Augusta (United States) (AFP)

A chaotic go, a controlled return: the Englishman Justin Rose was able to limit the breakage on Friday, in the 2nd round of the Augusta Masters, to keep the lead (-7) by seeing in his rearview mirror approaching Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, two and three shots.

For now, these favorites hold their rank, but this second day was fatal for many top names, starting with world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, who missed the cut.

He who dreamed of a back-to-back, as only Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1990-91) and Tiger Woods (2001-02) did, is the eleventh defending champion of the history of the Major to leave the table after two turns (+5).

And like him, the American Brooks Koepka (No. 11), the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (No. 12), the South Korean Sungjae Im (No. 19) or the Englishman Lee Westwood (No. 20) will not see the weekend.

No more than the Frenchman Victor Perez.

Like the day before, Rose missed her start, committing four bogeys on her first seven holes, barely compensated by a birdie.

But this time there was no eagle to allow him to finally take off and, halfway through, the Austrian Bern Wiesberger even interfered with him in the lead, before finally slipping to 4th place. .

"My finger was pointing a little towards the alarm bell," admitted the reigning Olympic champion.

"So I started not looking at the board anymore and I felt really good on the last nine. I had a solid halfway."

- "Child's dream" -

The 40-year-old experienced golfer, winner of the 2013 US Open and twice second in the Masters (2015 and 2017) has indeed been patient.

Three birdies at 13, 14 and 16 finally allowed him to rebalance his card (72).

"I had a putt on the 18th hole to win my + match play + (duel, note) against the course, but unfortunately, it escaped me", added Rose who could indeed have ended up under par, but wants " keep the same state of mind "for the future, while also ensuring" a better start ".

Rose is suddenly ahead of two unexpected outsiders: Brian Harman, 34 years old and 50th in the world, and Will Zalatoris, 24 years old and 46th in the world, who continues to surprise after his 4th place the day before.

"It's a childhood dream to find myself in the final group of a Major, especially here," said the latter, especially author of three of his five birdies (and a bogey) on the last three holes.

The last to put on the green jacket from his first participation in the Masters was Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

Jordan Spieth, won the tournament for him on his second attempt, in 2015. And in the wake of his victory last weekend at the Texas Open, his first since the 2017 British Open, he increasingly emerges as a serious contender.

- DeChambeau comeback -

On Friday he was very solid, making five birdies against a bogey, to share 4th place (-5) with Australian Marc Leischman, who was already jubilant: "I couldn't be more excited. This is the position in which I wanted to find myself. As long as you're near the top, anything can happen. "

This is what the six pursuers in 6th place must say to each other, three shots behind the leader, including Justin Thomas, who narrowly missed the perfect day, since a bogey at N.18 slightly tarnished his card. after six birdies in the money bag.

The Americans Tony Finau and Cameron Champ, the South-Korean Si-woo Kim who broke his putter on the 15th hole, the Japanese Hideki Matsuyama and the Austrian Bern Wiesberger, appear alongside the world No.2 who can dislodge Dustin from the throne. Johnson if he wins on Sunday.

In ambush, not so far away, are Xander Sc Chaudele (12th, -3), Collin Morikawa (13th, -2) and Bryson DeChambeau, yet adrift on Thursday, but who made a spectacular comeback to 17th place (-1 ), thanks to seven birdies (two bogeys) including three on the last four holes.

"On weekends, anything can happen. If I do like today -5 and still -5 ...", exposed the last winner of the US Open, in clear renewed ambition.

© 2021 AFP