Marc Warren's Masters quest is now being fought over a 5,000 mile front with the Scot staying on the offensive in the Alamo City in San Antonio, Texas and also monitoring events in Agadir, Morocco.

Warren needs to finish top-18 in his first PGA Tour event at this week's Valero Texas Open but also not have as many as four colleagues competing in the Hassan 11 Trophy go past him on the World Rankings.

The current World No. 52 was defending well in the Alamo City to be inside the top-30 mid-way into his second round in the $US 6.2m event and only seven shots behind Texan Jimmy Walker who birdied three of his closing four holes in a five under par 67 to lead by a shot at six under par.

Australia's Aaron Baddeley (71) shares second place with Charley Hoffman (72) and while Walker and Hoffman have qualified for the Masters, Baddeley at No. 259 in the world, would join them if he were to win in Texas.

As well, Warren will be keeping an eye on the player immediately behind him on the World Rankings and that's the 53rd ranked Harris English also competing in Texas and who needs to finish top-10 to earn a Masters invitation.

However there was some good news for Warren at the expense of Frenchman Alex Levy, and ranked 54th in the world, who missed the cut in Morocco.

And while Warren will face an anxious weekend double Masters winning Phil Mickelson was struggling to find his voice after rounds of 70 and 72 for a clubhouse share of sixth place at two under par.

The 34-year old Walker is looking to capture a second Tour title this season after clinching January's Sony Open in Hawaii.

And while Warren looks to qualify for the Masters Walker will be making a second appearance and a lot more comfortable with the scenario despite finishing in a share of eighth place on debut.

"I'm really looking forward to going back to Augusta and I'm going up there early next week, and play one or two practice rounds," he said.

"Last year was my first time and everything about the course and the tournament lived up to what I wanted it to be."

Mickelson, a three-time Masters winner, agreed to just one interview after round and saying: "I did do a good job of staying focused considering losing my voice."

Warren's fellow Scots Martin Laird and Russell Knox were also among the late finishers on day two.

Laird, and winner of the event in 2013, was one under par for his round and at three over par in tally very late into his round. And Knox, who like Laird, who know he's need to win this week to be contesting the Masters, was one shot outside the cut line to be seven over par through 16 holes.

Warren's fellow Scots Martin Laird and Russell Knox were also among the late finishers on day two in Texas.

Laird, and winner of the event in 2013, was one under par for his round to be back to three over par after 15 holes while Knox's chances of competing in the Masters for a first time ended with scores of 78 and 73 to miss the expected cut off of six over par.

Elsewhere France's Gwladys Nocera stormed into the lead at the Lalla Meryem Cup with a second-round 65 at Golf de l'Ocean in Agadir yesterday.

The 13-time Ladies European Tour winner, who lost a play-off to England's Charley Hull in this event 12 months ago, fired six birdies and no bogeys to finish nine under par, one ahead of South African Nicole Garcia, who also shot 65.

England's Felicity Johnson carded a second consecutive 68 to lie three off the lead on six under, one ahead of compatriots Melissa Reid and Eleanor Givens.

Hull added a 71 to her opening 74 to make the halfway cut on the mark of three over par.