Tiger Woods on a dramatic day
And that’s your lot for this hole-by-hole report. It’s been a long old day, so will you allow me to let Matt Dony wrap things up instead? Good! Thanks! “Halfway through the tournament, and there’s like 20 guys in contention. And one of them is Tiger. Magnificent. Bring on the weekend!” Bring it on indeed. See you tomorrow for Moving Day!
-7: Molinari, Day, Koepka, Scott, Oosthuizen
-6: D Johnson, Harding, Schauffele, Woods
-5: Poulter, Rahm
-4: Kizzire, Kuchar, Mickelson, Howell III
Ewan Murray’s second-round report is in ...
... while Andy Bull waxes lyrical about old Lefty.
Fowler finishes up for his par. That’s a 71 that has the Californian well poised to strike at the weekend: he’s -3. And everyone’s made it back in time, before the sun goes down. The organisers will breathe a big sigh of relief there.
In fact Fowler’s ball didn’t quite reach the bunker. Instead he’s got to flop high over the sand if he wants to get anywhere near the hole. Something he does exquisitely! He lands his ball softly by the flag, and will have a three-footer for par. That’s something else from there! But before he can tidy up, it’s McIlroy’s turn. His birdie putt stays out on the left, never threatening to drop. That’s a 71 to go with yesterday’s 73, and while he’s not yet out of it at level par - he’s just seven off the lead at the halfway stage - his sad eyes tell a different story. They suggest he knows the jig is, in all likelihood, already up.
Rory splits the 18th fairway, then sends his approach over the flag, hoping the ball will trundle back in the style of Sandy Lyle in 1988. Not quite. But he’ll have a chance for a birdie that would give him succour going into the weekend. It’d still be a long shot, but we are where we are. Rickie meanwhile hoicks his second into the Rahm Bunker on the right. If he can manufacture half as good a shot as Rahm did, he’ll have a great chance of saving his par.
Rahm saves his par at the last by splashing out of the bunker to the right, using the slope of the green to gather his ball back towards the cup. It’s been a struggle for the young Spaniard today, but he’s battled everything Augusta has thrown at him, and even his own temper, getting that particular beast in check too. It’s been a highly impressive display, a grinding masterclass. Two birdies and 16 pars. The 70 means he enters the weekend just a couple shy of the lead at -5.
Tiger misjudges his final putt by one joule of energy. It stops a dimple short of the cup. But that’s a par and a second-round 68. Pair that with a first round of 70, and he’s -6, in a tie for sixth place. And here’s stat worth contemplating: he’s been in the top six after 36 holes in all 14 of his major wins. Here comes 15? It’s going to be one hell of a weekend, one way or another, isn’t it.
McIlroy keeps those faint weekend hopes alive by squirting his ball out from the trees and into the bunker guarding the front of 17. He then splashes out to a couple of feet and makes his par. A birdie up that last, then. He’s whittling down those chances. He’s still level. His partner Fowler is in much better nick, at -3 after birdie at 15. He stays there after stroking in a 12-foot saver. Up on 18, Tiger knocks his second to 15 feet, and will have yet another look at birdie. The gallery - few folk have left, despite the late weather hassles - respond accordingly. With respect and - much more important, this - love.
Gary Woodland posts a 71 to go with yesterday’s 70. He’s -3 and nicely placed for Moving Day, but will be ruing a tiddler missed for birdie on 16 after nearly acing. Birdie for his playing partner Tommy Fleetwood, who finished strongly having also birdied 15. A pair of 71s for Southport’s finest, and he’s not out of this by any means. And birdie for Xander Schauffele, reward for an approach whistled to three feet. He signs for a best-of-week 65, and the young Californian is just one off the lead.
-7: Molinari (F), Day (F), Koepka (F), Scott (F), Oosthuizen (F)
-6: D Johnson (F), Harding (F), Schauffele (F), Woods (17)
-5: Poulter (F), Rahm (17)
-4: Kizzire (F), Kuchar (F), Mickelson (F), Howell III (F)
Tiger launches his approach at 17 from 160 yards to eight feet. Birdie chance! Birdie chance! But his putt sails off to the right, the third birdie chance spurned on the back nine. He stays at -6, one behind a lead he should surely at least be sharing. Meanwhile on 16, Rory - who had only saved his par on 15 after getting up and down from 185 yards, having visited the trees - rakes in a birdie monster to return to level par for the tournament. If he could somehow finish birdie-birdie ... but it’s one step forward, another back, yet again. He sends his drive at 17 into the trees down the right. Much will depend on getting some sort of route to the green. It might be the difference between a serious bid at the weekend, and simply making up the numbers.
Oosthuizen sends a dismal approach to the last into a bunker on the right. His ball is plugged, and he’s forced to punch it onto the green, one foot out of the sand, one foot in. And what a shot, 50% violent, 50% delicate. He lands the ball on the apron, rolling it gently to four feet. And in goes the par saver. That’s a superb 66, and he’ll have a share of the halfway lead unless Tiger finishes with a couple of birdies. On that subject ...
-7: Molinari (F), Day (F), Koepka (F), Scott (F), Oosthuizen (F)
-6: D Johnson (F), Harding (F), Woods (16)
-5: Poulter (F), Schauffele (17), Rahm (16)
-4: Kizzire (F), Kuchar (F), Mickelson (F), Howell III (F)
The defending champion Patrick Reed has been woefully out of form. But at least he’s avoided the indignity of missing the cut. And some green shoots of recovery today, home with birdies at 13 and 17, and a scrambled par from the front of 18. He enters the weekend at -2, just five off the lead despite it all. A pivotal moment? Meanwhile a good two-putt par from distance for Tiger at 16; Rahm matches him shot for shot, knocking in a tricky six-foot saver. He’s really fought tooth and nail to keep his card neat, despite not playing particularly well today. Pars all the way since those early birdies at 2 and 3.
Tiger immediately makes his way to the 16th tee, desperate to get on with things while the wind’s at his back and the sun is still in the sky. He clacks his tee shot pin high, but a good 30 feet to the left of the pin. He’ll be facing another hard-to-judge uphill putt. Par for Rahm on 15, incidentally, and he leaves himself a 50-footer for birdie. Up on 17, Oosthuizen bundles his ball up to four feet, and tidies up for par.
A huge putt for Tiger on 15! The rain’s coming down, and he’s faced with a slow uphill putt from 30 feet. In it goes! He gave it just enough, the ball preparing to die off to the left before being snaffled by the hole. That’s his third birdie in five holes, and the four-time winner is a shot off the lead at -6!
Scott doesn’t hit his putt on 18, and it stops one turn short of the cup. Still, that’s a 68 to go with yesterday’s 69. He returns to the clubhouse at -7, and everyone at +3 breathes a sigh of relief. Unless Oosthuizen saves his par at 17 and birdies the last, they should all be safe for the weekend.
Having three-putted 16 and missed a straight 15-foot birdie chance on 17, Adam Scott could do with a birdie at the last to leaven his mood. He’s given himself a chance, swishing his approach to ten feet. It’ll be downhill and tricky, but he’ll get a good look. Back on 17, Oosthuizen sends a big slice into the trees down the right, and does extremely well to get his ball up to the front of the green in two. Still a tricky up and down from there.
