In the field

NEVER A DOUBT: After Padraig Harrington had teed off Thursday, there was no doubt: He knew he would do so again Friday, no matter how his neck felt.

The three-time major champion, who said he hurt his neck while warming up Thursday morning, had 40 percent movement in his neck Friday.

He missed the cut despite playing even par in the second round.

Harrington hoped the heat would have helped his neck, which he said "absolutely" cost him, particularly on drives.

The Irishman averaged 283.5 yards on drives but hit only 16 of 28 fairways to tie for 84th in the field.

Harrington said he will be getting more treatment today. He won't be staying to watch the last two rounds.

Harrington doesn't think this injury will affect him long-term.

"I'm playing the best golf of my life," he said.

HOPING TO MEET AGAIN: Rickie Fowler wants to see either Rory McIlroy orJason Day teeing off beside him Sunday.

The three young golfers are all in the top 10 on the leaderboard and also 23 or younger.

McIlroy leads the pack at 10-under, and Day surged into contention with Friday's 8-under round after finishing even par in the first round. Day's 64 led the field in round two by two strokes.

Despite the rest of his group's impressive scores, Fowler is not far behind at 5-under.

"I look forward to trying to sneak up on those guys this weekend," Fowler said. "Who knows, I might be playing with one of them on Sunday."

Fowler said the three had fun chatting when they walked up fairways, though he said all wanted to make more birdies than their partners.

The former Oklahoma State Cowboy said Day sneaked up Friday, but Fowler kept himself in contention by shooting 3-under 69.

As a group, the three men shot a collective 23-under through two rounds -- the best group score. Fowler said his caddie first pointed out the group's impressive numbers at No. 17, saying the score would have held up against any other's.

Fowler is obviously more focused on his individual score, which leaves him well within striking distance.

"I'm in the field, I'm in position, I have a chance to win," Fowler said. "That's my goal this weekend, put myself in position for Sunday. I think any place is a good place for a first win, and I would love it to be here."

FURYK MAKES A PUSH: Considering that his driving, a usual strength, has been an hindrance these past two days, Jim Furyk had to fight to get into contention.

He did.

Furyk shot 4-under 68 on Friday to tie for his third-best score ever in the Masters

After 72 on Thursday, Furyk had only one bogey Friday as he holed birdies on Nos. 3 and 5 and three in a four-hole span on the back nine.

"After (Thursday), I got off to a bad start and didn't quite squeeze as much out of the round as I could've," Furyk said. "I needed to play a good round today to get back into the hunt. So it was good to get off to a good start and relax a little bit. It allowed me to get a little more patient."

Furyk hit a couple of errant tee shots on the back nine to threaten his run, but he responded by posting pars.

After improving on Thursday's bogey showing at No. 10, a poor tee shot on the par-4 No. 18 forced Furyk to lay up on his second shot. He saved par and his 4-under score by nearly holing out his approach for birdie, with the shot stopping an inch from the cup.

"I wanted to set it up left if I could for the angle, knowing I could play it off that ridge and bring it back somewhere close to the hole. But it was late reaction," Furyk said. "The way it hit, I was thinking, 'Oh no, maybe it hopped up on the other shelf,' because there wasn't any cheers early.

"But I got the late applause and it sounded like it almost went in. It's nice to get a tap-in par after that drive."

NO PENALTY FOR MOORE: Ryan Moore almost got into trouble on No. 13 when there was a question whether the American had taken his stance before his ball moved. Moore wasn't given a penalty, though, because he was judged to have not taken his stance.

Moore ended up with a birdie on the hole for the second day in a row and finished the second round with 1-over 73. Moore, at 1-under, made the cut.

His best Masters finish came in 2005, when he tied for 13th as an amateur.

BACK FOR MORE? If Ben Crenshaw has played his last Masters, he got to share it with a milestone.

Carl Jackson , 64, completed his 50th Masters as a caddie, but Crenshaw missed the cut at 11-over-par 155. He didn't commit to saying this would be his last time competing for the green jacket, though he did say he would participate in the Par-3 Contest regardless.

The two-time Masters champion focused on Jackson's record accomplishment. Crenshaw, 59, said Jackson could go for 10 more years if he wanted.

As the two made their way up No. 18, Jackson took off his cap to acknowledge the fans who cheered him and Crenshaw.

The pair got two standing ovations on the last hole, which Crenshaw birdied. Crenshaw and Jackson signed autographs afterward. The caddie, who lives in Arkansas, said he'll be resting with his wife this weekend. He has caddied for Crenshaw for 35 years, including both of his Masters wins, in 1984 and 1995.

If Crenshaw does step away from Masters competition, he knows he'll always look back fondly.

"I've had a wonderful life just here in Augusta," he said. "My God, I spend a lot of my life here and have had a lot of great memories ... I've been really lucky."

Staff Writer Chris Gay contributed to this article.