Shane Lowry on just how excruciatingly hard Amen Corner was on Masters Friday

Shooting a second round of 76 and still being in with a great shot of winning? It can only be The Masters.

That or really, really tough US Open or a windy as hell Open Championship. Basically, majors don't come easy. Golfers have to put it all out there, take their licks and ride the good waves when they can. Shane Lowry had a fantastic opening round and finished two shots off Jordan Spieth. He was +4 after a rollercoaster Friday but only lost two shots on Spieth. Rory McIlroy is a shot further back. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/718556186669412353 It was the type of day that left a mark on just about every player. Speaking to reporters after signing off for a 76, Lowry focused on the positives and prayed someone, somewhere would water the bloody greens. He commented:

"I fought really hard today, didn't do myself any favours with starting out bogeying the second hole. Especially where the pin was today, it's a decent chance for birdie. "But like I said, I'm pretty happy where I'm sitting now. I don't think the leaders are going to go too far away. Hopefully I can go out and do something half decent tomorrow and give myself half a chance on Sunday."

Most of Lowry's dramas arrived at Amen Corner - Augusta National's 11th, 12th and 13th holes. The Offaly man bogeyed 11, took a double bogey five on the next before rebounding with a birdie on 13. Lowry said:

"It's brutal. 11 is brutal. And for a short hole 12 is just such a tough tee shot. I tried to hit my 9‑iron too hard, and tried to keep it down too much, but that's just the way it is. I didn't beat myself up too much. "I got a birdie on the next, I gave myself a chance on 16. And didn't really come in, bogeyed the last, which was a bit disappointing."

Lowry goes out at 2pm [local time] with highly-rated amateur Bryson DeChambeau. Spieth, who leads on -4, goes out with Rory McIlroy [-3] 50 minutes later.