• The Masters, Round Two: What They Said

What They Said: Westy calm despite late woe

Fred Couples: 'It's a little bizarre [to be five under]' © Getty Images

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ESPN is providing live commentary and updates during all four days of The Masters from Augusta National - along with comprehensive news views and opinions.

Masters 2012: Second round report
Masters 2012: Second round gallery

Lee Westwood was philosophical following a double bogey at 18 that left him four under: "It was a disappointing way to finish, but if you get out of position on this course it can punish you. These things happen and they will happen to everybody. Henrik Stenson was leading when he took eight on the same hole yesterday. I thought I made a few putts that didn't drop, but I'm right in there for the weekend and that's where I want to be."

Fred Couples, 52, five under and bidding to become the oldest Masters winner: "It's a little bizarre. I wanted to be competitive. It's my favourite place in the world to play. I was feeling stiff on the range and I said I just want to hit it solid today, not long, just solid."

Rory McIlroy was pleased to be back in contention after a second round 69."I know I'm playing well, I just wanted to come here and put myself in position to win another major," McIlroy said. "I couldn't be happier to be in contention again here."I've felt comfortable with my game pretty much all year. I'm just trying to keep that roll."

On Couples, he added: "He's pretty cool ... I hope I'm that cool at 52!"

Graeme McDowell, who reached three over with a 72: "It leaves me feeling kind of the way I always feel at Augusta. It's one of these golf courses that gets into my head a little bit. I end up playing it too negatively. I stop myself from playing well just because of the way I think around the golf course. I think too negatively going into the greens. I think too negatively around the greens, and it ends up beating me up a little bit."

Sergio Garcia bogeyed the last but nevertheless remained well placed at four-under - although he didn't sound too upbeat about his week so far. "I think I played nicely, although there were a couple of shots that I would have liked to have hit a bit better," he said. "There's probably about two or three holes out there that I dislike quite a bit and I don't feel comfortable playing them. But other than that I felt like it was good.

"It's a tough golf course. We probably got the worst of the draw with the wind and the weather. There are so many mud balls out there and on a course where you need to be so precise when you have mud balls it just becomes that much tougher.

"I'm just going to go out there and play at the weekend. I'll try to shoot another two good rounds and see where it puts me."

Three-time champion Phil Mickelson after moving to two under: "I played well and shot something in the 60s that got me back in the tournament. I was hoping for one or two more under, but that birdie on 18 felt terrific to finish that way. And to be only three back now heading into the weekend feels great, too. Especially after the first 10 holes yesterday."

Ian Poulter, who found water on 16 en route to a 72 to stay level par: "I was much more solid today & just got caught out by the wind."

Louis Oosthuizen recovered from a mid-round hiccup to card a level-par 72 that kept him at four-under. He noted: "I've never come into this tournament playing really well. This is probably the first one I came in feeling confident, the way I'm swinging it and the way I'm hitting the ball. So it makes a huge difference. It's a weird spot for me to be in, to be third at the moment. It's a nice spot to be in."

Big-hitting Bubba Watson is another at four-under, after a second round 71. He noted: "It was a tough day with the gusty winds, but somehow I shot one-under par. Should be a fun weekend!"

Paul Lawrie remains three-under after a sparkling finish to his second round. He said: "I made a few mistakes on the front nine, but I didn't feel like I was swinging poorly. But I had three great birdies to finish, which kind of really puts you right back in it. Which is great.

"I'm just looking forward to the weekend. I've been playing well for a wee while but I've got no expectations or aspirations. But if I keep doing what I've been doing then I might have a chance, which would be cool."

Safely in at level par, Padraig Harrington is looking forward to the weekend. He said: "Five shots back, it's within reach. I shot 61 on a tough course a few weeks ago, so I must have it in me."

Justin Rose is another at level par, a position he believes he can build on over the second half of the tournament. He noted: "Very pleased to get back to level, if you look at the leaderboard even now nobody is getting away. For me, keeping myself in it without even feeling like I've hit the second or third gear ... from that perspective I'm very happy I have still got a chance."

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