Rory McIlroy has reasons to be fearful ahead of Friday's second round of the 78th US Masters at Augusta National. McIlroy was satisfied with an opening 71 which left him just three shots off the lead held by American Bill Haas and two adrift of defending champion Adam Scott, Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen. But the tournament favourite is anticipating a tough course to get even tougher by the time he resumed his bid for a third major title in the final group of the day at 1359 local time.
"It was a good day at the office, anything in red figures was a good effort out there," said McIlroy, whose best finish in five previous Masters is a tie for 15th in 2011, when he led by four going into the final round but collapsed to a closing 80. "When I saw the pin positions in the morning I thought they didn't want people to get too many under par. "The set up was much more difficult than it has been in the past. Going out Friday afternoon the greens are going to be firmer. I wouldn't mind if they were a little softer. They're fast already. By Sunday they're going to be pretty dicey."
Graeme McDowell's level par while Darren Clarke's 2 over.
