Danny Willett and Matt Fitzpatrick make the cut at The Masters

Out early on Friday, Fitzpatrick looked to have a nervous wait over whether he would make the cut after posting a 76 to drop to four over for the week.

But conditions failed to improve in Georgia, helping the 21-year-old make the cut at the Masters for the first time in his career and at the second attempt.

As players continued to struggle, Fitzpatrick’s three over par score was enough to earn a tie for 33rd heading into Saturday’s third round.

Difficult winds and quick greens made conditions incredibly tough on a day when the number of players carding under par rounds was well away from even reaching double figures.

It meant consistent, steady play was key and that was largely what Willett managed to produce to stay in contention heading into the weekend.

He repeated his feat from Thursday when he birdied the par four third but gave two shots back on six and seven to drift away from the top five.

Another bogey on 16 saw him card a two over par 74 for his Friday’s work.

Even par was enough to leave him in a tie for eighth overnight, sitting four shots off the lead.

The story of the day at Augusta was the semi-charge of Rory McIlroy, one of only four players to finish under par.

His one under round of 71 was enough to take him into second place, one shot behind leader Jordan Speith.

Spieth vowed to learn from his mistakes after struggling to maintain his lead and his composure on a windswept second day of the Masters.

Spieth turned a two-shot overnight advantage into a five-shot lead with early birdies on Friday, but then four-putted the fifth hole and struggled to a 74 - his worst score in 10 rounds at Augusta National - to finish just a shot ahead of McIlroy.

The defending champion was visibly - and audibly - annoyed at being timed for slow play on the 11th, but crucially saved par from sand on the 18th to become the first player in tournament history to hold the outright lead after six consecutive rounds.

Amateur Bryson DeChambeau looked set to be the leading player of the day, moving ahead of McIlroy into outright second with three holes left to play.

But the pressure told and after bogeying the 16th, he carded a triple bogey seven on the last to drop to even par alongside Willett.