Golf: McIlroy's on the hunt but Tiger's back on the prowl

If Rory McIlroy is to win his first Green Jacket here tomorrow morning (NZT), it seems he will also have to repel the resurrection of Tiger Woods.

While the Ulsterman was wonderfully assured in pulling away in the 75th Masters yesterday, it was the former world No 1 who stole the roars. The question now will be whether they will distract the young man from his ever more convincing purpose.

At 10-under, the 21-year-old leads the 23-year-old Jason Day by two shots at the top of leaderboard. But just one shot back is a hugely familiar and imposing figure prowling through those pines. This was a flashback to the old days, to the bold days, to the days when Augusta was the Tiger's natural habit.

He finished fourth last year and yesterday's 66 at the very least reminded us of his love for Augusta and for majors competition.

Woods has enjoyed just one top 10 all year and is in the midst of rebuilding both his life and his swing in the continuing wake of the sex scandal. But now, with just two players above him, redemption beckons. His birdie on the 18th was classic Woods. Into the trees, on to the green with an outrageous approach; 12-footer into the middle of the hole. Now where have we seen that fist pump before?

It is all too easy to become seduced by thoughts of an impending Woods rebirth, but he has been in these positions before in the last 17 fruitless months and has always proved too inconsistent.

In McIlroy there is a front-runner with an inexorable feel to his march. Indeed, with every stride here he has reminded of another young European who brought Augusta to it knees three decades ago. McIlroy has already trumped Seve Ballesteros as the youngest man ever to lead the Masters after the first round - and is backing himself to emulate the great conquistador with a famous wire-to-wire victory.

"I look at everyone in this field and at some point I have beaten them - there is absolutely no reason why I can't do it again," said McIlroy. "I don't really care what anyone else does. I don't need to know. It will be great for the tournament if he [Woods] is up there. But I'm two ahead of Jason and am in a better position."

Confident stuff. But then, it was the tone of his entire day. McIlroy went out determined not to capitulate in this second round, as he did at last year's Open with an 80, but managed rather more than that.

He pulled away, with a 69 of supreme control. Indeed, but for two missed chances on the 17th and 18th McIlroy would have a larger advantage. There were very few wobbles. Birdies on the second, fifth and ninth were surrounded by pars as he advanced into double digits. It took until the 12th, the famed par-three, until McIlroy finally blemished his scorecard. The four, courtesy of a visit to the back bunker, was his first bogey at this Masters.

It did not even qualify as a mini-disaster as every one of his 98 rivals had recorded at least one bogey on the opening day. McIlroy made instant correction with a birdie on the par-five 13th, which should have been an eagle after a sumptuous approach to the shadow of the pin. It was solid from there on in. If McIlroy does allow himself a peek down the leaderboard, it will tell him of the quality in pursuit. K J Choi is in third alongside Woods on seven-under and then a shot back is the 2006 US Open winner, Geoff Ogilvy, and the joint first-round leader Alvaro Quiros, from Spain.

Then on five-under, after a 67 is the world No 2 Lee Westwood. His putter finally obliged, a 20-footer for eagle on the 15th hauling him into contention. After finishing runner-up last year, Westwood knows exactly what it takes and will be interested to see the defending champion, Phil Mickelson, back in a tie for 20th after a scrappy 72 left him on two-under.

Martin Kaymer, the world No 1, missed his cut again at the Masters and also exiting prematurely was the world No 5 Graeme McDowell. Big names have fallen, but bigger names remain. This climax could rival any which have come here before.

Yet however much attention is on Woods or Westwood, Day will again be an interesting partner for McIlroy. Day shot a best-of-the-week 64, coming back in 31 strokes to make up five shots on playing partner McIlroy.

"I didn't even know Jason was scoring so well, until I looked up at the scoreboard on the 15th," said McIlroy. It was that sort of three-ball. Short on age, limitless in talent. There was only 66 years between McIlroy, Day and Rickie Fowler, but with the latter being five-under, they were a collective 23-under for two rounds. Little wonder there has been so much said and written recently about the changing of the guard.

Yet don't rule out the wrinklies. Look at Fred Couples. At 51, he is seven years older than the combined age of the two pacesetters, but there he stands on five-under after a 68. Is it possible that on the 25th anniversary of Jack Nicklaus's record Masters win as a 46-year-old, Augusta is about to witness an even more startling resurrection? Couples finished sixth last year and, despite a bad back, he is not discounting any scenario.

"Could I win? Of course," said Couples. "This is probably the only Tour event I probably can still win. What would it mean to me if I did? It would mean retiring, that's what. Are you kidding? I'd be gone."