Davis backed up his opening three-under-par 69 with a steely second-round 72 on Friday to briefly capture the clubhouse lead at golf's first major championship of the year.

The Sydneysider climbed to five-under and to within two shots of first-round leader Bryson DeChambeau at one point before making a double bogey at the par-4 7th hole.

Davis sent his drive right into the trees, chipped out on to the fairway and then dumped his third into a bunker.

He also bogeyed the par-5 13th for a second six of the day before bouncing back with a lovely birdie on 15 and clutch up-and-down par on the last.

"I had a couple of stumbles but I felt like I battled well and made some nice putts to keep the momentum." – Cam Davis.

As howling winds caused havoc amongst the afternoon starters, the former Australian Open champion was sitting pretty four strokes behind American DeChambeau when he signed his scorecard.

"I feel like I put in my hard work. I'm happy to put my feet up this afternoon," Davis said.

"It's a good test out there right now. I feel like pars are good scores.

"There are a few opportunities, if you do hit some good tee shots and good approaches into some of the slopes, that can help you out.

"Yeah, I had a couple of stumbles but I felt like I battled well and made some nice putts to keep the momentum."

DeChambeau remained at his overnight score through nine holes on Friday as fellow American and World No.1 Scottie Scheffler joined him atop the leaderboard with a birdie on the second.

Aussie big gun Cameron Smith is the next best Aussie at one-under.

Playing with superstar five-time champion Tiger Woods, Jason Day was fought hard to cut.

Day snuck into the weekend by two shots, after returning early on Friday morning to complete his opening loop where the Queenslander finished at three-over and then back up for his second round where he had one-over.

Resuming at even-par through 13 holes, he double-bogeyed the 16th after dumping his ball into the water, then dropped another shot at the last after slicing his tee shot into the trees.

But he stayed steady to remain in the hunt, as did Min Woo Lee, who will also have a weekend tee time. The Perth native carding a two-over 74 to be in a tie for 35th at four-over-par alongside Day.

Adam Scott, still Australia's only ever Masters winner, snuck into the weekend on the six-over-par number and is in a tie for 50th.

– Darren Walton