Rory McIlroy has admitted that he will need to produce "two phenomenal rounds" if he is to win this year's Masters title.
The Northern Irishman needed to pick up five strokes on the back nine to make the cut and is currently 13 shots behind runaway leader Jordan Spieth at the halfway point of the tournament.
McIlroy hasn't given up on winning his first green jacket, but the world number one has suggested that he needs to "find another gear" to stand any chance.
He is quoted by BBC Sport: "I find myself 12 back and I needed to have a good back nine to be here. I have been able to salvage something from the day which is the only good thing I can take from it.
"I hope I can find another gear. It's hard to know when it is going to come. Jordan obviously has it this week. It is going to take two phenomenal rounds for me and some average rounds for some other guys in the field for it to happen."
If McIlroy were to win this year's Masters, it would complete a career Grand Slam for the defending Open and US PGA champion.
Chris O'Keefe
