For Rory McIlroy to end this Masters wearing a green jacket, he likely will need to find an uncharacteristic way to win a major, battling from behind, rather than coasting home to victory.
And the good news for McIlroy is that in Friday’s second round he showed exactly the kind of fighting spirit he’ll need to slug it out with Jordan Spieth over the weekend.
On the 18th, McIlroy swatted out from a lie in the pine straw and masterfully saved par and ultimately moved to within a single stroke of Spieth. So, for once in a major, he’ll be breathing down the leader’s neck instead of leading the pack.