- Justin Rose recovers from shaky start to retain lead
- Jordan Spieth and Will Zalatoris among chasing pack
- Official Masters leaderboard
Moving Day promises to be a blast. Justin Rose will hope to rediscover his Thursday form, while just about everyone else in the chasing pack will be channeling their Friday selves. Here’s how things look at the top of the leader board after 36 holes; thanks for reading, and see you tomorrow!
-7: Rose
-6: Zalatoris, Harman
-5: Leishman, Spieth
-4: Wiesberger, Finau, Thomas, Kim, Champ, Matsuyama
-3: Schauffele
-2: Palmer, Smith, Morikawa, Conners
-1: DeChambeau, Jones, Cink, Hovland
So along with Paul Casey, a few big names have survived the cut by the skin of their teeth at +3: Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Francesco Molinari, Billy Horschel, Ian Poulter.
Those not so fortunate include: Jimmy Walker, Matt Kuchar, Sergio Garcia, Daniel Berger, Danny Willett, Kevin Kisner, Brooks Koepka, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Zach Johnson, Bernhard Langer, Patrick Cantlay, Jason Day … and the defending champion Dustin Johnson.
Casey pulls his short par putt left, and that’s a bogey-bogey finish. A 74 today, and he scrapes under the cut line at +3. Berger pars, but it’s one too many as he ends his week at +4. Finally Reed tidies up, and while he’ll not be happy with his second-day 75, he’s still not out of this at +1.
None of the final group find the 18th green in regulation. Reed is up first, facing a hellishly tricky chip from the edge of the bunker to the right. There’s not much green to play with at all, and the dancefloor slopes down … but he lands his high lob softly and he should escape with his par from three feet. Berger needs to hole out from sand, and nearly manages it, but even if he taps in for his par, it won’t be enough. Finally Casey putts up from the fringe at the front. He hits a woefully weak putt, though he’s still got two putts for the bogey that’d be enough for his weekend participation.
The final group heads up the last. Daniel Berger (+4) needs a birdie if he’s to make the weekend; Paul Casey (+2) can afford a bogey but nothing worse. The 2018 champion Patrick Reed would have to really go to town to miss the cut, as he’s relatively comfortable at +1, though he’s three over for his round today and not on his game at all.
Schauffele chips up to 12 feet, and rolls in a brilliant par saver. He scrawls his signature on the bottom of a 69, and at -3, just four off the pace, is in a great place going into the weekend. Meanwhile a par for McIlroy, whose 74 was nowhere near good enough. He’s +6 and away home. The career slam will have to wait another 12 months at least. He’s got a fair bit of thinking to do in the meantime.
Rahm is this close to tickling in his downhill birdie putt on 18. His ball turns to the right at the very last, shaving the lip. Still, that’s his second level-par 72 of the week. He’s still in with a shout, but he’ll need to make a move tomorrow.
Schauffele comes up the last. His approach from the centre of the fairway is poor, short and right. He bites his lip in irritation. Rahm meanwhile, having birdied the 17th, nearly slam-dunks his second into the cup. He’s left with a ten footer coming back; if he makes it, he’ll go into the weekend in red figures. It could make all the difference come Sunday evening.
DJ can’t salvage his par, a sorry end to his defence. A 75 today to go alongside yesterday’s 74 and he ends his week at +5. Still, while he now holds the record for shortest Masters reign ever, he also still holds the low scoring record of -20 last year. So it’s very much swings and roundabouts, and with admission to the champions’ locker room guaranteed for life, his 145-day oddity is unlikely to bother this famously laid-back southern gent. He’s been one of the great champions.
DJ throws his chip over the flagstick, hoping the ridge across the green will bring his ball back towards the cup. It doesn’t help much. He’s done. At 145 days, his is the shortest reign as Masters champion in history, although given he won The One In November, that’s obviously a monumental quirk of fate.
Nope. He pulls it wide left, and leaves himself short of the bunker guarding the front of the green. The jig looks up for last November’s winner, who trudges up the hill disconsolately.
Schauffele’s approach to 17 nearly threatens to topple back off the front of the green. But his ball holds, and two careful putts later he’s heading off to the 18th tee with par that keeps him at -3. Meanwhile up on 18, DJ, who requires birdie to stay alive this week, sends his drive crashing into the Sandy Lyle Bunker. Can he replicate Sandy’s work of 1988 genius?
Sergio won’t be here this weekend. Bogeys at 15 and 17 did for him, and though he’s signing for a level-par 72 today, he ends the second round at +4, the wrong side of the cut line. Ah well, we’ll always have 2017.
He can’t make it. Defending champion Dustin Johnson three-putts 17, and having dropped to +4, he needs a birdie down 18 if he’s to play this weekend. He’ll not be going home either way, because he’s required to remain on site to drape the green jacket over the shoulders of his successor.
Rahm tidies up for his par on 16 and remains at +1. Meanwhile on 17, DJ rolls his 70-foot putt across the green to eight feet. Big par saver for the big man coming right up.
A lovely birdie for Xander Schauffele on 16. He clips his tee shot to 20 feet, then curls a big right-to-left swinger into the centre of the cup. He’s -3 and there’s a notable spring in his step now.
Rahm splashes out delightfully to six feet. That required the old soft Spanish hands. Meanwhile a great second shot by DJ also, who finds the front of 17 from the trees. He’ll have a long two putts for his par, but at least he’s given himself the chance.
DJ sends a wild slice into the trees down the right of 17. At +3, hovering over the projected cut line, he really needs to watch himself here. As does Jon Rahm, who is +1 having dropped a stroke at 15, sends his tee shot at 16 into the sand high on the right, leaving himself a tricky splash out down the glassy green. He momentarily considers breaking his club over his knee with one big bear-like swipe, but catches himself just in time, then gives the camera a cheeky if a little sheepish thumbs-up.
Lee Westwood slides a 12-foot birdie putt inches left of the hole at 16. That was pretty much a must-make for the eternal bridesmaid, who at +5 will now have to birdie the last two holes if he’s to stay for the weekend. Meanwhile back on 15, Rory McIlroy birdies another par-five, but at +6 he’ll need three more birdies to slither under the cut line. These are pipe dreams, let’s be perfectly honest with ourselves.
Dustin Johnson continues to flirt with the cut. He spins his second shot at 15 back into the water, and is unable to scramble his par. He slips back to +3, right on the line. Meanwhile up on 18, Viktor Hovland makes par and that’s a superb 70; he’s -1. A valedictory birdie meanwhile for his partner Brooks Koepka, still recovering from that knee surgery. The four-time major winner will be heading home, finishing the second round at +5.
Abraham Ancer signs for a magnificent 69. You could forgive him for getting down on himself after being penalised two strokes for improving his lie in the sand yesterday – accidentally it should be stressed. He’s level par, and on course for another decent Masters after finishing tied for 13th back in November, when he went out in Sunday’s final group.
I was just informed that I have been assessed a 2 stroke penalty for unintentionally grazing the sand in my backswing on hole 15. While I’m gutted, I can’t wait to get after it tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/5ZOlthQzeE
Matsyuama’s second into 18 stops on the ridge at the top of the green, with the pin near the bottom. He’s forced to send his putt off on one of those absurd Augusta u-turns. You’d think it impossible to leave it short as it comes off the bank, but somehow, like Frank Costanza, it stopped short. Eh? How?! Justice is done as he rolls in the par saver from eight feet, and that’s a 71 to go with yesterday’s 69. He’s nicely placed for the weekend at -4, and if he can get his flat stick to go on one of its occasional hot streaks, the Japanese star could be tough to beat.
