Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth set for third-round Masters showdown after day two drama

Rory McIlroy closed the gap on Masters champion Jordan Spieth on Friday night to set up a third-round showdown between the rivals at Augusta National.

Ireland's Shane Lowry reacts after teeing off on the 12th hole during Round 2 of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club. Photo: DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

Defending champion and world number two Spieth carded his first over-par round at the Masters with a two-over-par 74 that cut his first-round lead from two strokes to one at four under as McIlroy, the world number three, improved from two under to three under thanks to a second-round 71.

A shot behind on two under lies New Zealand's Danny Lee and American Scott Piercy while Soren Kjeldsen, Brandt Snedeker and Hideki Matsuyama are tied for fifth on one under par with Ireland's Shane Lowry part of a large group on level par.