Scottie Scheffler Leads Masters By 3 Strokes After Stellar Second Round

Scottie Scheffler Leads Masters By 3 Strokes After Stellar Second Round...

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler seized control of the Masters Tournament on Friday, firing a bogey-free 66 to take a three-shot lead into the weekend at Augusta National. The 29-year-old Texan, who won his first green jacket in 2022, sits at 10-under par through 36 holes in pursuit of his second major championship.

Scheffler's dominant performance comes amid swirling winds that challenged much of the field on Friday afternoon. His precision iron play and clutch putting separated him from a chasing pack that includes Max Homa (-7) and Bryson DeChambeau (-6). The round featured five birdies, including a 25-foot putt on the iconic 12th hole.

Golf fans and analysts are buzzing about Scheffler's historic consistency - this marks his seventh consecutive round in the 60s at Augusta National. ESPN's broadcast highlighted how his 66 matched the lowest second-round score by a 36-hole leader in Masters history, tying Raymond Floyd (1976) and Jordan Spieth (2015).

The tournament took on added significance Friday after Tiger Woods battled through apparent back pain to make his record 24th consecutive Masters cut. Woods' gritty 72 kept him in contention at 1-over par, though he remains nine shots behind Scheffler heading into Saturday's moving day.

Scheffler's commanding position has sportsbooks adjusting odds dramatically, with DraftKings now listing him as a -150 favorite. A win would make him just the fourth player since 2000 to claim multiple Masters titles before age 30, joining Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson.

Saturday's third-round pairing will see Scheffler tee off at 2:45 PM ET alongside Max Homa. CBS Sports will broadcast coverage beginning at 3 PM ET, with featured group streaming available via Masters.com and the ESPN+ app.