So having said that, Viktor Hovland produces another attention-demanding shot. His approach to 17 toppled off the side of the green, but no matter, the young Norwegian simply bundled his chip back up, one of those that always looked like rolling dutifully into the cup for birdie! His run since the 12th hole: 3-4-4-3-2-3. He’s picked up five shots in the last five holes, four in the last three. He’s -1, and just imagine where he’d be had he not started his round yesterday with a triple bogey! This is a moxie masterclass by an exceptional young talent. And they say his chipping is the weak point of his game!
Schauffele creams his second into 14 to six feet, but then shoves the birdie putt well right. That’s a poor effort, and he strides off the green in Fume Mode. He remains at -2 as the second round begins to peter out, a dramatic diminuendo.
Cameron Champ mashes a monster drive down 18, miles past the bunkers, then screeches his lob wedge to 13 feet. He can’t make the birdie putt, the ball always staying up on the right, but that’s a 68 that brings him into the thick of it at -4.
That eagle has sparked Viktor Hovland into life. He sends his tee shot at 16 straight at the flag, then rolls in the gentle right-to-left slider from 15 feet for birdie. He’s back to level par.
Birdie for Rory McIlroy on 13, but it’s too little too late. His eagle effort from 20 feet was always stopping short, and his slumped shoulders illustrate where his mind is at right now. He’s +7. Birdie for his partners Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm, too; they’re -2 and level par respectively.
Three putts for Hideki Matsuyama on 16. He knew it was likely to happen the moment he hit his tee shot. He slips back to -4, alongside Cameron Champ, who was inches away from rolling in a 20-foot birdie effort on 17, but stays in a tie for sixth.
-7: Rose (F)
-6: Zalatoris (F), Harman (F)
-5: Leishman (F), Spieth (F)
-4: Wiesberger (F), Finau (F), Thomas (F), Kim (F), Champ (17), Matsuyama (16)
Two final swipes of the 3-wood on the 18th green, and the impetuous Kim Si-woo escapes with a par! He’s not dropped a stroke since bending his putter in a fit of pique, and allows himself a wry smile as he signs for an excellent 69. He’s -4, and the 2017 Players champ is right in this. Gotta love a hot-head! Tom Weiskopf’s quiet meltdown of 1980, anyone?
Related: The Joy of Six: The Masters | Scott Murray
Ah right, here’s what happened! On 15, Victor Hovland bumps a cute chip up from the back, the ball elegantly guided on a huge curve from left to right, dropping at perfect pace into the cup. He lets a huge, infectious smile play across his face, and no wonder; with the cut projected at +3, he’s given himself a cushion with an eagle that takes him up to +1.
A cheer rings out across Augusta as we watch Matsuyama line up his long birdie putt on 16. No idea what’s just happened, but my goodness how we missed those electric crackles in November. Even with a reduced gallery of patrons, it’s such a sweet sound! Welcome back, one and all.
Matsuyama’s tee shot into 16 is half a club short. He grimaces as he considers the long breaking putt he’s left himself. Up on 18, Kim splits the fairway, then knocks his second to 18 feet. Some more 3-wood magic coming up!
Matsuyama is a dimple away from draining another eagle effort, this time at 15. He settles for birdie and joins the gang at -5. Meanwhile up on 18, Brian Harman makes another birdie, and he’s signing for his second 69 of the week. This leader board is looking rather crowded now!
-7: Rose (F)
-6: Zalatoris (F), Harman (F)
-5: Leishman (F), Spieth (F), Matsuyama (15)
-4: Wiesberger (F), Finau (F), Thomas (F), Kim (17), Champ (16)
Kim knows how to use this 3-wood on the greens. It’s almost as though he’s broken the odd putter before. He nudges his 30-footer on 17 to tap-in distance, and tidies up without fuss. He remains at -4.
… and so there won’t be any amateurs here at the weekend. Charles Osborne, who finished runner-up to Ty Strafaci at the 2020 US Amateur, finished today at +8; the third and final amateur to tee it up this week, the aforementioned Strafaci, is currently +16 overall through 12. He won’t be making the cut. As nobody made the 36-hole cut, there will be no award of the Silver Cup. One of those years.
The 2020 British Amateur champion Joe Long shot an extremely disappointing 82 yesterday. But he’s more than redeemed himself with an excellent 72 today, and while he’ll not be here for the weekend – he’s +10 overall – he’ll surely always remember the way he took his leave of the stage at Augusta, finishing with a triple flourish of birdies at 13, 14 and 15. That’s quite the display of moxie from the 23-year-old Englishman, and may it stand him in good stead going foward.
Birdie at 12 for DJ, who is not letting his title go without a fight. He’s +2. Meanwhile Kim sends his second at 17 into the heart of the green, and it’ll be good to see him try to make that slippery putt with his fairway wood.
Birdie for the street-fighting Brian Harman on 17, and the diminutive left-hander joins the group in second at -5. Scrub that; he’s joint third, because up on 18, the debutant Will Zalatoris plays the hole in textbook fashion. Drive down the middle, approach to ten feet, putt rolled in. He’s closed with three birdies in a row, and played the back nine in 31 strokes. A sensational 68 and there is no reason whatsoever why this 24-year-old Texan can’t become the first debutant to win at Augusta since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.
-7: Rose (F)
-6: Zalatoris (F)
-5: Leishman (F), Spieth (F), Harman (17)
Turns out Kim bent his putter out of all recognition while waiting to putt out on 15, after that hot chip, as opposed to back on 14. That means he’s got to use his 3-wood for the rest of the round, because you’re not allowed to use a club with altered characteristics. Shame, because he knocks his tee shot at 16 to ten feet. He could have done with his flat stick; instead, he knocks his 3-wood past the hole and must settle for par.
McIlroy drains a 15-footer to limit the damage on 10 to double-bogey. He’s +8, and the existential pain of that farce has deadened his eyes. He wouldn’t be human if he wasn’t thinking about that Sunday capitulation ten years ago. Meanwhile some very real pain on 14, where Brooks Koepka slips on the bank by Rae’s Creek and needs a little bit of help from his caddy to get back up. That’s a worry given his recent knee surgery, but thankfully it looks like he’s fine to continue. As Butch Harmon says on Sky, there is no way he’d be playing in a tournament this week if it wasn’t the Masters.
Will Zalatoris continues to impress. He creams his second at 17 to ten feet, and rolls in another birdie putt, his fourth in seven holes. He joins Marc Leishman and Jordan Spieth in a tie for second at -5. Meanwhile if Kim Si-woo thinks he’s got it bad, he should walk a mile in Rory McIlroy’s shoes; coming down 10, the hole that caused him so much pain ten years ago, he slices into azaleas down the right. Not sure he’ll find that, so he’s forced to play a provisional, which only just reaches the fringe. This is difficult to watch. It’s probably for the best that he’s going to miss the cut. Time to down tools for a while and mentally regroup. He looks frazzled.
Kim has lost the noggin. It looks like he might have done his putter a disservice while analysing events on the 14th green, because he’s now putting on 15 with his 3-wood. Two putts and he’s in for par, which could have been a whole lot worse, but black smoke is pouring out of his ears, and this time he dispatches his ball into the water. Just to confirm: he’s -4, just three off the lead at the Masters, in a tie for fifth! High standards, these professional sport stars.
Kim is a wee bit heavy handed with his chip from the back of 15. It looks for all the world like his ball is going for a swim, but the greens have softened up, and the fringe holds it up. That’s a huge break. Meanwhile back on 13, Matsuyama rattles in an eagle putt from the fringe at the back, and he’s suddenly -4 and all smiles.
DJ undoes a lot of his good work by tugging an uncertain short putt wide left at 10. Bogey, and he’s back flirting with the cut at +3. Champ meanwhile tidies up for his birdie at 14, and moves into a tie for fourth at -4.