Schauffele goes at a 30-foot eagle attempt on 15 in the over-zealous style. He’s got plenty to do for his birdie coming back. But he rattles it straight into the cup from five feet, moving to -5, a couple off the lead. Up on 18, the 2017 champion Sergio Garcia signs for a 75. Throw in yesterday’s 73, and he’s +4. He’ll have missed both cuts since winning his green jacket, then. His partner Tony Finau is looking good for the weekend, though: a 70 to go with yesterday’s 71 and the big man’s -3.
There was a nine-way tie at the top yesterday afternoon. Just the five sharing the lead right now, but if anything the leader board is even more crowded than it was back then. This is developing into a wonderful tournament. Good luck trying to predict it!
-7: Molinari (F), Day (F), Koepka (F), Scott (17), Oosthuizen (15)
-6: D Johnson (F), Harding (F)
-5: Poulter (F), Woods (14), Rahm (14)
-4: Kizzire (F), Kuchar (F), Mickelson (F), Howell III (F), Schauffele (14)
Tiger makes an uphill left-to-right slider from 20 feet for birdie! That’s an absurd result given the Seve-like wildness of his drive, and the easy chances he gave up at 12 and 13. But that’s golf, folks, and he’s -5. Rahm knocks in his saver, and he’ll be very pleased with his ability to regroup, compose himself, and put together a successful rescue package. He remains at -5. Meanwhile McIlroy’s dip in Rae’s Creek leads to a bogey six. It’s no good, he’s going the wrong way when his margin for error is almost non-existent. He’s +1.
Rahm manages to stab his ball back onto the 14th fairway from the trees. He looks a little frustrated as he snaps at the gallery for encroaching and making noise when hacking out. But he calms down quickly, and sends a wedge screeching to a halt four foot from the cup. Tiger has a route to the green, meantime, and he finds it, much to the gallery’s delight. As they run up the side of the hole to get a good view up at the green, a steward runs across to keep them from crowding Tiger, slips on the wet grass, and nearly takes the 14-time major winner’s ankle out. Tiger limps once or twice, but it looks to be nothing serious. He walks on.
Xander Schauffele creams his second at 14 to three feet, and knocks in the birdie putt. It secures his third pair of back-to-back birdies today, having followed an opening-hole bogey with birds at 2 and 3, 8 and 9, and now 13 and 14. He’s putting together a fine round. He’s -4. Charles Howell III is in the house with a 67. The man from Augusta is -4 at the halfway point. And another birdie for Oosthuizen, this time at 15, and he joins the leaders at -7!
Tiger whistles his drive into trouble down the left of 14. He views the scene stoically. Not so Rahm, who follows Tiger into trouble, then tries to bury the hosel of his driver into the turf. He then flings his tee away, before effing and jeffing in the post-watershed style. And we have more errors! Scott pushes a short par putt wide right at 16, handing back a shot to the field, much to the delight of everyone currently at +3, because he’s -7 again. Meanwhile Rory sends his second at 13 into Rae’s Creek, and his mid-round renaissance is beginning to unravel.
-7: Molinari (F), Day (F), Koepka (F), Scott (16)
-6: D Johnson (F), Harding (F), Oosthuizen (14)
Scott’s eagle has moved the projected cut in to +2. There are currently 57 players at +2 or better, and it’s the top 50 and ties, and players within ten strokes of the lead, who survive. The rain’s beginning to come down quite heavily. No concern of thunderstorms, though. Tiger three-putts from the apron at 13; it’s another par, and another chance of closing on the leaders passed over. Rahm doesn’t hit a ten-foot birdie putt, and he stays where he is too. They’re -4 and -5 respectively.
Scott makes his eagle, and reaches the top of the tree! Meanwhile a fine par save by Oosthuizen at 14, his drive having settled behind a tree on the left. He hooks it round and onto the green, then two putts from distance. He remains at -6, now a couple off the lead. Meanwhile McIlroy can’t make his six-footer on 12 ... and Fowler then misses his five-footer. That’s very poor, after a couple of sensational tee shots. Throw in Tiger’s miss earlier, and there have been some very disappointed players trudging towards the Nelson Bridge.
-8: Scott (15)
-7: Molinari(F), Day (F), Koepka (F)
-6: D Johnson (F), Harding (F), Oosthuizen (14)
Rory and Rickie pepper the flag at 12. Both will have chance to immediately snatch back the shots they’ve just dropped. Meanwhile up on 15, Scott whips a long iron from 230 yards to four feet! It’s a sensational shot that sets up an eagle chance. If he takes it, and moves to +8, he could be sending home everyone at +3: the cut’s top 50 and ties, plus the ten-shot rule.
Fowler wedges to 12 feet from the drop zone. He’ll at least have a look at limiting the damage to bogey. In goes the putt. He’s -2 now. Rickie’s not the only one to have had his rhythm disrupted by the break in play, either. His partner McIlroy takes two to get out of a bunker and bogeys as well. He’s back to level par for the tournament. And Tiger misses his short putt on 12, tugging it left. He stays at -4.
We're back!
The rain didn’t come down, but Rickie Fowler still got wet. He pulls his second at 11 into the drink. The coldest of cold starts.
The players are on their way back! It seems the threat of lightning is no more, and we’ll be good to continue in a few minutes, once everyone’s back in position! That’s superb news. If there are to be storms on Sunday evening, please let them flit by like this.
The officials are holding the players out on the course. The expectation seems to be that this storm will pass pretty quickly, and might even skirt by Augusta National altogether. Hopefully that’s the case, and we can complete the second round tonight. Brace yourself, though: chances are, there’ll be delays like this on Sunday, when serious electrical storms are forecast. Fingers crossed those crackly buggers somehow give Augusta the big swerve too. “This is definitely a Murakami novel now,” writes Simon McMahon (5.12pm). “There’ll be two moons and talking cats next.”
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Play suspended: weather delay
There was some meaningful action before the klaxon sounded. Louis Oosthuizen birdied 13 to join the group in second place at -6. Adam Scott had a chance to join the leaders at 14, but didn’t quite hit his putt from eight feet; he remains at -6. And Rory McIlroy sends his second at 11 down into the Mize Swale, having set his ball out wide right and failed to draw it. So here’s the leader board at the time of suspension:
-7: Molinari (F), Day (F), Koepka (F)
-6: D Johnson (F), Harding (F), Scott (14), Oosthuizen (13)
-5: Poulter (F), Rahm (11)
-4: Kizzire (F), Kuchar (F), Mickelson (F), Howell III (15), Woods (11)
-3: Aphibarnrat (F), DeChambeau (F), Thomas (F), Conners (F), Bjerregaard (16), Woodland (12), Fowler (10)
-2: Olesen (F), Kisner (F), Holmes (16), Finau (14), Schauffele (12)
-1: Langer (F), Cabrera Bello (F), Spieth (F), Tway (F), Simpson (13), Hovland -a- (13), Leishman (13), Hoffman (12), Fleetwood (12), McIlroy (10)
Tiger’s in the mood for this! He slam-dunks his tee shot five feet from the flag at 12. “There are roars, and there are Tiger roars,” says Paul McGinley, who could have a career in advertising if he wants it. Cue up Albatross. But Tiger’s not able to finish the hole, because the sirens sound, warning of an incoming electrical storm. PLAY IS SUSPENDED. Off the players troop, in order to avoid the lightning. More information when we have it!
