Perry: joint leader
Veteran American Kenny Perry shot a five-under-par 67 to join Chad Campbell at the top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the Masters.
The 48-year-old from Kentucky had five birdies in a bogey-free round as he mastered difficult, blustery conditions at Augusta.
Perry will play alongside Campbell on Saturday after the Texan carded a second round 70 following his opening 65. The pair are a shot clear of Argentinian Angel Cabrera, who had a second successive 68.
If he can win on Sunday, Perry would be the oldest ever major champion. He is four months older than fellow American Julius Boros, who won the 1968 PGA Championship, and two years older than Jack Nicklaus, the oldest Masters winner (1986).
"I really believe I can win," Perry said. "Will I? I don't know but I'm driving it beautifully. If I keep hitting the fairways like I've been doing it's going to be great."
Former Open champion Todd Hamilton - playing on the last year of his exemption for winning at Troon in 2004 - is two shots further back after a 70. The American has struggled for form for the last four years and missed seven of nine cuts on the PGA Tour so far this season.
Campbell, the 2003 PGA Championship runner-up seeking his first major title, birdied two of his first four holes and added two more at the par five eighth and par four 10th before hitting trouble around Amen Corner.
He made bogeys at the par four 11th and par three 12th before parring the par five 13th. He was two under through the most famous three holes in golf on Thursday.
"It was definitely a little tougher," Campbell said.
Campbell made another bogey at 17 but drained a long putt at 18 to ensure he would not suffer a second consecutive bogey-bogey finish.
"It was moving pretty good. I'm glad it hit the hole. That's what it's there for," Campbell said of his final putt. "A good way to end, good vibes going into the weekend.
"It feels great but we're only halfway there. There's a lot of golf to be played. I like my position. I'm looking forward to the weekend. Hopefully I can keep doing what I'm doing."
Spain's Sergio Garcia is the leading European after draining a 12-foot birdie putt at 18 for a 67. The Players champion is four under par, five off the pace.
Birdie record
American Ryder Cup star Anthony Kim had a Masters record 11 birdies on his way to a best-of-the-day 65 and is alongside Garcia on four under.
Tiger Woods, meanwhile, bogeyed the 18th for the second day running and had to settle for a level par 72 for a two under finish. He had three bogeys and three birdies.
Remarkably, that is the same mark as 1988 champion Sandy Lyle.
Lyle rolled back the years with a spectacular burst of five consecutive birdies from the 13th.
The 51-year-old, who became the first Briton to win the Masters in 1988, launched his run by sinking a 20-footer at the 13th on his way to a two-under-par 70.
"I started making some putts on the back nine and I had something like eight or nine single putts (all day)," the Scottish two-time major champion said.
"Not all long ones but nice ones at the right time. I wasn't hitting the ball that well in terms of knocking the pins out. I only hit about six or seven greens (in regulation) but I missed them in the right spot."
Two-time former champion Phil Mickelson drained a 15-foot birdie putt on 18 for a 68 and at three-under will feel he has every chance of winning a third green jacket.
Open champion Padraig Harrington had a frustrating 73 that included a penalty shot at the par five 15th when his ball moved as he addressed it on the putting surface.