For the second hole in a row, Kim Si-woo sends a fine approach into the green, only to see it topple gently off the back. A couple of yards out again, this time at 15. He’ll have another tricky chip back, albeit with more green to play with. On the other hand, the drink is lurking behind. Adding insult to injury, back on 14, Cameron Champ does what Kim was trying to do, landing his second a yard or so shorter, and giving himself a six-foot look for birdie.
Another birdie for Xander Schauffele. This one comes at 9, and he turns in 34 strokes. It’s always worth recalling the 27-year-old Californian’s record in the majors: to date, he’s got five top-five finishes plus two top-tens in 14 starts. One of those was a tie for second here in 2019. Throw in one WGC title and a FedEx play-off event, and it’s surely a matter of time before he lands a really big one. He’s -2 and going about his business in typically understated fashion.
A two-putt birdie for Cameron Champ on 13. He moves to -3. Meanwhile Will Zalatoris picks up his third stroke in six holes after knocking his tee shot at 16 to eight feet. He’s -4.
-7: Rose (F)
-5: Leishman (F), Spieth (F)
-4: Wiesberger (F), Finau (F), Thomas (F), Zalatoris (16), Harman (14), Kim (14)
-3: Champ (13)
The defending champion Dustin Johnson isn’t giving up without a fight. Back-to-back birdies at 8 and 9, and he turns in level par, back where he started the day at +2. A back nine like the one Justin Rose strung together, and his dream of becoming the first player to retain the title since Tiger in 2002 will be alive and well. It’s not beyond the realms, is it?
Kim’s second into 14 is inches away from perfection, but topples off the back. Shortsided, he trundles his chip well past the cup, and his par putt lips out. Some top-drawer effing and jeffing as he considers the thin line between birdie and bogey at Augusta National. He slips back to -4.
A couple of fluffed chips by the 2018 winner Patrick Reed at the back of 7. He salvages the situation, limiting the damage to bogey, with a staunch 12-footer. He slips back to -2. His partner Paul Casey bogeys the hole as well, dropping down to +2. And some news of Rory McIlroy, who follows bogey at 5 with a bunker-to-bunker farce at 7. Another shot gone, and he’s currently +6 overall after 8. Weekend participation looks a pipe dream for McIlroy right now.
Some leader board, this!
-7: Rose (F)
-5: Leishman (F), Spieth (F), Kim (13)
-4: Wiesberger (F), Finau (F), Thomas (F), Harman (14)
-3: Zalatoris (14), Reed (6)
-2: Palmer (F), Smith (F), Morikawa (F), Conners (13), Champ (11), Matsuyama (10)
-1: DeChambeau (F), Bezuidenhout (9), Schauffele (7)
Two putts for Jordan Spieth, and he’s in the hut with a brilliant 68. If he’d played the 9th yesterday to par, he’d be leading the Masters at the halfway mark. Having won the Texas Open last week, his first Tour title in four years, it’s safe to say the three-time major winner is back, back, back. Par for Cam Smith, who ends the day at -2 overall after a 68 that promised more, and birdie for Collin Morikawa, whose 69 leaves him nicely positioned at -2 as well.
Spieth whips his fairway bunker shot at 18 into the heart of the green. He’s pin high, in JT Country. A chance for birdie, but look what just happened to his pal. Back on 13, Kim Si-woo finds the green in two, but can’t quite make hie eagle putt from 13 feet. Slightly disappointing, but rising to a share of second at -5 will soften the blow.
Finau prods with great uncertainty at his short par putt, and leaves it short. That is a nervous shambles and a sorry end to an otherwise excellent round. Bogey, but it is a 66. And then Thomas’s effort horseshoes out; another miserable bogey, but he’d have taken his 67 at the start of the day. Still, that’s put another shot between the US pair and the leader Rose.
-7: Rose (F)
-5: Leishman (F), Spieth (17)
-4: Wiesberger (F), Finau (F), Thomas (F), Harman (13), Kim (12)
Thomas doesn’t give his putt enough welly, and he’ll have some work left for his par. Before he and Finau set about their work, he must wait for the third member of the group, Louis Oosthuizen, to tidy up for an excellent birdie. That means the South African will definitely be here for the weekend; he finishes the day at +2 after a weekend-salvaging 70.
Finau dinks his chip from a tight spot to the right of 18 to six feet. A chance to salvage par. Back on the tee, Spieth whips his drive into Sandy Lyle’s bunker. With Thomas taking a look at birdie soon, it’s a big few moments coming up at the top of the leader board, with all these players at -5, two behind the leader Rose.
A superb birdie by Jordan Spieth on 17. He sends his second pin high, onto the top shelf, and rolls an unerring 25-footer straight into the cup! He joins his good friend Justin Thomas at -5. Speaking of JT, he’s on the 18th in regulation. He’s not happy, having pulled his approach well left of the flag, but he’ll have a look at birdie from 30 feet nevertheless. He’s certainly in a better position than Tony Finau, who having found himself in one of the bunkers to the left, slices his second wide right of the green.
Bryson tickles in his birdie putt, and he’s signing for a 67. Out in 34, back in 33, no pictures on the card, and after yesterday’s miserable 76, he goes into the weekend in credit at -1 overall. That’s a magnificent display by DeChambeau, who is never anything less than exhilarating to watch. That drive on 18 was Seve-wild, and yet he carved out a brilliant birdie!
DeChambeau finds his ball on the 10th. No matter, because he’s got a route through the trees back to the 18th green, and he finds the dancefloor with a lovely forensic iron. He’ll have a look at birdie! Meanwhile Hideki Matsuyama birdies 9; that cancels out a dropped shot at 5, and he turns in 36 to hang in there at -3.
Thomas races an overly ambitious long birdie putt ten feet past on 17. But he holes the one coming back. That’s a super saver, and he remains in a tie for second at -5. A determined punch of the air to celebrate. His partner Finau nearly chips in from the fringe, but he’ll be more than happy to settle for a par. Back down the hole, Spieth creams his drive into position A down the right, having just made a par three on 16.
Sergio continues to move backwards. After bogey at 6, it’s another at 7, and all of a sudden he’s flirting with the cut line. He’s +3, his head just above water. Firmly below it, Rory McIlroy, who bogeys 5 and isn’t going anywhere fast. He’s +5, alongside another big name, Brooks Koepka, who has bogeyed 1, 3 and 6 today, and might be a little undercooked this week having come back so quickly from knee surgery.
DeChambeau’s great comeback may have stalled, as he tries to cut across the dogleg right on 18, and sends his tee shot deep into the pines. He’s never boring, you’ve got to give him that. Also delivering big on entertainment: Xander Schauffele, who nearly slam-dunks his tee shot at 6 into the cup. The ball screeches to a halt, a couple of inches from the cup. He’ll move to -1.
On the par-three 6th, Dustin Johnson sizes up a downhill 15-foot putt. He gently prods it … and sends it 60 feet – not a misprint, 60 feet – past the hole, the ball toppling off down a slope. With steam understandably parping out of his ears, he whacks the one coming back six feet too far the other way. He does extremely well to gather himself and tidy up for bogey. But that follows a double at 5, the result of an unscheduled visit to the trees, and now the defending champion is the wrong side of the projected cut line. He’s +4.
Pars for Finau and JT on 16. Neither had realistic looks at birdie, so both will be happy to remain at -5. A final-hole bogey for Tommy Fleetwood, who ends the day at level par, adding a 70 to his opening-day 74. Sergio bogeys 6, the result of pulling his tee shot left and leaving himself a monster two-putt for par. And Bryson DeChambeau follows birdies at 13 and 15 with another at 17. He’s repaired all the damage of that opening round of 76, and if he can find something up 18, will go into the weekend in red numbers.