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Tiger on the prowl! A glorious iron into 11, paying no heed to the water guarding the front left of the green. Ten feet from the flag. The birdie putt drops. His second in three holes, and the patrons lose themselves in wonder. He’s -4! His playing partner Rahm does extremely well to get up and down from Mize Country to save his par. He’s still -5, and this is a wonderfully steady round from the Spaniard, who birdied 2 and 3 and has parred every other hole so far.
Harding manages to punch his second at 18 out of the trees and up towards the green. He wedges to eight feet, but can’t make the par saver. A sorrowful end to an otherwise fine round. He’ll take a second 69! He’s -6 at the halfway mark. Back on 10, McIlroy comes up short, but wedges close and scrambles par, a fine effort on one of the toughest holes on the course. (Tied first in difficulty yesterday, ranked third today.)
The Norwegian amateur Viktor Hovland eagles 13 to move into red figures! He’s -1 and the pick of the amateurs this week. They’ve all done well, and there’s a chance five of them will make the weekend. Alvaro Ortiz (E) is there. Devon Bling (+3) will have made it providing the cut doesn’t move in. Kevin O’Connell is +3 with a hole to play; Takumi Kanaya is +3 with a couple to go. Only Jovan Rebula is certain to go home; Ernie Els’ nephew has nevertheless had a good week, today’s 79 following a fine 73 yesterday.
Has Harding flown too close to the sun? He hooks his drive into the trees down the left of 18. Anything could have happened there. He’ll be praying for a lucky bounce. Meanwhile Scott follows up birdie at 12 with another at 13, and he’s homing in on the leaders. Oosthuizen moves to -5 with birdie at 12, his tee shot gently fired to six feet. And here’s McIlroy-enabler Hubert O’Hearn again. “Hmmmm ... does this mean if I rubbish Liverpool I guarantee the title? After all these years, I’ve been getting this fan thing exactly wrong.” Perhaps see if Rory shoots 65-65 at the weekend before you do anything rash.
-7: Molinari (F), Day (F), Koepka (F), Harding (17)
-6: D Johnson (F), Scott (13)
-5: Poulter (F), Oosthuizen (12), Rahm (10)
Justin Harding joins the leaders! He splits the fairway at 17, then from 160 yards sails one of the shots of the day to 18 inches! He taps in for his fifth birdie in the last six holes! This dramatic rise up the leader board mirrors his climb up the world rankings, from pretty much nowhere to 49.
The way things stand at the moment, some big names will be missing the cut. It’s currently projected at +3, so everyone below it is for the off, because it’s not likely to go out. The biggest name, of course, is 1988 legend Alexander Walter Barr Lyle, who ended one shot shy at +4. Also definitely heading home: 2009 Open dreamwrecker Stewart Cink, Justin Rose, Paul Casey and Shane Lowry. Possibly going home, unless they get their gamefaces on: Sergio Garcia, Eddie Pepperell, Charl Schwartzel and Freddie Couples. Hovering on the brink and toying with trouble: Brandt Snedeker, Danny Willett, Henrik Stenson, Hideki Matsuyama ... and the reigning champion Patrick Reed. Last year’s winner should be OK, as he’s currently +1, but he’ll be in bother if he keeps missing short putts like the one he’s just yipped from three feet for birdie at 12.
The 2013 winner Adam Scott is ticking along nicely. Birdie at 12 brings him up to -5. He’s been so steady this week. Meanwhile local lad Charles Howell III, aka Chucky Three Sticks, continues to enjoy his first appearance at his hometown course since 2012. An eagle at 13, and he’s -4! And Tiger gives a 40-foot uphill birdie putt at 9 a fair old rattle. It’s just as well it hits the hole and goes in, because that was off the back of the green otherwise! Tiger’s last six holes: birdie, bogey, birdie, par, bogey six, birdie. He turns in 35, and he’s -3, the dream still very much alive.
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Rickie Fowler strokes in a 20-footer on 8, and that’s his second birdie in three holes. He’s -3. Meanwhile his playing partner Rory McIlroy whip-cracks his second to four feet, and rolls in the eagle putt! Suddenly, after all his travails, he’s in red figures again at -1! If he posts something preposterous, then goes on to win this tournament, I’m giving Hubert O’Hearn (8.34pm) an assist. If Rory goes on to win this tournament, Hubert probably deserves a percentage.
Another birdie for Justin Harding! His fourth in a row, this time at 15! And now look!
-7: Molinari (F), Day (F), Koepka (F)
-6: D Johnson (F), Harding (15)
-5: Poulter (F), Rahm (8)
Rahm skitters his way up the par-five 8th, never in position. But he wedges his fourth to eight feet, then tickles in a very missable downhill par saver. He remains at -5. His playing partner Tiger pulls a short putt to drop a stroke and slip to -2. Meanwhile a word about Bernhard Langer, who birdied 14, 15 and 18 to sign for a 72. He’s -1 at the halfway mark, just six off the lead! He’s 61 years old!
Koepka sends his second over the flag at 18 and spinning back to eight feet. He’ll have a slippery downhill look at birdie and a share of the lead. In it goes! A fine end to his round, which looked to be spiralling out of control early on: he was two over after six holes. But birdies at 8, 15 and now up the last have turned a possible disaster into another sub-par round! That’s the mark of a champion. Speaking of which, Jordan Spieth has bounced back from yesterday’s is-he-OK 75 with a fine yes-he-is-and-it-won’t-be-long-before-he’s-back 68.
A sad end to Justin Thomas’s round, as he misses a short par putt on 18 and has to settle for a 68. He trudges off a picture of frustration, but at least at -3 he’ll be in with a shout this week. Compare to his playing partner Justin Rose, who also misses a short par putt, but won’t even be competing. A 73 follows up a first-round 75, and at +4 the world number one and one of the pre-tournament favourites is unlikely to survive the cut. The third of the group, Phil Mickelson, pars. Having dropped a stroke at 17, that’s a slightly unsatisfactory 73, but he’s just three off the current halfway lead at -4. He’d have snatched your glove off for that yesterday morning.
-7: Molinari (F), Day (F)
-6: D Johnson (F), Koepka (17)
-5: Poulter (F), Harding (14), Rahm (7)
Justin Harding was a surprise early leader yesterday, eventually ending the day handily placed after a 69. This afternoon, he parred every hole on the front nine, then bogeyed 10, at which point the unheralded 33-year-old South African, making his Masters debut, looked to be heading back towards the obscurity of the pack. But he’s a man in form, having recently won the Qatar Masters, his first European Tour victory, then ended joint second at the Kenya Open, a result that sent him into the world top 50 and earned his ticket here. Unheralded he may be, but birdies at 12, 13 and now 14 have catapulted him into the top five at the Masters! He’s -5 alongside Ian Poulter (F) and Jon Rahm (7).
