Defying fast and firm conditions at Augusta National, McIlroy fired a seven-under-par 65 in the second round to stand on 12-under-par 132 at the midpoint of the year\u2019s first major.<\/p>\n
FOLLOW THE ROUND 3 ACTION LIVE WITH OUR INTERACTIVE LEADERBOARD<\/p>\n
World No.2 McIlroy\u2019s closing run included holing out a spectacular 29-yard pitch at the par-four 17th hole and sinking a six-foot birdie putt at the 18th to break the old 36-hole record lead of five shots.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust an amazing end to the round,\u201d McIlroy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was standing on the 12th tee, I didn\u2019t imagine I would be six ahead going into the weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
McIlroy, trying to become only the fourth player to capture back-to-back green jackets, sank seven-foot birdie putts at the par-three 12th and par-five 13th holes to seize the lead.<\/p>\n
He added another from 10 feet at the par-five 15th and sank a three-foot birdie putt at the par-three 16th.<\/p>\n
Then came the pitch-in stunner and an approach to six feet at 18 followed by the clutch putt for his fourth straight birdie at Masters history.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis golf course, you can get on runs,\u201d McIlroy said. \u201cAnd for me, it\u2019s all about staying patient until I feel good enough that I can get on them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, missed a six-foot putt and made bogey at 18 to shoot 69 and share a distant second with fellow American Sam Burns on 138.<\/p>\n