Spieth sends his second at 15 over the back of the green again. Yesterday he chipped in for eagle; had he not hit the pin flush, he’d have been wet. Today he elects to putt, and brushes a gloriously judged trickler to a couple of feet, and makes his birdie. His playing partner Cam Smith however makes a double bogey, the result of spinning his approach back into Rae’s Creek. He slips to -2, and I really, really, really shouldn’t have mentioned the course record. Dear Cameron Smith. Many apologies. Yours, the Guardian.
The 2017 Players champion Kim Si-woo shot a slightly disappointing 71 yesterday, finishing with bogeys at 15 and 16. He’s repaired a lot of that late damage today, with birdies at 3, 6 and 8. He’s nicely placed at -4 through 10. Up on 12, Will Zalatoris drains a 30-footer for birdie. It follows birdie on 11, and the 24-year-old Masters debutant is -3. The first debutant winner since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979? You wouldn’t put it past the brilliant young Texan, who already has a hole-in-one and a tie for sixth at last year’s US Open on his CV.
Sergio’s speedy start continues. Birdie at 5, and the 2017 champion is back up to +1. Tony Finau is this close to steering in a 30-foot eagle effort on 15 with an absurd left-to-right curl, but he makes to with birdie … as does his playing partner Justin Thomas. Those birdies bring the American pair into a tie for second. Here’s how the leader board has changed, all of a sudden.
-7: Rose (F)
-5: Leishman (F), Finau (15), Thomas (15)
-4: Wiesberger (F), Smith (14), Harman (10), Kim (10)
-3: Spieth (14), Champ (8), Reed (3)
Ryan Palmer has competed intermittently at Augusta. A top-ten finish in 2011, but nothing else of note, and he’s not played here since 2015. But the 44-year-old Texan has torn up the back nine this afternoon. Birdies at 10, 13, 14, 15 and 17, and he comes up 18 looking for a par that’d get him home in 30 strokes. Unfortunately, he leaves himself a monster 60-foot left-to-right breaker from the back of the green, and three putts later that’s a closing bogey. Still, it’s an impressive 68. He’s -2 overall, and in with a shout of another top-ten finish, a decade on from his first.
Justin Rose has a word with Sky. “The finger was moving towards the panic button for sure! … I kept leaving the ball on the green in tough spots … I hung in there well and weathered that period of the round … little things were going wrong … they weren’t falling my way as they did yesterday … but I didn’t hit the panic button … I got aggressive on the 13th tee, and that was the turning point for me … you don’t just skip round the golf course for 72 holes and I fully expect to face that again … I know how to play the course and have a great gameplan and strategy … but I can see who are stacking up behind me … to shoot 72 after yesterday is not a bad score … so far so good!”
The defending champ Dustin Johnson got off to a cold start this afternoon. Bogey at 1, but he’s turned it around with birdies at 3 and 4. He’s +1 overall after yesterday’s 74. Meanwhile a first dropped shot of the day by Cam Smith, who was always out of position on 14 and eventually underhit a 15-foot effort to save par. He slips back to -6, and I really shouldn’t have mentioned the course record. Sorry.
Justin Rose is a dimple away from draining a downhill birdie putt on 18. He’ll have to settle for par, and a level-par round of 72. Not what he was dreaming of last night, but he’d have grabbed this with both hands having turned in 39. That’s a magnificent back nine of 33, and he escapes Friday without being able to locate any of his best game. It was also a good salvage job by Shane Lowry, who closed with birdies at 12, 13 and a kick-in effort on the last. A 73 that keeps him at level par, just seven off Rose’s lead; again, he’d have taken it after that miserable 6-6 start.
-7: Rose (F)
-5: Leishman (F), Smith (13)
-4: Wiesberger (F), Finau (14), Thomas (14), Harman (9), Kim (8)
-3: Palmer (17), Spieth (13), Champ (7), Simpson (4), Reed (2)
-2: Scheffler (16), Matsuyama (6)
Smith obviously loves this place. He tied for fifth here in 2018, then finished joint second last year, when he became the first player in the entire 84-year history of the Masters to shoot four sub-70 rounds. Mind you, he’s not the only one who could potentially make history this afternoon. Justin Thomas is five under for his round after 13; Cameron Champ has birdied four of the first six! Someone will have to make it to ten under for their round to wipe Nick Price and Greg Norman out of the record books, and that’s a hell of an ask … but then what’s the point in watching sport if you’re not allowed to dream? C’mon everyone. God speed!
Jordan Spieth bounces back from that shabby bogey at 12 with birdie at 13. He moves up to -3, but falls further behind his playing partner Cameron Smith, who tidies up for his eagle. The 27-year-old Aussie is now seven under for his round today, and we’ll soon have to start thinking about the course record. A couple more birdies, and he’d tie the 63 set by Nick Price in 1986 and matched by Greg Norman ten years later.
-7: Rose (17)
-5: Leishman (F), Smith (13)
-4: Wiesberger (F), Thomas (13), Harman (8), Kim (8), Champ (6)
Birdie for Tommy Fleetwood at 15. It didn’t look on when he was wedging in from 100 yards, but he spun his approach to ten feet and guided the putt home. He’s -1. Meanwhile his playing partner Phil Mickelson adds birdie at 15 to the one he picked up at 13, and suddenly he’s +3 and looking good for the weekend. Scottie Scheffler makes it three birdies out of three in the group, and having eagled 13, he’s now -2. It’s been a rare old rollercoaster ride for the 24-year-old Texan.
Cameron Champ has started his second round brightly. Birdies and 1, 2 and 4 have whisked him up the leader board to -3. Sergio has come out all guns blazing too, with birdies at 2 and 3; he’s +2. But never mind all that! Another Cameron – Cam Smith – has just knocked his second at 13 to a couple of feet! He’ll have a gilt-edged chance for eagle, having sent his tee shot at the previous hole to a similar distance!
News of one of the pre-tournament favourites Bryson DeChambeau, who birdied 13 to move to +2. He’s a couple under for his round today, a vast improvement over yesterday’s extremely underwhelming 76. Meanwhile in the group behind, Thomas set up that aforementioned eagle putt on the same hole. His effort shaves the right lip and he half-collapses in irritation – it was an extremely makeable putt by Augusta standards – but it’s a third birdie in a row, and he’s suddenly tied for third at -4.
Jordan Spieth’s campaign hits a bump at 12, yet again. He dunks his tee shot into the bunker at the front. Plugged, he can neither chip close nor make the par putt. He slips back to -2 and flings his rock into Rae’s Creek in disgust.
Last year’s joint runner-up Cam Smith is going great guns today. Having played the front nine in 32 strokes, he’s surely going to card a fifth birdie of the day at 12, having stuck his tee shot to a couple of feet. That’ll bring him into the group at -3. Yep, it’s in. He’s now alongside the similarly hot Tony Finau and Justin Thomas on the leader board … though how much longer JT will be there is a moot point, because the Players champion has just creamed his second into the heart of 13 and will have a good look at eagle.
Justin Rose’s superb recovery continues apace. A third birdie in four holes, as he guides in a right-to-left 20 footer on 16. Suddenly he’s back where he started the day, and you’d imagine this Tournament would already be over if the first seven holes didn’t count. Which, to be fair, is quite the caveat.
-7: Rose (16)
-5: Leishman (F)
-4: Wiesberger (F), Harman (7)
Many thanks to David. I’m back just in time to see Marc Leishman come close to birdie on 18 … but he’s forced to settle for a par and an excellent 67 that’s earned him second spot as things stand. However this finishes, he’s well set for the weekend, and with an extremely steady record round here, you wouldn’t rule the genial Aussie out at all.
