Saturday 11 April 2015 11:46, UK
Jordan Spieth is determined not to get carried away by his record-breaking first 36 holes in the Masters at Augusta.
Spieth missed an eight-foot birdie putt at the 18th but still completed a second-round 66, his halfway score of 130 one stroke better than the previous mark set by Raymond Floyd 39 years ago.
The 21-year-old, who finished tied for second on his Masters debut last year, took little time to add to the three-stroke lead he held overnight, making the most of the par-five second to move to nine under.
Further birdies followed at the fifth and eighth, and anyone hoping his scoring might stall on the back nine were disappointed.
Spieth birdied the 10th to move to 12 under, and by the time he birdied the 15th he was already ahead of Floyd's 1976 pace.
It looked as if he would make it to 15 under at the last but, after a fine approach, a rare off line putt slipped past the left edge and he had to be satisfied with a six under 66 - good enough for a four-shot lead at the time.
"As far as history and what happened the last couple days, doesn't mean anything unless I can close it out," Spieth said. "I don't want to go in as the 36-hole best record, but somebody who didn't win."
I have been on my game and coming to a place that I love. It's special to be here and just be in the tournament let alone out front.
"Any time you can set a record here is pretty awesome. I'm really excited about how I played today.
"I just need to keep my head down, set a goal for myself. It's definitely going to be more challenging and I am going to have to be aware of that and be okay with a bogey or two.
"The hardest thing to do is put aside wanting to win so bad, and just letting my ball striking and putting happen. I got off to a great start and had a chance to win last year on Sunday. I'd like to have that same opportunity this year.
"This is only the halfway point and I'm aware of that. Not going to get ahead of myself. I'm going to try and stay in the moment and very patient these last two days and understand it's going to feel like a whole other tournament."
Charley Hoffman was his closest pursuer on nine under, with the rest of the field languishing nine strokes and more off the pace, Ernie Els having set the early clubhouse lead on five under after a 72.
Hoffman had a purple patch at the end of Amen Corner, with birdies at the 12th and 13th, and he moved to 10-under with another birdie at 14, but a poor drive at the last cost him a bogey and left him five off the pace.
After his round of 68, Hoffman said: "I probably played better today, besides the last couple of holes. I had a lot of good looks out there and was able to convert a few of them, so I am happy.
"(Spieth's scoring) Kept me aggressive. I knew he was going deep so I had to keep firing at flags."
Watch third round coverage from Augusta live on Sky Sports 4 from 7:00pm.
