Rory McIlroy leads Masters defense

McIlroy reached 12 under par after a brilliant second-round 65, featuring six birdies in his final seven holes.

His historic lead is the largest in the tournament's history at the halfway stage, placing him in a strong position to become the first back-to-back winner since Tiger Woods.

While Shane Lowry and Scottie Scheffler are among the chasing pack, they face a daunting task on 'Moving Day' to close the gap.

Augusta officials are also preparing for the rare possibility of McIlroy presenting himself with the green jacket should he successfully defend his title.