Oosthuizen’s upward trajectory is checked by bogey at the par-five 8th. The cost of finding sand with his tee shot, then forcing his third into the green, sending it well right. He slips back to -4. Up on 18, Day pars to sign for a fine 67; he’ll share the clubhouse lead, and indeed the current lead, with Molinari. Par for Dustin too: that’s a 70 to go with his opening round of 68, and he’s a shot behind at -6. Finally a birdie putt slips past for DeChambeau, but he ends with a par. Having held a two-shot lead at one point, his eventual 75 is something of an anti-climax, a good nine shots worse than yesterday’s 66. But he’s well placed for the weekend at -3.
The storms predicted to hit Augusta right about now don’t seem to have materialised. Yet. Keep them crossed. It’s still lovely and sunny. A second 72 of the week for Bubba, despite a fine eagle at 13. He’s level par going into the weekend. Seven behind might seem a stretch, but then Gary Player won from seven back after 54 holes in 1978, so it can be done. Meanwhile trouble for Phil at 17. He’s short in two, then hits a heavy chip into sand. He doesn’t go particularly close splashing out, but does well to hold his nerve and knock in the six-footer that remains. He slips back to -4, but at least the damage was limited.
So it had to happen, didn’t it. McIlroy cracks his tee shot at 6 straight at the flag. He’ll have a four footer for birdie! Then it’s the turn of Rickie Fowler, who has also started slowly today, with bogey at 3. He pitches his 8-iron right by the hole, bothering the flag. That’s a two-foot birdie putt! The pair fist-bump, in the hope the electricity they’ve just generated somehow loops between them and never stops. They’ll move to +1 and -2 respectively, unless they seriously embarrass themselves with their flat sticks. Which they don’t.
Tiger makes bounceback birdie at 6, guiding home a big right-to-left curler from 30 feet. The crowd go wild as the four-time major winner moves to within four shots of the lead. Nothing’s happening for Rory, though, as he pars 3, 4 and 5 to remain stuck in a +2 rut. On that subject, here’s Hubert O’Hearn: “My gut tells me Rory will not ever quite manage a win at the Masters. On a practical level, he just plain hits too many bad shots, particularly on approach. Nothing destroys a man (experience talking here) quite like nailing a perfect drive, feeling the fizz of attack course through the veins, only to drop kick a short iron – or God forbid a wedge – off the green, down a valley, stopping at a double bogey’s doorstep. Metaphorically one becomes an insomniac because of a fear of nightmares. Besides, if he only wins three out of the four, and I see no reason why he won’t win more Opens or PGA Championships, the company isn’t so bad. Watson and Palmer – three minus the PGA. Mickelson and Snead – no US Open. Those are four of the most beloved names in golf’s history. Theirs might not be the banquet hall of Valhalla, but somehow I think theirs might be the better party, if only because it is all the more human.” Preach on, brother.
Birdie for Koepka at 15. No drama: over the water in two, a chip up to four feet, and in. He joins Big Dustin in a share of second at -6. Spieth’s upward charge is checked when he misses a short birdie putt, five feet tops, at 15. He remains at -1. Meanwhile Charles Howell III turns in 32, after birdies at 2, 5, 8 and 9, and the 39-year-old journeyman, playing in his hometown tournament for the first time in seven years, moves up the leader board to -3!
DeChambeau’s putter has gone stone cold. Having picked up a birdie at 15, he hands it straight back at 16 after a miss from three feet. Meanwhile in the group behind, Justin Thomas’s resurgence continues apace, as he chips in from the back of 15 for eagle! He’s five under for his round now, and has successfully catapulted himself into contention. And what a start by the oftentimes major bridesmaid Louis Oosthuizen! The 2012 runner-up has birdied 1, 4, 6 and 7 to join the group two off the lead. Goodness knows how many majors Oosthuizen would have won, were it not for his unfortunate habit of starting the week cold and finding himself too far behind. The final three days are rarely a problem. But he shot 71 yesterday, and that’s not an issue this week. Beware Louis! A second major for the 2010 Open champion is long, long overdue.
-7: Molinari (F), Day (16)
-6: D Johnson (16)
-5: Poulter (F), Mickelson (15), Koepka (14), Oosthuizen (7), Rahm (5)
-4: Kizzire (F), Kuchar (F), Thomas (15), Scott (8)
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Not only does Molinari have to negotiate the ridge across the 18th green, his putt down to the hole also has a massive left-to-right swing. He’s forced to nearly putt off the green, such is the wild route to the cup. But what judgement! A 75-foot putt is tickled down to three feet, and he gently guides home for a blemish-free 67! He’ll feel so good about that last save. Just the one bogey in his first two rounds! He’s joined there by Day, who makes his third birdie in four holes at 16. And bogey for Tiger at 5, the result of an errant tee shot. He’s back to -2.
Spieth eases his second at 14 to kick-in distance. That’s his fourth birdie in six holes. He’s now four under for his round; he’s -1 overall; he’s back, baby! Meanwhile Molinari misjudges his second into 18. His ball flies just off the back, and he’ll have a very tricky two putts for par, down the slope that runs across the green.
Jason Day moves to within a shot of the leader Molinari with birdie at 15. Dustin Johnson soon follows him, making his third birdie in six holes. And another birdie for Jon Rahm, at 3. This is one star-studded leader board, and we’re not even at the halfway mark yet!
-7: Molinari (17)
-6: D Johnson (15), Day (15)
-5: Poulter (F), Mickelson (14), Koepka (14), Rahm (4)
News of Tiger Woods! He pars the first three holes. Solid and unspectacular. Then: bang! His tee shot at 4 is fired to seven feet, and in goes the birdie putt. He’s now -3. Meanwhile Ian Poulter whips his second at 18 over the flag to ten feet, but can’t make the birdie. He’ll be happy enough with his 71: he’s the new clubhouse leader at -5.
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Compare and contrast to Rory McIlroy, who was desperate for a fast start to claw his way back into contention for the right to fill the jacket-shaped gap on his CV. Down by the 2nd green in 2, he duffs a chip meant to sail over the bunker straight into the sand. He can’t get up and down, and it’s a thoroughly avoidable bogey six on a hole averaging 4.7 today. He’s +2. Meanwhile Brooks Koepka doesn’t look on his game at all today. He races his eagle putt on 13 four feet past, then fails to make the one coming back. A three-putt par, and he walks off in a daze, shaking his head sadly. He stays at -5, two off Molinari’s lead.
Brooks Koepka sends a gentle draw into the 13th from 200 yards. Heart of the green, and he’ll have a look at eagle, and a share of Molinari’s lead, from 35 feet. Jordan Spieth is slowly rebuilding his bid after yesterday’s miserable 75: birdies at 9 and 10 have boosted him up to +1. He lays up at 13, then screeches a lob wedge to kick-in distance. That birdie will take him to level par. This is great to see after his front-nine 40 yesterday. Is there a better street-fighting golfer out there?
