Bubba Watson put in a scintillating back nine at Augusta yesterday to put himself in a commanding position to take a second green jacket.

The 2012 winner scored a superb 68 yesterday thanks to a streak of five consecutive birdies, between the twelfth and sixteenth holes. Watson is now on seven under, three shots clear of his nearest challenger, John Senden.

The Australian Senden carded 68 yesterday to take out-right second on four under.

Closely trailing on three under are the four man grouping of reigning champion Adam Scott, Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn, Sweden’s Jonas Blixt and American Jordan Spieth.

The Irish contingent at Augusta has not fared well.

Rory McIlroy has survived into the weekend by a hair’s breadth, avoiding the cut narrowly after a 77 in Friday’s second round that saw him drift to four over, right on the cut line and well away from contention.

McIlroy came into the event as favourite, as he looked to have recaptured form close to his bet in recent weeks and spoke of his healthy state of mind as he prepared to bury ghosts of his personal Augusta past. A par at the last was needed to save him however and a cold putter on the tricky greens saw him drop four shots between the tenth and thirteenth holes yesterday, rapidly changing his mindset from challenger to survivor.

Darren Clarke has also edged into the weekend on four over, while Graeme McDowell missed the cut on six over.

Other notable names to miss the cut are Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald, Jason Dunfer and Angel Cabrera.