Augusta, April 9

Gusting winds created second-round havoc at Augusta National but could not blow Jordan Spieth from the top of the Masters leaderboard on Friday while helping lift Rory McIlroy’s career grand slam bid.

When the dust had settled on a windy day that kept the Georgia pines bending and pin flags waving, defending champion Spieth was still holding top spot — but just barely when a five-shot lead was chopped to a single stroke after an adventurous two-over 74.

McIlroy stormed into contention with a blistering back nine charge and the help of a late Spieth stumble. Northern Irishman McIlroy appeared headed in the wrong direction as he covered the outward nine in one-over but caught fire after the turn, plundering three birdies over his final six holes for a 71, matching the lowest round of the day.

New Zealand’s Danny Lee (74) and American Scott Piercy (72) sit two off the lead with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (72), Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen (74) and American Brandt Snedeker (72) one further back after a wild and woolly day that saw just seven men under par as the year’s first major hit the midway mark.

World No 1 Jason Day’s struggles continued as he grinded out a one-over 73 but the Australian ended the round just five strokes off the pace and still very much in contention. Tom Watson missed the cut.