A quick leaderboard update before I hand back to Scott. You’ll notice Thomas up to -3. Yep, he tickled in his eight footer at 12.
-6: Rose (15)
-5 Leishman (17)
-4: Wiesberger (F), Harman (7)
-3: Finau (12), Thomas (12), Spieth (10), Kim (6), Champ (4), Matsuyama (3)
Super drive by Rose at 15 but he fans his approach out to the right, missing the green by a distance. Chipping across 15 at least carries less danger than coming at it from behind although he’s a little heavy handed with his third. It leaves him with just over 20 feet for his birdie and he doesn’t hit it hard enough. A par is okay but Rose looks a tad disappointed.
This leaderboard is really taking shape now as the big names continue to gather behind leader Justin Rose. Jordan Spieth birdies 10 to get to -3 while up at 11 Justin Thomas picks up a shot to advance to -2. JT then sticks his tee shot at 12 to eight feet.
What does Rory McIlroy have in store for us today? We’ll know shortly as the Northern Irishman is heading out in five minutes. He’ll start at +4 (currently 10 back) which is currently worth tied 57th and a shot over the cut line. Mickelson joins him on +4 after the left-hander’s eagle try at 13 pulls up half an inch before the cup. Phil looks to the skies. He thought he had that one. Amy breathes a sigh of relief that their ludicrous collection of crystal isn’t added to.
Oh Tommy. After riding a whole heap of momentum from his hole-in-one yesterday, Fleetwood has gone off the rails a little. A bogey at 11 dropped him to -1 and he’s now mishit his second into Rae’s Creek in front of the 13th green. Alongside him, Phil Mickelson continues to do his impression of 70s Vegas Elvis. There are flashes of the old magic but also an unease from those watching that something is going wrong. Phil reaches for one of his greatest hits by finding the 13th in two but at +5 he could be leaving the building sooner rather than later.
Losing the lead appears to have stung Justin Rose into action. After his birdie at 13, he’s drained a 23 footer for a red circle at 14 so leads on his own again at -6. Now to the par-5 15th where another obvious birdie opportunity awaits.
Tony Finau gets an awful lot of heat for never winning (that sole Puerto Rico victory is now five years ago and counting). But his record in majors is one of the best around. He’s made the top 10 in seven of the last 11 and is on track for another here after an eagle-3 at 2 followed by birdies at 6, 8, 9 and 10. The latest comes after a glorious approach to the 10th and it takes him to -4 for the Tournament and -6 for the day. He’s also larruped one down the middle of the 11th so the good times keep rollin’.
A quick stats update. The two players hitting most greens in regulation so far are Jordan Spieth and Cameron Smith (both averaging 80.77%). That’s the recipe for sustained success at Augusta National and expect their leader board creep to continue if they keep those irons dialled in. Spieth fans will be pleased to know he’s avoided any of yesterday’s calamities at 9. Thursday’s triple bogey has been replaced by a routine fairway and green par today. He remains at -2, three off the leaders.
But Rose hits back! After losing his lead for about 72 seconds, the Englishman two putts a par 5 of his own, the 13th. A well played hole and it’s just his second birdie of the day and first in 11 holes.
-5: Leishman (15), Rose (13)
-4: Wiesberger (F)
-3 Finau (9), Harman (4), Matsuyama (1)
-2: Spieth (8), Smith (8), Thompson (8), Zalatoris (5), Kim (3), Simpson, Bezuidenhout, Reed
New leader alert and it’s Aussie Marc Leishman after making his sixth birdie of the day, his latest gain coming at the par-5 15th. His second clings onto the front edge – would that have rolled back off and into the water yesterday? – and he isn’t far off with his eagle attempt. The tap-in birdie takes him to five-under for the day and, indeed, the Tournament.
“Turn, Turn…“ says Butch Harmon, seemingly about to tell us his favourite Byrds song. But he’s referring to Rose’s approach to 13 which looks a little worrying in the air but plonks down safely on the dancefloor. He’s on the right side of the green but a two-putt from there and he’ll have his nose in front once more.
Bernd Wiesberger completes a wonderfully-played 6-under 66 to post the clubhouse target of 4-under 140. The Austrian had previously made all five cuts here despite never shooting a round in the 60s. Well, he’s changed all that in convincing style today, knocking four shots off his previous Augusta PB. Most of us had him down to finish tied 34th but here is leading the Masters!
Thanks Scott. And my first task is to bring you positive news about Justin Rose’s tee-shot at 13. A lovely one to the right side of the fairway and he’ll be going for the green in two from there. Don’t think bad of me but I’m kind of happy that Rose has come back to the field today. When courses play tough, an early leader can get away and never come back: think Trevor Immelman in 2008. Rose could still match that wire-to-wire win if he kicks on again but for now the peleton has gobbled him up. Three share the lead and the top 18 are covered by just three shots.
Rose pars 12, and makes it through Amen Corner without injury … providing he doesn’t spray his drive at 13 into bother, of course. News of that will be relayed to you by David Tindall, who slips seamlessly into the hole-by-hole hotseat while I go off and stuff my easily pleased face with power bars ahead of a long afternoon. See you again in a bit!
-4: Wiesberger (17), Leishman (14), Rose (12), Harman (2)
-3: Matsuyama
-2: Fleetwood (10), Finau (8), Spieth (7), Zalatoris (4), Simpson, Bezuidenhout, Reed
-1: Thomas (8), Simth (7), Thompson (7), Kim (2)
Another birdie for Justin Thomas, the current Players champion continuing to piece his bid back together after yesterday’s front nine of 39. An up and down from the front of the par-five 8th and he moves up to -1. He’s going round with Tony Finau, who has followed his eagle at 2 and birdie at 6 with another bird at 8. He’s -2 for the Tournament and four under for his round today.
Rose makes his two-putt par at 11 … and now it’s a four-way tie at the top, Brian Harman making birdie at 2 to join everyone at -4. Rose lands his tee shot at 12 in the centre of the green, and his cheery “thank you” to the gallery suggests he’s in a better frame of mind having stemmed the bleeding with four pars on the spin.
Martin Laird is the first player back in the clubhouse today. He signs for a very acceptable 71, though he’ll be fizzing after dropping strokes at both 17 and 18. At least at +1 he’ll be making the weekend, unlike his playing partner this morning, the 2000 champion Vijay Singh, who follows yesterday’s 79 with an 80. At +15, he’s in 87th place out of 88 … but the great Fijian will always have that green jacket.
Rose appears to have gathered himself after those early struggles. His drive down 11 skirts with the second cut down the right, but his second is exquisite, arrowed into the heart of the green. He’ll have a reasonably straight look at birdie from 20 feet. He’d love to make it, because he’s now part of a three-way lead, Leishman having followed up his birdie at 12 with another at the par-five 13th.
-4: Wiesberger (16), Leishman (13), Rose (10)
-3: Harman (1), Matsuyama
-2: Fleetwood (9), Spieth (6), Zalatoris (2), Simpson, Bezuidenhout, Reed
Tyrrell Hatton’s early promise has dissipated a little. After that birdie at 3, he’s dropped strokes at 5 and now 9, hitting the turn in 37 strokes. That’s dropped him back to level par for the Tournament after yesterday’s 71. But how about this for Bob MacIntyre? The 23-year-old from Oban has just completed a triptych of birdies, at 12, 13 and 14, to haul himself up to level par. And on 9, Tommy Fleetwood curls in a 15-footer to make it back-to-back birdies. He’s -2, turning in 32, and only the joint leader Wiesberger is going better than him today!
