John Senden has bounced back from two early bogeys to fire an impressive four-under-par 68 and rocket into second place late in the second round at the Masters.

Senden made bogeys on the opening hole and again on the fourth to fall back off the pace at Augusta National before going on his tear, carding six birdies in his final 14.

It catapulted the 42-year-old to second, three shots behind 2012 champion Bubba Watson, who matched Senden’s 68 to move to seven-under.

The Queenslander was flush with confidence from his recent win on the US PGA Tour and is now looking to become just the second Australian to win the green jacket.

Defending champion Adam Scott, the first Australian to win the Masters, started his second round poorly but is showing some fight on the back nine.

Three bogeys in his opening five holes sent Scott back to even par for the tournament but with back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th holes he’s back in red figures at two-under in a tie for fifth.

Earlier, Marc Leishman produced one of the all-time Masters meltdowns, birdying the opening three holes to take the outright lead before playing the final 15 in 10-over par for a 79, placing him in real danger of missing the cut at five-over.

The Victorian carded two doubles and six bogeys in a horror stretch of 12 holes.

It was better news for Steven Bowditch, a Masters rookie, who is hanging tough at two-over for the week after a 72, leaving him set for the weekend.

Oliver Goss, just 19-years-old, fired an impressive one-under 71 to be three-over for the tournament and is now odds on to be the leading amateur as the other five in the field head for a missed cut.

He will celebrate his 20th birthday on Saturday with another round at Augusta National.

World No.4 Jason Day is hanging on the current cut line after a 73 left him at four-over.

Matt Jones will be left to walk the grounds as a patron over the weekend after his 78 left him eight-over on his Masters debut.