Rory McIlroy discusses his 2nd round 71 at the Masters.

SOUNDBITE (English): Rory McIlroy

"It's Augusta National, and especially in conditions like this with pin positions the way they were, it was tough and I just needed to stay patient. I picked some birdies off on the back nine thankfully, and great up‑and‑down at the last for par and happy with where I'm at going into Saturday and Sunday."

SOUNDBITE (English): Rory McIlroy(on where this round at Augusta National rates)

"It's up there. I kept my composure and I played the shots when I needed to. So it's only the second day; there's still two days to go. But it's a great round and it's nice to be up there near the lead going into the weekend here instead of on the cut line and having to battle back where I found myself the last couple years. I'm happy with where I'm at."

SOUNDBITE (English): Rory McIlroy(on added pressure to win the Master)

"I don't think it should have any. Look, I'm really trying to block that out. It's another golf tournament I'm trying to win. I'm trying to beat guys on this leaderboard that I've beaten before, so I need to take confidence from that and know that I've been in this position before. Maybe not on this golf course, but I've been in this position before in big tournaments and been able to get the job done. So that's the way I need to approach it. Look, I know it's a very big weekend for me. I know that. But when I'm out there on the golf course, I just have to be completely 100% focus on the task at hand, and if I can do that and stay in the moment and be completely focused over every golf shot I hit from now until Sunday night, then hopefully everything will work out the way I want it to."