Justin Thomas had been going very nicely. The turn reached in 33, after birdies at 2, 6 and 8. Amen Corner negotiated without drama. And now he sends his second at 13 into the creek. Oh Justin! But he very nearly emulates DJ by chipping in. His ball hits the flag and stays out, but he’ll tap in for a par that’ll keep him well positioned at -3. Meanwhile his playing partner Phil Mickelson nearly sinks an eagle putt; he settles for birdie that takes him to -5 again. And how about this from the new world number one Justin Rose? He follows up birdie at 12 with an eagle at 13, reward for a glorious second shot to six feet. All of a sudden, the 2017 nearly man’s back up to +1 and won’t be giving this up quite yet!
Another birdie for Molinari, this time at 15, and the Open champion’s lead stretches. After Koepka and DeChambeau, he’s the third player today to hold a two-shot lead. Meanwhile a birdie for late starter Jon Rahm at 2. Perfect time for a leader board, huh.
-7: Molinari (15)
-5: Poulter (16), D Johnson (13), Day (13), Koepka (12)
-4: Kizzire (F), Kuchar (16), Mickelson (12), Rahm (2)
Thanks Rob! Glad to be back, just in time to see Dustin Johnson making an absurd birdie at 13. He sent his second into Rae’s Creek, then chipped in from 40 yards. There are myriad ways to
fail dismally
succeed in golf. He joins the group at -5, as does his partner Jason Day, who also birdies. Meanwhile DeChambeau’s travails continue: having missed a short par putt at 12, he yips another gettable one on 13. Just a par, and his flat stick has gone stone cold. He stays at -3.
Justin Rose is fighting his game and battling to stay here for the final two rounds. The Englishman has never missed the cut at Augusta but a bogey at 11 was his third of the day. Fortunately he birdied the first two holes and he has just pulled out a sensational two at 12 to return to +3. That’s better from the world No 1, but he needs plenty more where it came from. And with that I’ll hand you back to Scott.
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Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have begun their second rounds. Woods pars the first despite finding the trees off the tee and McIlroy follows suit after leaving his second shot short and right, but pulling out a fine putt. Dropped shots for Poulter and Kuchar at 14 means Molinari’s alone in the lead.
-6: Molinari (13)
-5: Koepka (10), Day (11), Poulter (14)
-4: Mickelson (10), DeChambeau (11), D Johnson 11), Kizzire (F)
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The Americans hit back! Dustin Johnson makes a birdie at 10, his first since the first, to move to -4 while on 13 Matt Kuchar arrows in a brilliant second shot which almost disappears into the cup. He knocks in the putt for eagle three and is in the pack two shots behind the leaders. Mickelson makes it a trio of wonderful US players on that score by bogeying 10.
Big trouble for DeChambeau on 10 after he clatters his second shot out left. He then overhits his chip to the green and then three putts when he eventually gets there. It’s a disastrous double bogey six and he falls back to -4. That opens the door for a new leader and Poulter and Molinari barge through it with birdies, the Englishman on 13 and the Italian on 12. Yesterday, the Americans dominated but two Europeans now lead the Masters on -6.
.@IanJamesPoulter moves to six under with a birdie at No. 13. pic.twitter.com/v4nl3jkrZl
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 12, 2019
Thanks Scott and hello world. What a tournament this is shaping up to be and what a story if Mickelson can stay in the hunt. Two birdies and two bogeys so far today for the 48-year-old and that putt on nine was a beauty to get him back level for the day …
Back to even par for the day. @PhilMickelson draws cheers from patrons with a birdie on No. 9. pic.twitter.com/DDCkYwHRrt
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 12, 2019
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And with that, I’m away for a bit. Rob Bleaney will be your host, and I’ll see you in a while. Enjoy the golf.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat, striking a blow for we realistically proportioned folk, birdies 13. Man’s a hero. The 29-year-old Thai has never won on the PGA Tour, though he’s picked up a few victories in Europe, and finished in a tie for 15th here in 2016. He’s been threatening to break through for a while now. He’s -4. Meanwhile Poulter tidies up for his birdie at 12, and there’s a bounceback birdie for Phil the Thrill at 9. So this is quite a leader board!
-6: DeChambeau (9)
-5: Poulter (12), Molinari (10), Day (9), Mickelson (9), Koepka (8)
-4: Kizzire (F), Aphibarnrat (13)
-3: Olesen (16), D Johnson (9), Harding (6), Scott (1), Rahm
How quickly things change, #863 in an ongoing series. DeChambeau sends a hot approach over the back of 9. He fails to get his chip up onto the green, and that’s a bogey. He slips back to -6, and should be joined in the lead by Koepka, who creams the shot of the day so far, a 250-yard second at the 8th pin high to five feet! An eagle and a share beckons ... but the putt doesn’t drop and he has to settle for that rarest thing, a birdie that feels a little bit like a dropped shot. Meanwhile Poulter has just eased his tee shot at 12 to eight feet, so expect this to change in short order ...
-6: DeChambeau (9)
-5: Molinari (10), Day (9), Koepka (8)
-4: Kizzire (F), Poulter (11), Mickelson (8)
-3: Olesen (16), Aphibarnrat (12), D Johnson (9), Harding (6), Scott (1), Rahm
Oh Sandy! He’s finished with a 75, having followed those back-to-back birdies at 12 and 13 with a dropped shot at 14. That could be costly, because as things stand he’d miss the cut by one stroke at +4. Meanwhile some staunch work by Ian Poulter, who grinds out pars at 10 and 11 to remain at -4. That putter, made famous at so many Ryder Cups, doing a lot of the heavy lifting there.
Another birdie for Justin Thomas. The 2017 PGA champion is quietly climbing the leader board. The latest comes at the par-five 8th, following his earlier birdies at 2 and 6. He’s -2 and right in the mix now after yesterday’s slow start. Meanwhile Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen, who tied for sixth here as a 23-year-old debutant back in 2013, is piecing together a nice score as well. Birdies at 13 and 15, and he’s poised nicely for the weekend at -3 if he can keep it going over the final stretch.
Birdie at the last for Patton Kizzire, and the man from Montgomery, Alabama signs for his second two-under 70 of the week. He’s the early clubhouse leader at -4. Meanwhile Phil can’t get close with his chip, an uncharacteristic clunker, and he ends up with a bogey that his second shot at the hole deserved. I have no idea why he knocked it out with such force, from pine straw to pine straw.
-7: DeChambeau (8)
-5: Molinari (9), Day (8)
-4: Kizzire (F), Poulter (10), Mickelson (8), Koepka (7)
Mickelson channels his inner magician and whips his ball past the tree and into the swale to the right of the green. He’ll have a chance to get up and down to escape with a par. Though it’s probably worth mentioning that this is the fourth-easiest hole on the course, averaging 4.7, so at best he’ll still be giving up statistical ground to the field.
