Rory McIlroy hot on heels of Jordan Spieth

Defending champion Jordan Spieth clung to a one-stroke lead over Rory McIlroy after Friday’s second round of the Masters, setting up a showcase third-round pairing of history-seeking golf superstars.

Spieth, trying to become only the fourth back-to-back Masters winner, sank a 14-foot par putt at Augusta National’s 18th hole to stay ahead of McIlroy, who would become only the sixth player to complete a career Grand Slam by capturing the green jacket.

Ill winds gusted across Augusta National, the breezy conditions playing havoc with the world’s most skilled shotmakers, who largely scrambled to contain the damage.

“I’m really happy with the round and how I grinded and battled out there,” McIlroy said. “And I’m going to have to do that again tomorrow because it’s going to be windy out there again.”

Spieth struggled to a two-over 74, bogeys at the par-3 16th and 17th stripping a lead that had once been five shots to one with the 22-year-old American on four-under 140.

“It was a mental test. It was a battle,” Spieth said. “Still leading. Can’t complain about that.”

Spieth is trying to join Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only players to win the Masters two years in a row.

“It’s almost a different tournament now,” Spieth said. Four-time major champion McIlroy shot 71, with birdies at the par-5 13th and 15th and par-3 16th charging him to 141 while rivals faded.

“It was very difficult,” McIlroy said. “It was very hard to select a club.”

McIlroy hopes to join the select list that have taken all four major titles at least once — Woods, Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen.

It was the first Masters round since the third in 2007 without a round in the 60s.

But it resulted in world number two Spieth and third-ranked McIlroy — who have combined to win four of the last six majors — playing together in Saturday’s last group and sure to draw the largest crowd.

“Add a lot of excitement and buzz and atmosphere,” McIlroy said.

“But at the same time, I just need to focus on myself.”

South Korean-born New Zealander Danny Lee and American Scott Piercy shared third on two-under 142.

Four-time major winner Ernie Els, who fired the worst score ever recorded on the first hole with a nine in round one, managed a double-bogey six at the first Friday on his way to a 73.

Lahiri makes cut Meanwhile, Anirban Lahiri battled tough weather conditions and somewhat inconsistent breaks in the second round as he made the cut for the weekend.

The Indian ace made the cut at T-47th. Lahiri will play his third round alongside two-time Major winner, Martin Kaymer of Germany, who shot 74-75.