“That was a flawless round of golf”, said the Englishman, who shot a 69 on an increasingly blustery day.
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McIlroy, who needs a green jacket to complete the Grand Slam, played the last six holes in 3 under for a 71 to match the low round of the day.
The world No.3, who had a four-shot lead going into the final round in 2011 before a meltdown, said: “I sort of feel that Augusta owes me something and I have come with that attitude”.
“You need to be so focused and in control of your emotions here”.
“I have two more days to give it everything I have, and that’s what we’ll do, just to try to keep myself right on top”, Spieth said.
It sure did on No. 18 Friday afternoon, as he posted a triple bogey on the final hole to move from three-under par back to even par heading into Saturday.
Gusts of up to 30 miles per hour (48 kph) have been forecast for a third day in a row, something Zimbabwean Price can not recall happening in the 20 Masters he played between 1984 and 2005 when he accumulated four top-six finishes.
It promises to be a fascinating duel in the wind this weekend.
But McIlroy does have some experience coming from behind on the weekend. I made about a 12-footer for birdie. I don’t think I can get wrapped up in that and buy into the Big Three. So I don’t I think either one of us is focused on each other.
After three hours of play, only two players were under par for the day, with Ryder Cup team-mates and playing partners Justin Rose and Jamie Donaldson both one under after three holes. On the 18th hole Friday, he hooked his drive off an ice machine in the concession stands left of the fairway, took a drop near the eighth tee box and saved par.
McIlroy also bogeyed the 11th hole on Friday to briefly trail pacesetter Spieth by eight shots but he stormed back with birdies at the 13th, 15th and 16th as most of his rivals struggled in gusting winds. It was huge to finish with a par. “I’m a bit disappointed right now, fresh off the round”. The greens changed a lot during the round, they dried out and were so hard to handle. The Masters doesn’t really get started until the weekend. Every hole was a grind and emotionally that takes a toll.
Masters rookie Cameron Smith opened his third round with a double bogey and it has been a battle.
Given the conditions – more of the same is expected today – this felt more like everyone against Augusta National than Spieth vs. McIlroy.
Fans dreaming of a Jordan Spieth v Rory McIlroy clash on Sunday will get it a day early, as Spieth stayed in lead at four-under for the sixth consecutive round at the Masters, going back to the first round of 2015 editions.
The way Spieth came back to the field, the Masters is wide open.
And as the swirling wind hit 30mph yesterday, the USPGA champion suffered similar woes. And his flawless opener brought up the possibility he could do so again as he led by two strokes at the end of the first round. I am just trying my best out there.
None of this is to say that Spieth, the defending champion, won’t rebound from his second round woes.
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Woosnam said the course had become too long and his bad back seized up as soon as he started walking the hilly layout. Margins for error are really slim.
