Masters 2012: Players Who Will Use Second-Day Momentum to Finish Strong

Day No. 2 of the Masters Tournament is still far from over, but there has already been a lot of movement in the middle of the leaderboard.

Here's a look at some of the quickest risers and who will use today's momentum to continue to rise during the weekend.

Rory McIlroy

McIlroy started the 2012 Masters pretty much the exact opposite way he wanted to as he double-bogied hole No. 1.

Ouch.

He managed to finish his first round with a one-under 71, but it was some inconsistent play that saw him hit five birdies, two bogies and that one double-bogie. 

McIlroy seems to be calming down, however. Through 10 holes today, he has birdied three and bogied just one. That stellar play has moved him up nine spots all the way to a tie for fifth.

If he continues to play with the consistency he has had today, the world No. 2 will run away with this tournament. 

Fred Couples

Yeah, Fred Couples hasn't won a Masters since 1992 and is now 52 years old. So what, wanna fight about it?

Frederick Steven put together a solid even round yesterday, and now he's lighting up the scorecard today, dropping in five birdies through just 12 holes.

He's also mixed in two bogies, sure, but his three-under has him up 29 spots into a tie for fifth. It appears this guy has a couples of good rounds of golf still left in him.

Sorry.

Fredrik Jacobson

Were Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Swedish? Because Jacobson has put on his own little Jekyll and Hyde act these last two days.

On Day 1, the Swede was fairly terrible. He managed three birdies, but countered that with an anemic seven bogies, including five on the back nine.

His four-over 76 had him in danger of missing the cut.

No fear, though, because Jacobson responded with an impressive four-under 68 today, while going two-under on that vaunted back nine. 

He jumped 49 positions to a tie for 24th. 

If Jekyll—or Hyde, I don't know, the good one—shows up during the weekend, Jacobson has a good chance to make some noise.