The second round of the 2025 Masters was full of drama as the field came together and contenders started making meaningful moves.

Rory McIlroy responded in spectacular fashion. Following an unsteady first round, he posted a picture-perfect 6-under-par 66. A series of birdies and a stunning eagle on the par-5 13th catapulted him into a tie for third at 6-under total, reminding us all why he’s still seeking that career Grand Slam.

Justin Rose, the leader going into Thursday, remained consistent with a 1-under 71. Though less showy than his first round, he played it safe and held on to a tight lead at 8-under as he entered the weekend.

Bryson DeChambeau powered into solo second with a steady 68, his bold approach again working at Augusta.

Scottie Scheffler, Shane Lowry, Matt McCarty, and Tyrrell Hatton are all sitting close behind at 5-under, keeping the top of the leaderboard tightly packed and primed for drama over the weekend.

On the other hand, a few of the sport’s biggest stars won’t be here long. Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, and Phil Mickelson all failed to make the cut. Bernhard Langer, in what was probably his last Masters, came up just one shot shy of making it through to Saturday.

With tension building and the course to play harder, Round 3 is looking like a heavyweight battle. Buckle up — Augusta’s weekend magic is only just beginning.