Golf – Masters Update:There will be no Irish interest at the Masters this weekend as Rory McIlroy, Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell all missed the halfway cut at Augusta where Tiger Woods is lurking dangerously close to the pace-setters, England's Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter.
The lead was closely contested by the in-form English pair, who led on eight under par, two ahead of Woods, KJ Choi and Ricky Barnes.
Poulter fired a second consecutive 68 for his share of the lead in another composed round that contained five birdies. This year's WGC - Accenture Matchplay champion's only blemish came with a dropped shot on the final hole.
"I really enjoyed it out there today," said Poulter after his round. "I played very well and this course is a joy to play when you are hitting it well."
"I haven't felt nervous at all this week, just excited to play good golf and the win earlier in the year has obviously helped my confidence.
"The wind is in a different direction compared to yesterday but I still gave myself a lot of birdie chances."
Westwood, the European number one, had opened up a two shot lead on 10 under but an untimely double-bogey six at the 14th brought him level with Poulter once more with four to play.
The 36-year-old enjoyed an early eagle at the par five second and further birdies came at six, seven, 11 and 13 with dropped shots at the fifth and 10th.
Woods carded a second round 70 to be in the clubhouse at six under and was later joined by Choi and Barnes, who shot 71, 70 respectively.
The world number one was pleased to have made progress and like Poulter he agreed the conditions were more difficult. "It was blustery out there and made club selection difficult. It was hard to pick a club at 12 and also at 18," said Woods after his round.
"I played well all day, hit some good shots and holed some great putts. I'm just playing," added the world number one.
McIlroy was first of the Irish trio to take to the course and made a steady start with six straight pars. However, a double-bogey, bogey combination stopped him in his tracks. The 20-year-old failed to make one birdie all day and further dropped shots came at the 14th and 16th.
He eventually signed for a 77 to finish the tournment on seven over 151 and well outside the top 44 and ties or within 10 of the lead that make it into the weekend.
“I’m not enjoying myself, and you can’t enjoy yourself if you are not playing well. I just want to go home and rethink what I am going to do for the next few weeks. I feel like taking a complete break, getting my head showered and my back cleared up,” said a dejected McIlroy.
"I just didn't play well enough this week and obviously it's very disappointing. I haven't been taking advantage of the par fives in recent weeks and I missed a few putts coming home today, but I knew at that stage I wasn't making the cut.
"I'm due to play in the Quail Hollow event in two weeks but we'll see, I might take more time off and give this back time to clear up and maybe get back in time for Wentworth (in May)," added McIlroy.
Harrington has struggled with his short game and by the time the Dubliner reached the turn he was two over on the day, four over for the tournament. He bogeyed the fourth and eighth.
The three time major winner then double-bogeyed the 10th then rallied with back-to-back birdies at 12 ans 13. However, his efforts were summed up with a closing bogey as rounds of 74, 75 left him on five over 149 and tied 54th.
McDowell was looking to turn around a poor opening 75 but every time he made up ground the Portrush pro gave shots back to the course. In a roller-coaster round containing four birdies, he also had two double-bogeys and two further bogeys and eventually had to settle for a 74 to leave the 30-year-old on the same mark as Harrington.
Overnight leader Fred Couples dropped back to three under after a disappointing 75 that showed four bogeys in his last five holes.