AUGUSTA (Georgia), April 12: South African Trevor Immelman, finding his form after recovering from health problems last year, birdied the last two holes for a 68 to grab a one-shot lead in Friday’s second round of the U.S. Masters.

Immelman, overnight co-leader with Briton Justin Rose, matched his first-round score by posting three birdies on the back nine to reach eight-under-par 136 as he got hot with his putter on a warm, breezy day at Augusta National.

American Brandt Snedeker was alone in second place after he mirrored Immelman’s rousing finish with birdies at 17 and 18 to complete a 68 for 137, two shots better than compatriots Phil Mickelson and Steve Flesch,

Four-times champion Tiger Woods was seven strokes off the pace after an up-and-down round of 71, while Rose plunged to a 78 thanks to a triple-bogey eight at the 15th hole in swirling winds that made it more difficult for the later starters.

Twice winner Mickelson had three birdies on the front side and capped a bogey-free round with a 30-foot birdie at 17 for a 68.

Flesch registered an eagle at the par-five 13th to help his 67, while Poulter made three back-nine birdies for a 69.

At four-under-par 140 were Briton Paul Casey, after a 69, and Canadian Stephen Ames, who shot his second successive 70.

Snedeker, 27, drew a huge roar from the gallery at number six with an imaginative chip from the green to carry a mound, landing it at a 90-degree angle from the cup and watching it trickle down a slope and into the hole.

—Reuters