Bubba Watson continued his impressive bid for a second Masters title in three years on Friday as Thomas Bjorn became Europe’s leading contender for a first victory since 1999.
Watson was the only player in the 97-strong field to card a bogey-free round on a testing opening day at Augusta National, the left-hander’s 69 containing three birdies and 15 pars.
And although the flamboyant world number 12 finally dropped a shot on the ninth hole of his second round, birdies on the seventh, 12th, 13th and 14th took the 2012 champion into the lead on six under par.
Kevin Stadler, KJ Choi and overnight leader Bill Haas were all four under, but with the wind strengthening Bjorn was delighted to be safely in the clubhouse on three under.
“I’m going to hit some balls for 20 minutes and then go home and put my feet up,” Bjorn said after a 68 which featured four birdies in his last five holes.
“It was a good day. I played well all the way through and felt comfortable on the golf course today. I hit two great shots into 13 and walked off with a par and after that decided I needed to be more aggressive.
“I took the shots on at 14 and 16 and they paid off and it was nice to walk up and tap it in for a birdie on 18.”
Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher was also delighted with his second round, a 72 leaving him one under and guaranteed to make the halfway cut on his Masters debut – something his uncle Bernard, the former Ryder Cup captain, was unable to do in 1970.
“I’m delighted to still be in red numbers to be honest,” Gallacher said. “It was a bit tricky, the wind is a bit up and the greens are firming up.
“It’s a very strategic course. I think everybody back home knows how to play it, it’s just a case of trying to do it that’s the hard part. Generally I would say if I missed a green or anything like that, you have to be happy with bogey.”