R McIlroy (NI), B Langer (Ger) Location: Augusta National Date: November 12-15 Coverage: Radio and text commentary online with in-play clips. Daily Highlights on BBC Two – full details here
Dustin Johnson is one of four players leading the Masters at nine under par after setting the clubhouse goal during a hectic day two in Augusta.
Justin Thomas, Abraham Ancer and Cameron Smith are next to the number one in the world because the early starters got low scores due to favorable circumstances.
Tommy Fleetwood and 2016 champion Danny Willett both hit six-under-par 66s to get to seven under with Justin Rose.
Northern Irish Rory McIlroy also shot a 66 as he climbed down three. .
Overnight leader Paul Casey, defending champion Tiger Woods and pre-tournament favorite Bryson DeChambeau are among the late starters who will not complete their rounds at around 10:30 PM GMT.
Johnson missed two tournaments leading up to Augusta after testing positive for Covid-19 before returning to second place in Houston last week.
In search of his first Green Jacket, the 36-year-old has taken his form to the Masters, finishing his opening 65 on Friday morning and carding 70 later in the day.
He had threatened to withdraw because he was leading by three out of 10 under after four but consecutive bogeys halted his progress.
However, the American ended up birdie at the age of 18 to reclaim some of the top spot.
The 44 players who didn't complete the first round on Thursday due to delays caused by an electrical storm faced a quick turnaround before playing their second.
] Momentum was with Johnson as he rolled three consecutive birdies through Amen Corner, only every 14th and dropped one more blow after finding the water on the par-five 15th.
"I felt like I played really well, got a lot of good shots and watched a lot of birdies, but couldn't quite get it down & # 39; & # 39; , said Johnson, delighted to finish with a birdie on the ninth.
Several challengers from Johnson's early lead came and went before the Mexican Ancer and the Australian Smith made their move.
Thomas was one of those who shared first place earlier in the day after hitting the turn with four consecutive birdies.
The world's number three first dropped with a double bogey after dragging a driveway in the pines and then hitting a tree trunk, but made a strong recovery.
] Ancer & # 39; s best finish in a major is tied for 16th place US PGA Championship last year, but he posted six birdies after an opening bogey to lead on his first Masters appearance.
Smith, who finished fifth in Augusta in 2018, produced a rollercoaster round of 68 with six birdies, an eagle and four bogeys.
Co-leader Johnson was in a group with McIlroy, who withstood a scorching last nine on his return this morning but recovered with an impressive bogey-free 66 with six birdies. ]
South Korean prospect Sungjae Im also briefly shared the lead with Johnson, entering the weekend with eight under par.
One of the potential problems Augusta National faces during this unprecedented staging of an Autumn Masters is daylight, with no leeway to continue late into the evening.
The first two days have seen a dual start, from the first and the 10th, to account for the shorter days after the tournament moved due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But a delay on the opening day means that Friday's late starters will not end until the light fades in Georgia and return for their second rounds on Saturday.