US Masters Update

14-time major winner Tiger Woods returned to form on Friday with a second round 66 that puts him bang in contention for a fifth Green Jacket. Rory McIlroy remains out in front on -10 after firing a rock solid 69 that could have been even better had a few putts dropped. The 21-year-old is now just 10/3 to claim a maiden major and the bookies think it could be a two horse race between him and the former world number one.

Woods, priced as long as 40/1 at one point on Friday, charged home in just 31 shots to sit at -7 going into the weekend, with his best price for victory now just 7/2 with sportingbet. Lee Westwood was another big name to make a move through the pack with a 67 that puts him at -5 and 12/1. Two other Englishmen to fare well were Luke Donald (22/1) and Ross Fisher (66/1) who both moved to -4.

McIlroy’s playing partner Jason Day shot the low round of the week, 64, to move into outright second at -8; the young Australian is 14/1 to take the top prize. KJ Choi continued to make steady progress with a 70 that puts him -7 and backable at 14/1. Fellow South Korean Y E Yang again finished weakly, having scored well initially, to end on -5 and drift out to 40/1.

It was a disappointing day at the office for pre-tournament favourite Phil Mickelson (28/1) who stagnated at -2 and therefore lost ground on the leaders. He will need something special on Saturday to keep his hopes of retaining the Green Jacket alive. However, fellow American Fred Couples rolled back the years once again to card a fabulous 68 that sees him at -5. The 51-year-old 1992 champion is 70/1 to triumph this week.