American trio Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Max Homa share the lead while Tiger Woods made a record 24th consecutive halfway cut at the Masters.
Homa’s 71 was one of only eight under par rounds on a blustery day two at Augusta as he improved to six under.
Round one leader DeChambeau shot a 73, while Scheffler scrambled a 72.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Danny Willett are five back at one under, but Rory McIlroy’s challenge faded with a 77 that leaves him at four over.
Willett had been four under on the 18th tee but a wayward drive and taking two shots to get out of a greenside bunker led to a triple-bogey seven.
Defending champion Jon Rahm conceded he had been “fighting all day” as he signed for a 76 and squeezed into the weekend on five over, one shot inside the cut mark.
Woods, who carved out a 72 to reach halfway on one over, insisted after his round that “anyone who makesAthe weekend has a chance”.
It was a tough day for all the players, with strong and gusting winds playing havoc throughout and contributing to glacially slow play, with balls moving on greens and sand being blown from bunkers.
The only player to shoot in the 60s was Masters debutant Ludvig Aberg whose three-under 69 saw him surge into the top seven on two under.
McIlroy, Scheffler and Xander Schauffele were one of the last groups to finish and took six hours and two minutes to complete their 18 holes.
Danish debutant Nicolai Hojgaard is two off the lead after mixing four birdies with five bogeys in his 73. He is one ahead of two-time major winner Collin Morikawa and Australian Cameron Davis.
