Inspired McIlroy shows mettle

RORY McILROY may not have been the fluent, low-scoring golfer he was in the first round at Augusta National last night but he showed some other, equally admirable traits as he set about consolidating his lead atop the Masters leaderboard.

A second-round 69 kept him on top, two clear of Australia’s Jason Day, with the bulk of the field in the clubhouse for the second night in a row and set fair for a weekend that could bring his maiden major.

McIlroy teed off for his second round last night not only with the aim of holding onto the lead he had shared overnight with Alvaro Quiros of Spain after a seven-under-par 65 but, with questions about his St Andrews experience at the Open last July still ringing in his ears from Thursday night, he was also under pressure to show he had learned from his mistakes.