Here’s what Phil does on 8. He stabs his ball out sideways from the forest ... and sends it scampering across the fairway, through the rough, and onto the pine straw on the other side of the fairway. That was a rush of blood, and with feeling. He might have even snookered himself behind a tree. More on this farce soon, but meanwhile here’s more news that affects the top of the standings: birdies for DeChambeau and Day up on the 8th green, and another birdie for Molinari at 9! De Chambeau (-7) moves two clear of Molinari, Day and Mickelson (-5), the latter in all sorts of bother back up the 8th.
Wild, wayward, Seve-style drives ahoy! Kuchar whistles his tee shot at 10 into the woods down the left, Rory 2011 style. Meanwhile Mickelson hoicks his drive at 8 deep into the pines down the left. Trouble there. Kuchar is forced to chip out sideways and launch a hybrid just over the back of the green. He does extremely well to nudge his ball up to the flag from 50 feet, and escapes with a bogey. He’s back to -2. Meanwhile we wait to see what drama Phil has to offer us from his journey into the wild.
At the par-five 8th, a second birdie of the day for Francesco Molinari! It’s not quite textbook, his second failing to reach the green, his pitch up adequate but nothing more. He nails the ten-footer he leaves himself, though, and suddenly he’s got a share of third at -4. Meanwhile back at 7, Mickelson pulls at an uphill 15-foot birdie putt, and a chance to grab a share of DeChambeau’s lead is spurned.
This is beginning to close up again at the top. DeChambeau’s third at 7 goes over the back. He wedges well to four feet, and limits the damage to bogey. Meanwhile on the second par-three, the 6th, Koepka sends his tee shot long, and can only chip back up to 40 feet. He can’t make the long par saver, and he’s shedding shots at an alarming rate today. Just the one par in the first six holes! Par for Kuchar at 9, and he turns in 34, three behind the leader at -3. Poulter takes two putts from just of the back, and he turns in level-par 36, just two off the top.
-6: DeChambeau (7)
-5: Mickelson (6)
-4: Poulter (9), Day (7), Koepka (6)
-3: Kizzire (16), Aphibarnrat (9), Kuchar (9), D Johnson (7), Molinari (7), Harding (3), Scott, Rahm
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Trouble for the leader DeChambeau at 7. He flays his drive into the gallery down the right of the hole, and doesn’t have a clear route to the green. He can only get the ball 120 yards further up the hole, and will need to get up and down from 40 yards if he’s to retain his two-shot advantage over Mickelson and Koepka, who have just parred 6 and 5 respectively.
Kuchar clips a delicious wedge at the par-three 8th to kick-in distance. That nearly went in for eagle. He’ll move back to -2 and he looks a lot happier now, like he’s just got a big tax rebate. His playing partner Poulter’s not so chipper, though, having splashed from the bunker to four feet, then yipped the short birdie putt. He stays at -4. Meanwhile Patton Kizzire had been mooching along steadily after his bogey-birdie start. Pars all the way until 14, whereupon he’s made another birdie to move up to -3. And a chip-in from the back of 6 by Justin Thomas, the 2017 PGA champ carding his second birdie of the day. He’s -1 and quietly launching a Masters bid.
Updated
Hmm, this is uncharacteristic behaviour from Brooks Koepka. Like London buses, you wait 19 holes for him to drop a shot, then he ships three in three. A three-putt bogey at the par-four 4th, his par putt missed from four feet. (Try saying that quickly after spending a couple of hours in the 19th hole.) He’s back to -5 again. Meanwhile a second birdie today for Jason Day, this time at 5: he joins Ian Poulter at -4. And it’s a bogey for Phil at 5, the result of sending his tee shot into the trees down the left. Some realignment at the top:
-7: DeChambeau (5)
-5: Mickelson (5), Koepka (4)
-4: Poulter (7), Day (6)
A weak flop in sand by Matt Kuchar, and he fails to escape from a greenside bunker at 7. He gets out with his second attempt, and does very well to nail a 12-footer to limit the damage, but that’s put a stop to his upward journey. He’s back to -2, and has a thunderous face on, like someone’s just asked him to spare a dime. “Dreich mornings in Georgia, art, jazz, fate, hope and 61 year old golfers? That sounds like the précis of a new Murakami novel.” The Guardian readership there, ladies and gentlemen, represented today by Simon McMahon.
So how did Brooks Koepka respond to that double bogey at 2? You’ve a fair idea, haven’t you. A drive boomed 320 yards down the short par-three 3rd, a chip to six feet, and a tidy-up birdie putt. He’s back in a share of second with Phil at -6. Meanwhile some welcome news regarding 1988 hero Alexander Walter Barr Lyle. Things continued to go pear-shaped after that aforementioned double-bogey at 5, with bogeys at 8 and 9. He was out in 40, and weekend participation hung by a thread. But the great man has given himself a chance with back-to-back birdies at 12 and 13. You never lose it, and he’s currently +3 for the tournament. That’s one shot above the current projected cut, though with seven or eight hours of golf still to play, there’s no point worrying too much about that yet. Suffice to say: come on Sandy!
For the want of three inches, if that, Bryson DeChambeau could easily have been three shots better off yesterday. His eagle effort at 15 only just failed to topple in, he was one roll away from a hole-in-one at 16, and how his ball didn’t drop for eagle at 18 when hitting the flagstick flush is a matter for proper actual scientists to work out. This trend continues today, as a 35-foot birdie putt on 4 stops one dimple short of the cup. He remains at -7. Goodness knows what he’ll shoot when he gets a bit of luck.
Rafa Cabrera Bello’s bid looked in real trouble yesterday after spraying his tee shot at 10 into big trouble down the right, and running up a triple-bogey 7. That sent him crashing down to +3. But he finished strongly, with birdies at 15 and 16, and this morning has picked up further strokes at 3 and now 5. He’s -1. Meanwhile Kiradech Aphibarnrat repairs the damage caused by his bogey at 5 with birdie at 7. He’s back to -3 and an eight-way tie for fifth place.
Justin Rose’s fast start stalls. Bogey at 3, and he’s back to +2. Another birdie for Matt Kuchar, though, this time at 6, and he rises to -3. Par for Kuch’s playing partner Poulter, and the Englishman remains at -4. After a slow start to the morning, it didn’t take long for this second round to become very entertaining indeed.
BREAKING NEWS: Brooks Koepka is human. He sends a big hook into the trees down the left of 2. His attempt to hack out, while stealing a few yards, ends up in more trouble and he’s forced to take a drop. This time he takes his medicine and wedges out sideways. He’s hitting five into a hole that’s averaging 4.68 today. That one only goes to 30 feet. He can’t limit the damage by sinking the putt, and that’s a double bogey seven, his first dropped shots of the week. What a mess he made of that. And suddenly Bryson DeChambeau leads the Masters, with the veteran Mickelson on his shoulder!
-7: DeChambeau (3)
-6: Mickelson (2)
-5: Koepka (2)
-4: Poulter (5)
Updated
Mickelson is just off the front of the par-five 2nd in two. His uphill chip up towards the hole is more than decent, and he slots away the birdie from five feet. Justin Thomas makes a drama-free birdie too: he’s back to level par. And the third member of the group, Justin Rose, nearly guides in a slippery eagle putt, one of those with a 90-degree left-hand turn over a ridge, gravity doing most of the work. Not quite, but that’s a birdie-birdie start, and Rose is setting about his business in fine style this morning. He’s +1, and not quite as out of it as he looked earlier. Up on 4, Poulter flays his drive into nonsense down the left, and he’s always struggling to make par. But make it he does, salvaging it by rolling in a 25-foot saver. He remains at -4, and that’s an appearance from Ryder Cup Poults there, a man simply refusing to let go.
