The Clara man will be hoping to make some moves up the leaderbored later today.
Shane Lowry has had an up and down start to his Masters campaign.
The Offaly man carded a one under par, round of 71.
Lowry mixed four birdies with three bogeys to finish his first day in a tie for 11th.
Two double-bogeys in Rory McIlroy's last four holes undid a lot of the good work he had done yesterday.
The World Number two was 4-under-par through his opening 14 before disaster struck on 15 and on 17.
McIlroy is now level par, 7 shots off the lead held by England's Justin Rose who is 3 shots clear of the field
McIlroy will resume his second round just before 3, whilst Lowry is back out at 3-15.
Coverage with thanks to Keenan Bauer Motors Mullingar - Your home for Citroen and Honda in the Midlands - Keenanbauer.com
James Gormley Named On Irish Squad For FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers
Portlaoise Panthers Suffer Tough Defeat In Super League
CCFL: St Peter's Extend Their Advantage At Top Of Premier Division
NFL: Relegation Firmly On The Cards For Offaly
Laois "Devastated" By Defeat Despite Delivering "Manliness" - Justin McNulty
Westmeath Ladies Bag First Win Of League Season
Big Camogie Wins for Westmeath and Laois Over The Weekend
Fitzgerald "Relieved" After Squeaking Past Kerry
NHL: Galway Prove Too Strong For Offaly
Former Laois And Offaly GAA Manager Honoured By An Garda Síochána
Athlone Town Make It Two Wins From Two In First Division
Lee Fitzpatrick Scores Try For Ireland U20s In England
NFL: Westmeath Move Closer To Promotion
Shane Lowry Finishes Strong In California
Westmeath Drifter Sets Sights On Success In 2026
Offaly’s Alex Dunne Joins Alpine’s Young Driver Programme
NHL: Laois And Kerry Clash In Division Two
Shane Lowry Cards Opening Round 73 At Genesis Invitational
Athlone Town Aiming For Back To Back League Wins