Rory McIlroy nicely positioned at the Masters

Rory McIlroy reacts to a putt on the 18th green during his round of 71. Picture: Getty Images

So far, so good. That's the halfway verdict on Rory McIlroy in his fourth attempt to become just the sixth player to complete golf's career Grand Slam. His immediate reaction after finishing the second round was mild disappointment. That was caused by him being unable to convert good birdie opportunities at both the 17th and 18th. Given time, though, he will know it was another good day's work at Augusta National in the event's 82nd staging.

On a day of survival – a wind swirling through the tall pine trees made scoring extremely difficult – McIlroy backed up his opening 69 with a 71 to sit on four-under. That’s the best he’s managed over the first two days here since 2012 – the year after he suffered a last-day capitulation when he had one arm in a Green Jacket. “Obviously a nice position going into the weekend,” admitted McIlroy after setting the clubhouse target.

That was matched in the very next group by Jordan Spieth. He’d started out with a two-shot lead after an opening 66. It was the ninth time in 17 rounds the Texan had led here. This one quickly disappeared. He started 6-6 to drop three shots straight away, a badly pushed 3-wood causing the damage at the par-4 first.

Spieth, pictured, was back to two-under after a bogey at the seventh before fighting back on the inward half. Birdies at the 13th and 15th repaired some of the earlier damage as he carded a 74. “Two bad swings caused two bad drives,” he said of that stuttering start. “After yesterday, I felt I had a better round in me than a couple over. But it was a pretty good fightback on the back nine.”

McIlroy has taken time to get over those final-round scars from seven years ago. In truth, the 28-year-old hasn’t been back in the hunt in the season’s opening major since then. He is now, though, and his start could be ominous. On the previous occasions McIlroy has been in the top five in majors after the opening round, he’s gone on to win.

He said afterwards that he wasn’t aware of that impressive statistic. He does know, though, what it takes to go on and finish off the job from this position. “I have always felt comfortable up and around the lead,” he said. “It’s something I’m familiar with and I know how to deal with it.”