Movement at the very top! Bryson DeChambeau finds the heart of the 2nd in two. He’s not close, but after two careful putts it’s his first birdie of the day. But behind him, Brooks Koepka sends his opening drive into the first cut down the left, then lashes his second to ten feet. In goes the putt, and that’s a hell of an opening statement by the US Open and PGA champion, who in this mood is going to take some stopping. Bogey for Aphibarnrat at 5, and the 29-year-old Thai, one of the best players on the European Tour, slips into the big group at -2.
-7: DeChambeau (2), Koepka (1)
-5: Mickelson (1)
-4: Poulter (4)
-3: Kisner (5), Molinari (4), D Johnson (2), Day (2), Harding, Scott, Rahm
Jason Day has been struggling with a back injury, having tweaked it while lifting up his daughter. He required on-course physio yesterday, and there had been concerns that he might have to pull out. Thankfully his muscles haven’t seized up during the night, and he’s good to go today. Day battled his way through the pain and inconvenience to a first-round 70, and the 2011 runner-up - who also placed third in 2013 and made the top ten in 2016 - continues on the right road today with birdie at 2. He’s -3 and you wouldn’t find too many more popular winners were the 31-year-old Aussie to make it.
An early birdie for the Open champion Francesco Molinari. He maintains the upward momentum that began late yesterday with birdies at 15 and 18. Padraig Harrington’s pre-tournament choice is -3, and you wouldn’t rule him out, not least with that wise backing. Steady starts meanwhile for Kevin Kisner and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who both shot fine 69s yesterday and, going round together, have inspired each other to a string of pars through the first four holes. They remain at -3.
Updated
Poulter fires a stunner into the par-three 4th, and he’ll have a look at birdie from 10 feet. But he pulls the putt and a chance to move within one shot of the leaders is gone. Kuchar rolls in a long one, though, and that’s his second birdie in three holes, a fine response to that stuttering start. He’s -2, just four off the lead. Back on 1, Mickelson’s approach is pin high, but a good 30 feet right of the flag. Not ideal from where he was with wedge in hand. He gives the birdie putt a good go, but the ball slides by the left of the hole. Par to start. An opening birdie for Rose, though, as he finds the centre of the green and guides in a right-to-left curler from 15 feet. He’s +2. Thomas pars to remain at +1.
Consecutive birdies for the 2007 champ Zach Johnson! He rolls in a 30-footer on 3 to move to level par for the tournament. Ian Poulter can’t quite match the feat, and settles for a par to remain at -4. Zach’s namesake Dustin is out and about, but he’s dropped a stroke at Tea Olive to slip immediately to -3. And it’s a par for Bryson DeChambeau, who gets up and down from the front of 1 to keep hold of his share of the lead.
-6: DeChambeau (1), Koepka
-5: Mickelson
-4: Poulter (3)
-3: Kisner (4), Aphibarnrat (4), D Johnson (1), Harding, Scott, Rahm
There’s not a great deal happening out there right now. Keegan Bradley has birdied 2 and 4, a most acceptably brisk start to his second round. But the 2011 PGA champion shot 76 yesterday, so he’s well adrift of the serious action at +2. What can be done to whip up some excitement? Hello! Here comes Phil! The 2004, 2006 and 2010 champion takes to the tee, one off the lead at -5, chewing gum nervously. He blooters his drive down the left of the fairway; that should settle the internal jangling. Justin Rose follows him there, though yesterday’s 75 means he’s unlikely to come as close as he did in 2007 and 2017. Unless he does something quite magical today. The third member of the group, Justin Thomas (+1), finds the sand down the right.
Oh. I’ve just given away the answer to the first question of this week’s sports quiz. Oh dear. Sorry about that.
Play is pretty slow right now. The Poulter-Kuchar-Johnson group has only just reached the second green after a long wait in the fairway. Poulter’s made it on in two, and has a 30-foot uphill eagle putt. It doesn’t quite drop, but that’s a bounceback birdie and he’s back to -4, just two off the lead. A birdie Kuchar and Zach Johnson too; they’re +1 and -1 respectively. “Surely any discussion of jazz and golf should mention swing?” scats Grant Tennille of the Augusta Arkestra. “I’m here all weekend, do try the smoked trout!” For the record, fish was indeed available at this year’s Masters Club Dinner “in honor of Mr Patrick Reed”, but the main dish on offer was prime bone-in cowboy ribeye with herb butter. Sides: mac and cheese, creamed spinach, steamed broccoli and corn crème brûlée. Tiramisu, vanilla crème brûlée, chocolate crunch and praline cheesecake for dessert. Wine to forget recent form.
It was a good Thursday for the amateurs. The 19-year-old UCLA student Devon Bling followed his hole-in-one celebrations in the par-three contest with a fine first round of 74. World number two amateur Viktor Hovland shot a level-par 72. Takumi Kanaya led at -2 for a little while, before settling for a one-over 73. Jovan Rebula, the nephew of Ernie Els no less, shot 73 as well. Kevin O’Connell’s 77 was not to be sniffed at, four shots better than one of the pre-tournament picks Paul Casey for a start. And Alvaro Ortiz, the first Mexican to play at Augusta for 40 years, since Victor Regalado in 1979, shot 73 too. Ortiz, Rebula and Bling are all out this morning, and all level par for their rounds so far. Bling with the most drama: he started out today with bogeys at 1 and 2, but bounced back well with birdies at 4 and 5. The competition for low amateur could be quite the battle this year.
Kuchar found himself almost flush behind a pine tree down the right. He hangs around waiting for an official, but he’s not getting out of this pickle with a saucy ruling. His follow-through severely impeded, he can only pop the ball out and across the fairway to the rough on the other side. He can only chip to 20 feet, and isn’t able to make the par saver. He slips to level par. Poulter meanwhile hoicks his sand shot wide left of the green, from where he fails to get up and down. An opening bogey, and he drops to -3. Meanwhile a no-nonsense par for the no-nonsense Zach Johnson, who remains at +2.
“Heard reports of Miles Davis turning in his grave at the mention of his music in the same breath as Augusta and the Masters,” writes Gerry Brett. A fair assumption. Does that make him the Lee Trevino of jazz? “But what news of Sandy Lyle, yesterday’s unsung hero with an amazing +1 to give him a chance of making the weekend and getting a decent cheque? Surely he’ll thrive in the dreich?” Sadly not. The great man birdied 2, but handed back the stroke at 3, before failing to bump a chip up onto the sloping green at 5, the ball rolling back to his feet. He ran up a double bogey and he’s now +3 overall.
