Spieth sets record pace at Augusta

Augusta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) - Jordan Spieth put together two magical rounds at Augusta National, posting 15 birdies against a lone bogey en route to setting the 36-hole Masters scoring record.

Spieth fired a bogey-free, 6-under 66 in the second round Friday to finish 36 holes at 14-under-par 130.

With his total of 130, the 21-year-old Texan broke Raymond Floyd's Masters record of 131. Floyd set that mark in 1976.

Spieth also matched the 36-hole major championship scoring record. Nick Faldo (1992, Muirfield) and Brandt Snedeker (2012, Royal Lytham & St. Annes) posted 130 at the Open Championship, while Martin Kaymer went 65-65 last year at Pinehurst to match that mark at the U.S. Open.

"Last year, and the momentum from the last few weeks. I've been kind of on my game, feeling really good about the way I've been striking the ball coming to a place that I love, that everybody loves," said Spieth when asked about his runner-up finish last year and the confidence he has right now after top-2 finishes his last three starts.

"So, it's special to be here. It's special just to be in the tournament, let alone out front."

Charley Hoffman posted a 4-under 68 to end 36 holes at minus-9, where he is alone in second place.

Dustin Johnson carded a Masters record three eagles in the second round. That propelled him to a 5-under 67. Johnson moved into a share of third place at 7- under-par 137. He was joined there by 2013 U.S. Open champ Justin Rose (70) and Paul Casey (68).

Phil Mickelson, a three-time Masters champion, birdied four of the last eight holes for a 4-under 68. He moved into sixth place at minus-6, while four-time major champion Ernie Els managed an even-par 72. He was one back at minus-5.

Ryan Moore and Kevin Na both fired 66s to match Spieth for the low round of day. Moore and Na are tied for eighth at 4-under-par 140 with Bill Haas (71) and Kevin Streelman (70).

Former Masters champions Angel Cabrera (69), Mark O'Meara (68), Adam Scott (69) and Charl Schwartzel (70) are among seven players at minus-3.

Defending champion Bubba Watson posted his second straight 71. Among the seven players tied with Watson in 19th at 2-under 142 were four-time Masters champ Tiger Woods and world No. 1 Rory McIlroy.

Woods carded a 3-under 69 with four birdies and a bogey. That was his first round in the 60s at the Masters since the final round in 2011.

"It was a solid day, I gave myself plenty of looks out there. Again, I struggled with the pace of the greens, being a little slower than I thought they would be," said Woods.

When asked about Spieth's lead, Woods stated, "I've been there before, but also then again, there's a pretty big separation right now between first and third. I didn't have that in 1997, it was a little more bunched. But, he's played beautifully. It's just a matter of continuing that."

McIlroy, the Open Champion and PGA Championship winner, rallied for a 1-under 71 after coming home in 5-under par. The Ulsterman had two birdies, three bogeys and a double-bogey on the opening nine.

"Wasteful front nine. I'm proud of myself to shoot 5-under on the back, it was a good effort," McIlroy stated.

Spieth, who led by three after the first round, got his round going with an up-and-down birdie at the par-5 second. After a pair of pars, Spieth rolled in an 18-footer for birdie on the fifth to move to 10-under par.

At the par-5 eighth, Spieth found sand off the tee and could only blast his second shot 30 yards down the fairway. Not to worry, he stuffed his third within three feet and kicked that in for birdie.

Spieth converted another 18-foot birdie effort at the 10th. He parred two in a row before chipping his third at the par-5 13th to eight feet.

He drained that for birdie. Spieth laid up with his third at the par-5 15th, then dropped his third shot eight feet from the hole. Spieth's birdie try found the bottom of the cup as he moved to 14-under.

After pars at 16 and 17, Spieth knocked his approach at the 18th within seven feet, but his putt for birdie and the 36-hole major championship scoring record slid by the left edge.

"It is very important, mostly because you want to see a lot of putts go in leading into it. I like playing the week before a major championship, especially Augusta, because if I can see some birdie putts go in, maybe get myself in contention makes that start on Thursday just a little bit easier for me. That's what's really helped," said Spieth when asked about playing the last two weeks

Spieth's total of 130 was also a personal-best for the first two rounds of any tournament. His low opening 36 holes had been 131, which he posted at the 2013 Wyndham Championship.

The last seven Masters winners opened with a round in the 60s and the last nine champions have been in the top-10 after round one, but only 15 of the 78 first-round leaders have won the Masters, and the last to do so was Trevor Immelman in 2008.

Hoffman birdied the second and fifth, both for the second day in a row, to move to 7-under. The three-time PGA Tour winner jumped within four of Spieth thanks to three straight birdies from the 12th.

After three straight pars, Hoffman's drive at 18 found the right trees. His second missed the green to the left and he chipped to 34 feet. Hoffman's par putt missed on the left and he tapped in for bogey to end five behind Spieth.

"When you see Jordan at 14-under, you know you still need to go," Hoffman stated. "I hit a good shot into 16 trying to make a birdie there, but unfortunately misread the putt. Hit a pretty good tee shot off 17, but just barely caught a tree. I was trying to hit a little fade down there, and was able to get up and down for par, and 18 I just over cut it a little. Thought I hit a good chip ... but I'm happy with how I played."

NOTES: Spieth's 5-stroke lead matched Herman Keiser (1946), Jack Nicklaus (1975) and Raymond Floyd (1976) for the largest 36-hole lead in tournament history ... Spieth had the second-round lead on three previous occasions on the PGA Tour, but failed to hold any of the three ... In the 78 Masters tournaments, 29 second-round leaders have gone on to win, but that has happened only three times since 2000 ... The cut fell at 2-over-par 146 with 55 players making it to the weekend ... Among those that missed the cut were Kaymer, Luke Donald, 2003 U.S. Open champ Jim Furyk, two-time Masters winner Bernhard Langer, J.B. Holmes, Brandt Snedeker, reigning FedExCup champion Billy Horschel and three-time major champion Padraig Harrington along with former Masters winners Trevor Immelman, Sandy Lyle, Jose Maria Olazabal, Tom Watson, Mike Weir, Fred Couples and Ben Crenshaw.