(Photo credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images)

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Justin Rose was one of several players to post strong rounds early in the second round Friday, with defending champ Rory McIlroy on the course and trying to put some distance between himself and his closest pursuers at the Masters.

Rose shot a 3-under-par round of 69 on Friday to take the clubhouse lead at 5 under through 36 holes at Augusta National. The English golfer was one shot ahead of Wyndham Clark, who posted a 68 in the third group out in the morning, and countrymate Tyrrell Hatton, who has the low round of the tournament thus far with his 6-under 66 on Friday.

Hatton began his day at 2 over, but rolled in four birdies on his opening nine to vault himself into contention. He reeled off three more on the back nine to reach 7 under for the day. However, his approach on the 18th hole rolled out to 40 feet. Hatton had to putt at a 90 degree angle to get his putt to 6 feet, only to see his par attempt lip out.

Regardless, the LIV Golf star is very much in the mix after entering the day appearing as though he'd be in for a fight to make the cut. Hatton is the first player since 2020 and just the third in the last 30 years to hit all 18 greens in regulation in a Masters round.

Clark opened his second round with three consecutive birdies on Hole Nos. 2-4.\. After giving a shot back on the 10th hole, Clark birdied the 15th and 16th holes to get to the clubhouse with a 68 and 4 under for the tournament.

He has hit 86% of fairways in the first two rounds -- the field was closer to 70% upon completion of Clark's second round -- and 93% on his second 18.

'This is my best start thus far at Augusta and I'm just really excited to be in this position,' said Clark, whose only other sub-par score in seven previous rounds at the Masters was also a 68 in last year's second round. 'This morning kind of throughout the whole day wasn't as firm as yesterday. I know we went off in the morning, typically it's softer.

'I think as the tournament goes on, I mean, these greens are going to be concrete. Obviously getting really fast without the wind, so it's going to really matter hitting it in the fairway and the angles and being patient.'

McIlroy began the day as the co-leader with Sam Burns at 5 under, and quickly built a three-shot lead with a trio of birdies starting at the par-5 second hole. He gave a shot back with a bogey at No. 5, but still held a two-shot lead over Rose, Australia's Jason Day and Patrick Reed, the latter two of whom were still on the course.

--Derek Harper, Field Level Media