The Masters Roundup – Day Two

The Masters Roundup - Day Two

Jordan maintains slim lead over Rory

Jordan Spieth remains out in front after the second round of the Masters, but will play in the last group on Saturday alongside Rory McIlroy after the Northern Irishman made up three shots on his American rival.
Spieth looked to be running away with the tournament in exactly the same manner as 12 months ago when he made two birdies in the first three holes to get to eight under, five clear of a field that was spluttering badly.
But the world No.2 double bogeyed the 5th and although he birdied the 8th he gave it straight back to turn in 36 – the first time Spieth not broken par on front nine in his Masters career.
He dropped another shot at the 10th and despite a two-putt birdie on the par-5 15th he followed it by making two bogeys in a row.
The reigning champion then required a clutch six foot par putt at the last to retain a slim one-shot advantage over McIlroy in the weekend match-up the golf world was hoping for prior to the tournament starting.
McIlroy in contrast enjoyed a fine back nine, coming home in a 34 that was spoiled only by a three putt from just off the green on the dangerous 11th.
From that low point he made gloriously easy birdies on the two par 5s then rolled in a snaking putt on 16 to secure his place alongside Spieth in Saturday’s last pair.
That prospect looked a distant hope when the four-time Major champion reached the turn in 37 after a scrappy middle section.
Getting to four under after three holes, he then gave away three shots in two holes and his frustration was as visible as his hopes of challenging for the win that would complete his career Grand Slam appeared.
Arguably the story of the day, though, was that of Bryson DeChambeau, the distinctive amateur who was paired with Spieth.
He closed with a triple bogey but prior to that had displayed the skill and temperament of a future champion as he went out in 34 and made three further birdies on the back nine.
Before a sloppy bogey at 16 and a seven at 18 after finding the trees on the left off the tee, he was closing in on the final group with Spieth, which would have been a sensational achievement at a venue traditionally much less forgiving on amateurs than our Open.
On an extremely difficult day for scoring that prevented players from making a charge, the key names from day one remain the key names from day two.
Danny Lee shot two over but remains in the hunt at two under, alongside Scott Piercy and Hideki Matsuyama while Europeans Soren Kjeldsen (-1), Sergio Garcia, Shane Lowry and Danny Willett (all level) are
Meanwhile Tom Watson bid farewell to Augusta as a competitor, almost draining a curling 50-foot putt on the last.
However we strongly suspect he will be back on the property as an honorary starter in the not too distant future…

Best of the reaction from Day Two

“I knew what was happening. I am a bit of a leaderboard watcher. I like to know where I stand.i wanted to be in that final group. That was my objective. This is my best position going into the weekend at Augusta for a long time.” – Rory McIlroy, -3

“I slept ok but this morning felt really down when I got to the course. People give you a funny look. You feel embarrassed. Even the players and caddies looked at me like I had no trousers on.” – Ernie Els

“I’m just trying to say to myself, keep grinding. Just be patient, because we’re going to have another day of wind like this.” – Jason Day, +1

“I’ve been blessed to be able to come here and have fans. I hope I have entertained some fans here or patrons here. Making that phone call in the privacy of my own home to Stan Thirsk and Byron Nelson after winning my first Masters was very special.” Tom Watson, +8

“It was a privilege to play with Tom in his last Masters. I enjoyed the walk up 18 with him, and just how he is loved by all the patrons and the players.” – Lee Westwood, +2

Diary notes from Day Two

► Rory’s driving masterclass
Rory McIlroy’s driving is a class above almost everyone else in the field. Playing alongside Martin Kaymer and Bill Hass he wasn’t just as many as 40 yards ahead of them at times, he was also finding better angles for his approaches. McIlroy’s frustration (as well as how painfully slow it is out there), which he did very well to temper, was that his iron play did not allow him to capitalise on his driving. And 16, apart, he doesn’t roll in mid-length putts as others do (eg Jordan).

► It’s not always perfect though
When McIlroy hit *that* hook on the 10th tee when leading in the 2011 Masters and played his second from a spot Peter Alliss said he had never seen anyone play a shot from before, you thought ‘I bet lots of people have been there before in reality’. Alliss might have been correct though – it was barely 90 yards down the (sloping) fairway, so short and crooked that the home owners who might well get the odd visit from a members’ errant drive, will never expect a tour pro’s ball to drop in. So far, few problems on the hole for McIlroy this year.

► Augusta makes tour pros make amateur mistakes
There’s something about Augusta that lures bewildering errors from the world’s finest golfers. In fact, they make the kind of mistakes us amateurs stupidly make. Take the 9th for example. It is a thump downhill off the tee that makes its 460 very short for these players, and then an approach uphill with a short iron or, more likely, wedge. The sort of shot us amateurs flare high in the air, come up short, and see the ball run 20 yards back off the green apron. The pros never make these mistakes do they? Except here…countless players made this error on day two, with the pin cut front right of the green.

► Putting isn’t everything
It’s said you simply have to putt well to win at Augusta and it is their failure to do so that some suggest McIroy, Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose will struggle claim a Green Jacket. Yet Angel Cabrera’s sturdy presence in the top 30 (when he barely looks as if he is exerting himself) reminds one that it is possible to win round here without holing everything you look at. If your long game is good enough, you can put tentatively and still win.

► Patrons on beer
Following on from yesterday’s note about the amount of British golf fans spectating here, they are being made to feel right at home by the home fans’ willingness to get stuck into pints of beer…before 8am. It was more like Friday morning at a regional airport full of hens and stags than the conservative opening major of the year…