Defending champion Jordan Spieth sank a 14-foot birdie putt on the first hole to seize a three-stroke lead in Friday's second round of the Masters while a host of challengers struggled in vain to overtake him. The 22-year-old American, who captured the US Open crown as well as a green jacket last year, matched the low first round by a defending champion with a six-under par 66 to own a two-stroke lead after 18 holes.
Spieth is trying to join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo as the only players to win the Masters two years in a row. The Texan teed off in the second round at Augusta National with no rival nearer than three strokes, including English playing partner Paul Casey, who opened with a par to fall four back.
Spain's Sergio Garcia, seeking his first major title at age 36, sandwiched birdies at two and three between bogeys at the first and fourth but then put his approach to three feet at the par-5 eighth and made the birdie putt to reach four-under, three back of Spieth in second.