The first of the leading bunch is out. Ian Poulter (-4) takes to the tee, and sends his opening drive into the fairway bunker down the right. Not ideal, but could be a lot worse; witness his partner Matt Kuchar (-1) who finds the pine straw to the side of that bunker. They’re going round with Zach Johnson (+2) and the 2007 champion whistles his tee shot down the middle.
The 2014 FedEx Cup champion Billy Horschel is another fine player who hasn’t shown in the Masters. His best result in four visits is a tie for 17th in 2016, with two missed cuts. Just the five pars yesterday; throw in seven bogeys, five birdies and an eagle, and that’s a rollercoaster level-par 72. The theme continues today with birdie at Tea Olive, and he’s back into red figures at -1. “The damply dripping synths on that soul-sappingly flaccid theme tune (2pm) evoke similar feelings to a dreich afternoon on a links course on the east coast of Fife,” quips Robin Durie, his cloth ears flapping sadly in the breeze. “By contrast, In a Silent Way is a glorious, life-affirming expression of the creative possibilities of art in general and jazz in particular.” I’m with you on that second point at least. I like to think one can enjoy both, much as one can appreciate the silky swings of Fred Couples and new ANA Inspiration champion Ko Jin-young, yet also find a strange beauty in the baroque stylings of a Jim Furyk or Inbee Park. It’s a broad church here.
Kevin Na was going well for a while yesterday afternoon, a shot behind the leaders following birdies at 13 and 15. But how quickly things can change. A few members of the leading pack, so long bunched at -3, starting picking up shots, while Na dropped one at 18. And now, after yesterday’s 71, he’s opened his second round with a bogey. He’s back to level par for the tournament, six adrift of the leaders.
Distance isn’t everything at Augusta. Bernhard Langer’s opening drive ends up well short of the big bunker on the right, the one plenty of the whippersnappers have been clearing. But the German legend cracks an iron from 180 yards to 15 feet, then rattles in the birdie putt. After yesterday’s outstanding 71, Langer is now -2 for the tournament, tied for 11th, and just four shots off the lead. Bernhard Langer is 61 and won his first green jacket 34 years ago. The infinite, magical possibilities of golf.
The former PGA, US Open and Players champion Martin Kaymer has never done much in the Masters. A tie for 16th a couple of years ago is the best he’s managed. After yesterday’s 73, a low score today is imperative if he’s to improve on that record. He’s started well with birdie at 1, the reward for a lovely approach from 160 yards to three feet. But a wild hook into the trees from the 2nd tee box cost him chance of birdie at a hole that has given up 42 birdies and one eagle already this week, and is playing the third easiest on the course. Par. He’s -1.
Patton Kizzire was leading the Masters at one point yesterday. But it’s not been an ideal start today for the man from Montgomery, Alabama. A loose approach into the opening hole, sent to the right of the green, followed by a chip up across the putting surface and into the sand over the other side. The rain may be coming down, but the greens are still slick. He could only splash out to ten feet, and did very well to limit the damage to bogey by sinking the putt. However he’s snatched the shot back immediately with birdie at the 2nd. He remains at -2 for the tournament.
Can a morning in the Deep South ever be described as dreich? Probably not, but this is the nearest you can get to Open Championship conditions in Georgia: it’s overcast and drizzly. That means umbrellas up and rainproofs on. Not ideal, but the morning showers are only expected to last an hour or so, after which there’ll be a three-to-four-hour dry window during which some of the mid-morning starters can make hay on a softer, more receptive course. Those early starters include Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter and Dustin Johnson. The top five on the leaderboard, in other words. A gap could develop. Then in the afternoon there’s half a chance of thunder and lightning, so potentially some delays. But let’s not get het up about that yet.
There’s only one way to start. With the possible exception of In A Silent Way, the best music ever put out by CBS.
It's the second round of the 83rd Masters Tournament!
Just 18 holes played, yet so many questions already. Can Phil Mickelson become the oldest major winner of all time? Will Tiger finally land his 15th major after 11 years of waiting? Is this going to be a third major in four for Brooks Koepka? Has there ever been a more forensic, locked-on, heatseeking end to a round at Augusta than Bryson DeChambeau’s inch-from-eagle, millimetres-from-hole-in-one, chip-in-for-birdie, flagstick-hit-flush-millimetres-from-eagle finish yesterday? The answers: maybe; possibly; let’s wait to find out; no.
If the late first-round action is anything to go by, we’ll enjoy one heck of a ride over the next three days. Or four days, if reports of rain and thunderstorms, possibly today, almost certainly on Sunday, prove to be correct. Our day two coverage begins at 2pm BST, 9am ET. It’s on!
-6: DeChambeau, Koepka
-5: Mickelson
-4: Poulter, D Johnson
-3: Harding, Scott, Rahm, Kisner, Aphibarnrat
-2: Conners, Holmes, Bjerregaard, Woodland, Woods, Fowler, Smith, Kizzire, Molinari, Day
-1: Finau, Hoffman, Oosthuizen, Fleetwood, Na, Olesen, Langer, Kuchar
BST times; US unless stated; *amateur
13.30 S Lyle (Sco), M Kim, P Kizzire
13.41 T Immelman (SA), M Kaymer (Ger), D Bling
13.52 L Mize, J Walker, S Cink
14.03 JM Olazábal (Sp), K Na, T Olesen (Den)
14.14 B Langer (Ger), M Wallace (Eng), A Ortiz (Mex)
14.25 A Noren (Swe), K Bradley, M Fitzpatrick (Eng)
14.36 V Singh (Fij), B Horschel, J Rebula (SA)*
14.47 K Kisner, K Aphibarnrat (Tha), S Imahira (Jpn)
14.58 Z Johnson, I Poulter (Eng), M Kuchar
15.09 F Molinari (It), R Cabrera-Bello (Sp), T Hatton (Eng)
15.31 B Watson, P Cantlay, S Kodaira (Jpn)
15.42 D Johnson, B DeChambeau, J Day (Aus)
15.53 P Mickelson, J Rose (Eng), J Thomas
16.04 J Spieth, P Casey (Eng), B Koepka
16.15 A Landry, A Long, C Conners (Can)
16.26 I Woosnam (Wal), K Mitchell, K Tway
16.37 M Weir (Can), S Lowry (Irl), K O’Connell
16.48 A Cabrera (Arg), A Wise, J Harding (SA)
16.59 D Willett (Eng), B Snedeker, T Kanaya (Jpn)*
17.10 F Couples, Si Woo Kim (Kor), JB Holmes
17.32 B Grace (SA), E Grillo (Arg), L Bjerregaard (Den)
17.43 C Schwartzel (SA), C Howell III, E Pepperell (Eng)
17.54 S García (Sp), T Finau, H Stenson (Swe)
18.05 A Scott (Aus), H Matsuyama (Jpn), K Stanley
18.16 P Reed, W Simpson, V Hovland (Nor)*
18.27 C Hoffman, L Oosthuizen (SA), M Leishman (Aus)
18.38 T Fleetwood (Eng), X Schauffele, G Woodland
18.49 T Woods, Haotong Li (Chn), J Rahm (Sp)
19.00 R McIlroy (NI), R Fowler, C Smith (Aus)
Updated
