There are moments at the Masters where the entire field seems to heat up at once, when birdies and eagles are flying all over the course. You can sense it, even if you don’t quite know what’s happening thanks to the whole no-cell-phones thing. You hear cheers welling up from somewhere in the vicinity of Amen Corner, or somewhere up near the clubhouse, and you know there’s movement on the leaderboard … but you have to wait until the hand-operated scoreboards display a new set of red numbers to know exactly what that movement is.

And man, was there movement all over the leaderboard Friday. Rory McIlroy leaped up from the depths to card a magnificent 6-under round that left him just two strokes off the lead. Bryson DeChambeau started hot and maintained his pace to finish off a 4-under round to stand at -7, a stroke off the lead. Matt McCarty — it’s OK if you don’t know who he is — was simply spectacular.

Two of the only players not to make significant moves were Justin Rose, the Thursday night leader, and Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion. Rose still held the outright lead, but his margin shrunk from three strokes to just one after his 1-under round.

After what, for him, was a routine 4-under Thursday, Scheffler struggled a bit Friday … again, by his mighty standards. He ended the day at -5, three strokes off the lead.

The story of the day: McIlroy’s revival. His chances for a green jacket, and a career grand slam, appeared dead after Thursday’s misfire. But McIlroy returned with a mindset of steadiness and aggression, and crafted one of the finest rounds on the course Friday. He’s right back in this thing.

DeChambeau, McIlroy’s old Pinehurst nemesis, has spent more time on the range than anyone in the field, and all the tinkering has paid off. He’ll be a tough out over the weekend.

Also very much in the hunt: Tyrrell Hatton, who has the game to compete for a green jacket. Outside of Scheffler, nobody within four strokes of the lead has ever won a green jacket, setting the stage for a thrilling Masters weekend.

With clear skies and perfect weather, the conditions will be ideal for a remarkable Masters finish. Someone’s going home very happy, very soon.

“We’ve got 36 holes to go on a very, very tough golf course. All I’m focused on is trying to hit a good tee shot in the fairway on the first hole tomorrow,” said McIlroy.