Day fires at every pin in carding sizzling 64

For someone who owns all of two rounds at Augusta National Golf Club, Jason Day surely isn't shaking in his golf cleats.

The 23-year-old Australian played as though it were a game of darts Friday, firing at the pins for a bogey-free 64. After opening with even-par 72, Day surged to second place at 8-under, pulling within two shots of 36-hole leader Rory McIlroy.

Day came within one shot of tying the low round in Masters Tournament history. He posted the lowest mark since David Toms shot 64 in 1998.

"I got a little bit of a slow start yesterday, but I came home strong today and I'm just looking forward to the next two days," Day said. "It's just a really good experience."

Day, who goes off with McIlroy in the final pairing at 2:45 p.m. today, played his first two rounds with the 21-year-old from Northern Ireland. Day said he soaked in McIlroy's opening 64 and used it to his advantage.

"I learned a lot from Rory's game, where he placed some of his shots," Day said Friday. "So I got a little lucky with that yesterday."

Day hit 14 of 18 greens and tied five other players in second-round putting, needing just 25 putts (1.39 average). Of his eight birdies, all were within 15 feet.

Day fired an 8-iron approach from 165 yards to tap-in range at the ninth to get to 3-under on his round. He was just warming up.

After draining a 15-foot birdie putt at No. 11, he followed two holes later with a two-putt for birdie. At the par-4 14th, Day hit a wedge to 15 feet and drained that for birdie.

Day then fired a 9-iron close at No. 16. Later, he blasted his tee ball 320 yards at the closing, uphill 18th. From there, he spun a pitching wedge back from 145 yards out to one foot for another kick-in birdie.

"It was a lot of fun," said Day, who told playing partners McIlroy and Rickie Fowler before the round that he would have to pay people to yell out his name. "It got a bit better on the back nine, which was nice. The atmosphere was great, and all three of us played wonderful."

Day started playing on the PGA Tour in 2006. Since then, he has played in just three majors -- he finished tied for 10th in the 2010 PGA Championship.

Though he's not as familiar with Augusta National as others, Day does know what it's like to win.

He captured the 2010 HP Byron Nelson Classic last year, so don't expect him to be intimidated this weekend.

"I've played two good rounds to get in this position," he said. "I'm not going to back down because I've got a lack of experience."

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.