Back in his vintage form, Tiger Woods roared and set off fireworks to get into contention during the mesmerizing afternoon at the Masters.

 

 

 

 

The four-time Masters champion, only recently written off as a major contender, roared to within one shot of a five-way tie for the lead on an absorbing day two at Augusta. When Woods' birdie putt at the last stayed out the sound of deflation was palpable, but the former world No.1 is in prime position as he chases a 15th major title and first since 2008.

 

 

Ahead of Woods, though, stands a thicket of major champions -- Francesco Molinari, Jason Day, Brooks Koepka, Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen.

 

 

 

 

 

All proven in the heat of battle, and in 2013 Masters winner Scott and past runners-up Day and Oosthuizen loaded with serious Augusta credentials.      

 

 

Bryson DeChambeau, who held the 18-hole lead alongside Koepka, suffered a back-nine implosion. The 25-year-old signed for a 75, which slid him back to three under.

 

 

Old is Gold

 

Bernhard Langer eased inside the cut line at minus one, having added a 72 to Thursday’s 71. The 61-year-old provided a non-clichéd reply when asking whether course and distance specialism was key to his recurring Masters longevity.

 

 

 

 

Round of the day: Schauffele opened with a bogey Friday and played the rest of the golf course 8 under par to post 7-under 65, the low round of the week.

 

 

 

 

Best of the rest: Oosthuizen opened with a birdie and played his first seven holes in 4 under before carding his lone bogey at the par-5 eighth. He circled three more on the back nine – Nos. 12, 13 and 15 – on his way to a tie for the lead.

 

 

 

 

Biggest disappointments: The top 50 and ties and anyone within 10 shots of the lead make the cut at Augusta National. Sixty-five players will stay to play the weekend. Notables to miss the 4-over number include Justin Rose (+4), Danny Willett (+4), Sergio Garcia (+4), Brandt Snedeker (+5), Charl Schwartzel (+5) and Paul Casey (+10).

 

 

 

(With inputs from CNN)