The 28-year-old Colombian Sebastian Munoz shot two sub-70 rounds here in November. He ended up in a tie for 19th, not bad going on his Masters debut. He’s trucking along nicely in April, too, following up yesterday’s 74 with birdies at 1, 2 and now 3. He’s in that ever-growing pack at -1, just three off Rose and Wiesberger’s lead.
Bernd Wiesberger eases a delicious wedge at the par-five 15th to six feet, and the birdie gives him a share of the lead. The 35-year-old Austrian started nine shots behind Justin Rose this morning, but now take a look at this!
-4: Wiesberger (15), Rose (10)
-3: Leishman (12), Harman (1), Matsuyama
-2: Spieth (5), Zalatoris (1), Simpson, Bezuidenhout, Reed
-1: Fleetwood (8), Finau (6), Smith (5), Thompson (5), Munoz (3), Kim
Justin Rose and his playing partners Shane Lowry and Matt Kuchar all find the 10th in regulation … but nobody is totally sure of their two-putt pars, miles as they all are from the hole. Rose goes closest, his flat stick getting him out of yet another scrape. He remains at -4. Two putts as well for Lowry (+2) and Kuchar (+4), the latter two under for his round today, battling hard to beat the cut after yesterday’s 78.
Birdie for Tony Finau at 6, and he joins the group at -1. Marc Leishman meanwhile bounces back from the dropped stroke at 11 by landing his tee shot at the iconic par-three 12th four feet from the flag. He’s -3 once again.
Lefty rediscovers his flopping mojo. He sends a frankly preposterous 20-yard lob six million feet into the air over a greenside bunker at 8, swinging at full pelt needless to say. The ball serenely stops by the hole, and that’s a birdie that brings the old campaigner back to +4. He’s now within a shot of the cut, predicted at +3. Birdies for Mickelson’s partners Scheffler (+1) and Fleetwood (-1) too.
Rose salvages his par. He turns in 39, three over for his round, but he’s still one strike in the lead, and that two-putt from the top of that glassy green will have given him a shot in the arm. Meanwhile up on 11, a weak chip from the fringe costs Marc Leishman a shot. He slips out of a share of second, back to -2.
-4: Rose (9)
-3: Wiesberger (14), Harman, Matsuyama
-2: Leishman (11), Spieth (4), Thompson (2), Zalatoris (1), Simpson, Bezuidenhout, Reed
-1: Hatton (8), Smith (4), Morikawa (4), Kim
Rose continues to firefight. His drive down 9 is decent, just holding onto the fairway down the left, but his approach is pulled to the back left of the green, leaving a treacherous two-putts down this always-entertaining green for his par. He could quite easily tickle one down there and watch it topple off the front, so his effort is quite magnificent, shaving the right-hand side of the cup, so close to dropping for a sensational birdie. The ball still rolls four feet past, so there’s still work to do, but that’s a lovely touch that may rebuild a little confidence as he hits the turn.
Scottie Scheffler’s early momentum is now very much a thing of the past. Bogeys at 5, 6 and now 7 have sent him crashing back down the leader board to +2, just as he was threatening to make a surge towards the top. Taking up the slack, Cam Smith, who makes his third birdie in a row, this time at 4, to join the group at -1.
Michael Thompson has no record in the majors to speak of whatsoever, except from quite the outlier at the 2012 US Open, where he finished tied for second behind Webb Simpson. He ended a seven-year wait for his second Tour victory last year at the 3M Open, and he’s making the best of only his third appearance at the Masters. Birdies at 2 and 3 this morning, and he’s in a tie for sixth at -2.
Just the par for Rose at 8, always the most likely result after sending his tee shot into the fairway bunker. Once again, he’s forced to make a missable putt for his score; despite everything, his flat stick has stopped this turning from a miserable front nine into a mind-bending nightmare. He remains one ahead at -4.
There’s plenty of moving and shaking going on now. An eagle for Tony Finau at 2, where he creamed his second from 220 yards to eight feet. Justin Thomas opened with a birdie at Tea Olive. Last year’s joint runner-up Cam Smith birdies 2 and 3. And it’s a chip-in eagle on 2 for Matt Jones. All of the above move to level par. The leader board is concertinaing up nicely. Good luck picking a winner.
Another birdie for Matt Wallace! He nails his third long putt of the morning, this time at the tricky 10th, and moves into red figures. He’s joined at -1 by Martin Laird, the Scot putting together a fine sequence of birdies: 13, 15 and 16. And the reigning PGA champ Collin Morikawa, who should have done better than his 73 yesterday, opens with birdies at 2 and 3, and he joins the group at -1 too.
Scheffler drops back to level par with bogey at 5. That’s the result of sending his tee shot into bother on the left. Though he fashioned an escape from under branches to the front edge of the green, he was always slightly out of position, and it all caught up with him when he missed a tricky slider for his par.
The 8th is where it all turned round for Rose yesterday, when his pulled second took a bounce off the bank to the left of the green and set up an unlikely eagle. That’ll not be happening today, because his tee shot has found the bunkers down the right. He trudges up the fairway wearing that faux-insouciant expression favoured by golfers when times are super-tough, and that fools nobody. The poor guy must be churning inside. The upside: despite it all, he’s still leading the Masters!
Rose makes the bogey putt, but that’s the second time he’s been required to limit the damage in two holes, and he can’t keep going on like this. The silver lining on the cloud: he’s still got sole ownership of the lead, because Bernd Wiesberger drops his first stroke of the day, the result of sending his tee shot at the par-three 12th into the bunker at the back. Though look who’s popped up at -2, having just got up and down from sand for birdie at 2! Had Jordan Spieth parred 9 yesterday, the 2015 champ would now be leading the Masters. One suspects he’s taken a look at the top of the leader board and the juices are now flowing!
-4: Rose (7)
-3: Wiesberger (12), Leishman (9), Harman, Matsuyama
-2: Spieth (2), Zalatoris, Simpson, Bezuidenhout, Reed
-1: Hatton (6), Kim
Rose was fortunate that his second found the sand, instead of leaving a delicate chip, but his splash out is meek. He leaves himself a 15-footer for par. Plenty of right-to-left break. He rolls an excitable putt six feet past, and this is beginning to turn ugly. He’ll really need to make this one coming back. Better news for English fans back on 5, where Fleetwood rolls a 20-footer into the centre of the cup. His second birdie of the day brings him back to level par.
Rose’s mechanism is rusty this morning. His hand flies off the grip as he sends his approach into 7. It’s well short. This is threatening to turn into a full-blown crisis for the leader, though it’s worth remembering he was all over the shop over the first seven holes yesterday, too, and look how he turned that around. He’ll be hoping that the par-five 8th proves another pivotal moment … because he needs something.
Rose rattles the second effort over the hump from 60 feet and a good seven feet past the hole. He does extremely well to steer the right-to-left bogey slider into the cup, limiting the damage, but this has been a stuttering performance from Rose this morning, and almost in the blink of an eye, his big 18-hole lead has been reduced to a measly one.
-5: Rose (6)
-4: Wiesberger (10)
-3: Leishman (7), Harman, Matsuyama
-2: Zalatoris, Simpson, Bezuidenhout, Reed
-1: Hatton (5), Scheffler (4), Spieth (1), Kim
Everything seems to be dropping for Bernd Wiesberger today. Having turned in 31, he’s now drained a 30-footer across 10, historically the most difficult hole at Augusta. A birdie that effectively picks up nearly one-and-a-half shots on the field. He moves into second place on his own, just a couple behind the leader Justin Rose … and he’ll almost certainly be closer, because Rose, having left himself a monster birdie putt across the par-three 6th, can’t make it over a ridge and watches in horror as his ball comes pretty much all the way back to his feet. Take two coming up.
