Augusta, Ga., April 11: The 2026 Masters took a decisive turn at the halfway stage as Rory McIlroy produced a stunning late charge to seize a record-breaking six-shot lead, while Akshay Bhatia suffered a dramatic collapse to miss the halfway cut.

McIlroy delivered the performance of the tournament on Friday, firing a brilliant 7-under 65 that left the field trailing in his wake. Locked in a crowded leader board through much of the round, the Northern Irishman surged ahead with six birdies over his final seven holes. His 36-hole total of 12-under 132 set a new benchmark for the largest halfway lead in Masters history.

The round showcased McIlroy’s experience and composure under pressure. Despite errant tee shots that found trouble, he repeatedly recovered with smart layups and precise short-game execution. With momentum firmly on his side, McIlroy now stands on the brink of another Green Jacket, aiming to join icons such as Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as back-to-back Masters champions.

Trailing in second place are Patrick Reed and Sam Burns, both six shots behind. Reed carded a steady 69 but faltered with a bogey on the final hole, while Burns recovered late in his round, birdieing his last two holes to post a 71 and was 6-under for two rounds.

The cut line drama claimed several notable names, most notably Bhatia, whose promising start unravelled dramatically. After an opening round of 73, the 24-year-old appeared to be building momentum with a strong front nine in round two. However, his challenge fell apart on the back nine, where three double bogeys led to an 8-over stretch. A final-hole double bogey, following a tee shot into the trees, sealed his fate as he missed the cut by two shots.

Meanwhile, Aaron Rai ensured his place for the weekend rounds despite a shaky run of three consecutive bogeys. The Englishman steadied himself with seven straight pars to finish with a 74, leaving him at 1-over and tied for 32nd.

A group at 5-under, including Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood, remain in contention but face a significant deficit. Fleetwood impressed with two eagles during his round of 68, while Rose managed a 69 despite an inconsistent putting display.

Another high-profile exit came in the form of Bryson DeChambeau, whose struggles continued. After opening with a 76, DeChambeau briefly hovered around the cut line before a costly triple bogey on the 18th ended his campaign.

With two rounds remaining, the spotlight is firmly on McIlroy. Holding a commanding advantage and in peak form, he enters the weekend as the clear favourite, while the chasing pack faces an uphill battle to close the gap at Augusta National.