Adam Scott bounced back from a rare career blip but still faced a mountain to climb after the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

After missing the halfway cut for first time in almost three years in his last event, Scott’s one-over-par 73 on Friday confirmed a weekend tee time for the 2013 Masters champion.

Scott, though, trails runaway leader Morgan Hoffmann by 10 shots after the American backed up his first-round 66 with a sizzling seven-under-par 65.

Hoffman is 13-under for the championship, three clear of countrymen Matt Every and Harris English and Swede Henrik Stenson, who both carded 66s.

Hoffmann remained red-hot, nabbing nine birdies at Bay Hill.

Ben Martin was alone in fifth after a 67 for 135, while world No.1 Rory McIlroy was in contention and growing in confidence after moving to eight-under with his own second-round 66.

McIlroy had seven birdies, including five on the trot on the inward run of a round that he opened with a birdie at the 10th.

The Northern Irishman gave back a shot at the eighth, where he was plugged in a bunker, but was plenty pleased with his first round under 70 on the US tour this season.

“I probably wasn’t quite as consistent tee to green as I was (on Thursday), but the putter is a great equaliser,” said McIlroy, who opened 2015 on the European tour with a runner-up finish and a win, but missed the cut in his first US start at the Honda Classic and also struggled at the WGC Cadillac Championship.

“Felt like I was pretty tidy, and the short game was good,” added McIlroy, who needed just 25 putts. “Could have hit a few better shots, but there was a lot of good in there.”

McIlroy is under the microscope with the Masters looming.

He could complete a career grand slam with a victory in the first major of the year, and also win his third major in a row after his victories in the British Open and PGA Championship last year.

“I think each and every day I’m feeling a little more comfortable, especially on the greens,” McIlroy said.

Kiwi Danny Lee shot the round of the day, a sizzling 63, while Matt Jones is the best-placed Australian, the pair alongside McIlroy at eight-under and five off the pace after firing a superb 65.

Jason Day is nine strokes off the pace after carding a 71, one ahead of Scott.

They all have a lot of catching up to do, with Hoffmann rolling in pursuit of his first US PGA Tour title.

“I’m behind my schedule,” said Hoffmann, who is in his third year on the tour.

“I would have liked to have won a few times by now.”