So much for Francesco Molinari’s fast start to the second round. Birdies at 2 and 3 brought him level, but he’s just tripled the 5th, taking his medicine when in the trees, then racing a chip straight through the green. The 2018 Open champ drops back to +3.
Bernd Wiesberger hits the turn in 31 strokes. A blistering front nine that has taken the Austrian into serious contention. Scottie Scheffler is nudging his way up the standings too, with his second birdie of the day, at 3; he makes it into red figures at -1. And now he’s sent his tee shot at the tricky long par-three 4th pin high, where he’ll have a look at birdie from 20 feet.
See also: Matt Fitzpatrick, who birdies 2 to move to +1. And a birdie at 3 for Tommy Fleetwood, who also sits handily at +1. However Justin Rose’s second into five isn’t much cop, finding the green, but a good 60 feet from the flag. The result of a mud ball, to be fair. He does extremely well to lag his long putt to three feet, then tidies up to scramble his par. But he’s battling his game a little bit this morning. He remains at -6.
Matt Wallace is bang in form, having pushed Jordan Spieth all the way at the Texas Open last week. His overall play yesterday deserved better than the 74 he eventually carded, but he’s going along nicely today. A couple of medium-length rakes, on 3 and now 7, have brought birdies that take him up to level par. With Justin Rose currently leading, and Tyrrell Hatton under par, a decent English challenge is developing. Can any of them become the third English player to don a green jacket, in the wake of Nick Faldo and Danny Willett?
Mickelson’s uncharacteristic wedge play continues, as he attempts a flop over a bunker at 2 and dunks it lamely in the sand. All very strange. He can’t get up and down, and that’s a 5-6 start for the three-time winner. He’s +5, and suddenly the cut is more of a concern than any historic charge for the title. His partner Scottie Scheffler, coming off the back of an excellent week at the Match Play, birdies to move to level par. The 24-year-old Texan finished in the top 20 here on debut in November, and has the game to be considered a Masters champion in waiting. He walks off the green carrying an air of quiet satisfaction, going about his business under the radar.
Rose sends his tee shot at the par-three 4th over the back of the green. He elects to putt up from the sloping fringe, and undercooks it to the extent that he doesn’t even make the green … with the putter. Bogey was inevitable. By contrast, his playing partner Matt Kuchar trundles one in from the fringe on the other side of the green. It’s his second birdie of the day after the 2nd, and suddenly he’s back to +4, though realistically yesterday’s 78 has killed the ever-smiling Kuch. Meanwhile a first birdie of the day for Tyrrell Hatton, at 3, and he moves to within four. Things change quickly at Augusta National.
-6: Rose (4)
-3: Wiesberger (8), Leishman (6), Harman, Matsuyama
-2: Hatton (3), Zalatoris, Simpson, Bezuidenhout, Reed
-1: Spieth, Kim
Jason Kokrak finished his round yesterday evening in style. Birdies at 12, 15, 16 and 18 hauled him out of the pack to -1, and he continued on that upward trajectory with birdie this morning at 2. But he’s travelled up the 5th like the Keystone Kops in a misfiring Ford Model T, finding sand to the left of the fairway, then behind the green. A heavy-handed double bogey, and the 35-year old slips back to level par.
Yellow Jasmine, the par-five 8th, gave up 28 birdies and three eagles yesterday. It was the third easiest hole on the course. So it’s no surprise that the on-fire Bernd Wiesberger, having made four birdies in his first five holes today, picks up another stroke here. He responds to duffing a miserable chip by sinking a 20-footer and moves into a share of second.
-7: Rose (3)
-3: Wiesberger (8), Leishman (5), Harman, Matsuyama
-2: Zalatoris, Simpson, Bezuidenhout, Reed
-1: Hatton (2), Spieth, Kim
A massive stroke of luck for Fleetwood on 2. He sends a huge slice into the woods down the right of the hole. The ball looks to have disappeared into the jungle, but somehow ricochets back out onto the fairway. He’s a long way back, but it’s a par five, and he’d have taken this outcome as he watched his dappled orb sailing off serenely towards the back of beyond.
Tommy Fleetwood sends his second pin high at 1, but his birdie putt from 18 feet needs another drop of juice. It stops tantalisingly on the lip, and he’ll have to settle for a par that keeps him at +2. Mickelson makes his bogey putt, limiting the damage caused by an errant drive and an underhit chip; he’s +4. And up on 3, Lowry responds well to his awful start by screeching his second to 18 inches and snatching a shot back. He’s +1. Par for Rose.
This hasn’t happened to Phil Mickelson too often at Augusta National. Having sent his second at 1 over the trees to the front of the green, he lobs up onto the putting surface, only for his ball to stop halfway up and roll all the way back down to his feet. That sort of thing usually only happens to mere golfing mortals. Lefty shrugs, tries again, and bumps up to six feet, but he’ll have that for an opening bogey. At +3, he really needs to make it, if his dream of becoming the oldest major winner in history is to be realised this week.
For the second green in a row, Shane Lowry doesn’t give his first putt any legs whatsoever. Once again, it costs him. A three-putt, and that’s a 6-6 start. He’s +2 and looking thoroughly miserable. Justin Rose however clips an expert chip over the bunker and down the green to three feet, before tidying up for bounceback birdie. That’ll have settled a few nerves. A brilliant up and down that turns a distinctly average start into a very acceptable one.
-7: Rose (2)
-3: Leishman (4), Harman, Matsuyama
-2: Wiesberger (7), Kokrak (4), Zalatoris, Simpson, Bezuidenhout, Reed
-1: Hatton (1), Spieth, Kim
The second featured group of the morning is out and about. Phil Mickelson and Scottie Scheffler pull their opening drives into the trees on the left, while hole-in-one hero Tommy Fleetwood splits the fairway. At +3, +1 and +2 respectively, they’re all in a position where a low round would put them in serious contention.
Rose finally takes aim for the green at 2, but pulls his fairway wood wide left. The green the other side of a bunker, he’ll have a tricky up and down if he’s to make a bounceback birdie. Lowry meanwhile sends an average third into the heart of the green, miles from the hole.
A nice start to the second round for the 2019 nearly man Francesco Molinari. The Italian, who held the 54-hole lead that year, only to stumble at the 12th with Tiger Woods breathing down his neck, has just followed up birdie at 2 by sticking a wedge to kick-in distance at 3 for another. He’s level par now after yesterday’s 74.
Rose waits in the centre of the fairway for the 2nd green to clear. In the match ahead, Kevin Na, so, y’know.
Rose steadies the ship a little by creaming his drive at 2 down the middle. Lowry continues to judder, though, sending a 3-wood into the bunker down the right. He’s up against the lip, so will have to lay up. He should still give himself a chance to get up and down from distance for birdie, but Pink Dogwood was the easiest hole on the course yesterday, giving up 37 birdies, and this isn’t what the Open champion will have been dreaming of last night at all.
… Marc Leishman continues his blistering start. After booming long down the short par-three 3rd, he chips up close, and that’s three birdies from three. A reminder that Leishman finished in a tie for 13th five months ago, when he tied the Tournament record of playing the par-fives to an aggregate score of -15, and he’s also got a top-five and top-ten finish on his CV.
-6: Rose (1)
-3: Leishman (3), Harman, Matsuyama
-2: Wiesberger (6), Kokrak (3), Zalatoris, Simpson, Bezuidenhout, Reed
-1: Hatton, Spieth, Kim
Lowry is a magician with the wedge – his performance in winning the Open at Portrush illustrated that – but he’s got to come up with something particularly special from the bottom of the steep bank to the side of 1. He bumps it up but gets too much check, and leaves himself a 20-foot par putt. He doesn’t hit the following putt at all, and it’s a double-bogey six from the middle of the fairway. He’s +1 and walks off shaking his head sadly. Rose meanwhile cradles his long par putt to two feet, and limits the damage to bogey. The lead is now just three: he’s -6. Updated leader board to come, because …
Back on 1, Rose is forced to take his medicine and pitch out sideways. He sends his third from 165 yards into the meat of the green, but a long way from the flag. He clacks his cheek with his tongue. Not the perfect start by any means, but at least he didn’t attempt a Spiethesque miracle escape from the trees, which could have led to anything. Bogey most likely here, though, and the same can be said for Lowry, who sends his approach down the tricky swale to the left of the dancefloor.
Jason Kokrak and Marc Leishman are going around together, and both have started well. Back-to-back birdies at 1 and 2 for Leishman, birdie for Kokrak at 2. They both move to -2. Moving the other way, Mackenzie Hughes, who drops a stroke at the par-three 4th to slip back to -1. But Bernd Wiesberger knocks his second at 5 to 15 feet, and strokes in his fourth birdie putt in the first five holes. What a start!
-7: Rose
-3: Harman, Matsuyama
-2: Wiesberger (5), Kokrak (2), Leishman (2), Zalatoris, Simpson, Bezuidenhout, Reed
-1: Hughes (4), Lowry, Hatton, Spieth, Kim
Here comes the first-round leader! Justin Rose takes to the tee at Tea Olive, hitches up his trousers nervously, and prepares to hit his opening drive. Having battled through the worst of the conditions yesterday afternoon – the wind, the firmer ground – he’s in a position to bolster his position this morning. There’s no breeze, it’s warm, and once again it’s the later starters who will face the harder task. All set up nicely … though he bogeyed this hole yesterday … and it’s not a good tee shot, sent into the pines down the right of the hole. A frown and a smack of the lips. Shane Lowry is straight down the middle. Here we go, then.
It was a difficult day for some of the veteran champions yesterday. Well, it was a difficult day for everyone – the average round was 74.53, over three strokes harder than the soft squidgy days of last November – but particularly so for the old boys. A 79 for 1992 champ Fred Couples, an 81 for 1988 hero Sandy Lyle, and a whopping 84 for Larry Mize, the surprise 1987 winner. Mize famously saw off Greg Norman with that absurd chip-in on 11 during the play-off, but the wedge is letting him down today; two poor efforts from the side of the par-three 4th and it’s a double that brings him down to +15. Ah, and another dropped shot, at 5. He’s propping up the entire leader board at +16, five adrift of the struggling Mexican Carlos Ortiz, who admittedly is 33 years his junior. Bucking the trend of misfiring veterans, naturally, is Bernhard Langer: the two-time winner shot 74 yesterday, defying his age yet again at Augusta. He’s 63!
Wiesberger and playing partner Mackenzie Hughes are egging each other on. Hughes also makes birdie at 3, swishing his approach from 140 yards to seven feet and making the putt. A two-pronged attack on the leader board from only the third match of the day.
-7: Rose
-3: Harman, Matsuyama
-2: Hughes (3), Zalatoris, Simpson, Bezuidenhout, Reed
-1: Wiesberger (3), Kim, Kokrak, Lowry, Hatton, Spieth
E: Thompson, Kisner, Champ, Schauffele, Rahm, Hughes, Leishman
Bernd Wiesberger makes it three birdies from three, bumping his chip on 3 up to six feet and rolling in the putt. He moves to -1 for the Tournament in short order. We may see more birdies at this short par-four today, on account of the pin placement nearer the back of the green, giving players more room to take a run at the cup. It’s a small data set so far, but 3 was averaging 4.09 yesterday, and today it’s already giving up 3.5.
CT Pan finished tied for seventh last November, a fine effort on debut. Yesterday’s 79 brought the 29-year-old back down to April’s firmer terra firma, but he’s started well today, arrowing his second at Tea Olive straight at the flag to earn an opening birdie. He moves up to +6. “Can I please revive my, unpublished, email from this time yesterday (ie. before his round started) which posited a Rose-y outcome?” Yes, we owe you that at the very least, Richard Hirst. “Mind you, I also riffed on Lee Westwood, but as Meatloaf almost said, one out of two ain’t bad.”
Weisberger is going round with Mackenzie Hughes. The 30-year-old Canadian, based reasonably locally in North Carolina, has no record worth speaking of here – rounds of 79 and 80 to miss the cut on his only previous visit in 2017 – but he shot a par round of 72 yesterday, and has just birdied 2 to move to -1.
A fast start this morning for Bernd Wiesberger. The 35-year-old Austrian has never missed a cut on his previous five visits to Augusta, and looks in good shape to keep that record intact this week. A 20-foot putt on the opening hole, followed by a wedge to five feet at 2, and that’s a birdie-birdie start. He’s level par after yesterday’s 74.
Yesterday’s shot of the day, then. You could make an argument for Jordan Spieth, either for the chip trundled in at pace from the back of 15 for eagle, caring not a jot for the water behind, or the low iron from the trees on 9, which professionally speaking lacked something given his ball ricocheted off a trunk and back into more bother, but registered 100% for recklessly entertaining devil-may-care ambition on the Guardian’s patented Seve-o-meter. But on balance we should give it to Tommy Fleetwood for his ace on 16, made just a fortnight after another hole-in-one at the WGC Match Play. It was golfing perfection, after all.
It was a lovely looking shot. It was in between clubs. I was sort of verging on a smooth eight, then I said hard nine. That kind of fit the shot a bit more.
Hit it, slight pull. It wasn’t going straight at the pin, but it was still a great shot, and a couple of bounces and in.
It’s really nice to have one at the Masters. I think that’s two in two competitive weeks as well. I’m racking them up all of a sudden quickly. I’ll try to keep it going!
It’s very special. Doing it at a major is great, doing it competitively is great, but at Augusta it’s probably just another edge.
A few of the players might be performing some rain dances, mind you. One benefit of the heavens opening is a softer track, with greens more receptive and an increased number of birdies there for the taking. Of course, Augusta National is well equipped with the old Sub Air maintenance system, designed to suck all the moisture away in a flash if needs be, and officials won’t want too many low rounds in the wake of Dustin Johnson’s record-breaking low score five months ago, so they’ll be more than happy to flick the switch on that. But one way or another, the course would inevitably be less treacherous than it was yesterday, when it was described as being “like glass” by 1991 winner Ian Woosnam, and “pretty crispy” by Henrik Stenson.
The weather. It’s expected to be warm with a slight breeze this morning, and for a big chunk of the afternoon, but there’s an increased chance of showers later on, with thunderstorms an outside possibility. Hopefully they’ll give Augusta National the big bodyswerve; the high winds forecast for yesterday didn’t really materialise. Fingers crossed for today, then, though tomorrow doesn’t look quite so promising, with a higher chance of rain and thunder. Depending on the forecast, the Saturday tee times may be moved up to ensure, should the worst come to the worst weather-wise, as much of round three as possible takes place, leaving the Sunday agenda relatively uncluttered. Here’s hoping the gods of golf and weather are on our side; the Masters could do with some schedule-related luck after the events of 2020.
A long day stretches out ahead of us, and growing golf fans need their energy. Pimento cheese sandwiches all round, then.
Good morning, patrons. There really is only one place to start.
After his astonishing 65 yesterday, pieced together after a slow start, Justin Rose goes into the second round with a four-shot lead. Look!
-7: Rose
-3: Harman, Matsuyama
-2: Zalatoris, Simpson, Bezuidenhout, Reed
-1: Kim, Kokrak, Lowry, Hatton, Spieth
E: Thompson, Kisner, Champ, Schauffele, Rahm, Hughes, Leishman
