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Jason Day chips in from the aspect of 14! The 2011 runner-up has been a little bit wayward over the previous few holes however has in some way clung onto the sting of the race by his fingernails. And now right here’s his reward. He’s again in it. In the meantime on 16, the 2018 champion Patrick Reed is a few inches away from a hole-in one. He faucets in for birdie and at -5 he’s removed from out of this both.
Bryson DeChambeau is a street-fighting genius. He’s already made fairly a couple of jaw-dropping up and downs at present, and right here’s one other, a chip ran into the face of the financial institution, the ball rolling out to kick-in distance. Par. However Scottie Scheffler can’t save his. It’s simply not taking place for the reigning champion. In the meantime his taking part in associate Tyrrell Hatton, as beforehand predicted, brings the emotion, dropping his second stroke of the day after whistling his tee shot into the flowers, then flinging his ball into the drink as soon as bogey is established. He’s -3, and that yipped tiddler on 17 yesterday has clearly punctured his temper and self-belief.
Bryson DeChambeau’s second into 10 hits the financial institution on the entrance and kicks off to the left. Scottie Land. He’s shortsided, in order that’s not going to be a lot enjoyable. Up on 12, Scheffler lobs up from the again of the inexperienced however leaves himself a tough ten-footer for par.
For the second day working, Scottie Scheffler tugs his tee shot at 12 in direction of the azaleas back-left of the inexperienced. This time the ball doesn’t disappear into the darkness earlier than popping again into the swale; it simply drops into the swale. Hardly ultimate, however then he chipped in from right here yesterday, so be careful!
Zach Johnson is joined within the clubhouse lead by Nicolas Echavarria. A 69 for the 30-year-old Colombian on debut. Echavarria and Johnson finish Transferring Day at -4.
First up, there’s an enormous two-putt par save for Bryson DeChambeau on 9. He races his first one six toes previous, however coming again, tickles in efficiently the place Rory McIlroy forward of him had failed. He punches the air in triumph as he turns in 35. In the meantime up in 10, Rory’s par effort is at all times lacking on the fitting, and after such a quick begin, that is now formally a correct wobble. And look how the leaderboard has concertinaed in consequence!
-9: McIlroy (10)
-8: Conners (10), DeChambeau (9)
-7: Rose (9)
-6: Lowry (10)
-5: Day (13), Scheffler (11), McCarty (10)
From the centre of 10, 162 yards out, Corey Conners wedges to kick-in distance, one of many photographs of the day. He’ll transfer to -8 and that’s a 3rd birdie in a row for the Canadian, who’s going about his enterprise quietly and effectively. Rory McIlroy in contrast takes one membership too many, and faces a protracted putt again down the inexperienced. He sends his first one dribbling six toes previous. Massive par saver arising?
Bryson DeChambeau splits the ninth fairway with one other positive tee shot … solely to depart his wedge 30 toes wanting the flag. In reality he’s lucky the ball didn’t screw again off the entrance, Greg Norman model. A protracted two-putt left for his par.
Jason Day drops solely his second shot of the week. He tugs his tee shot at 12 in direction of the azaleas back-left, and may’t rise up and down from the swale. He slips to -5, alongside Scottie Scheffler, who continues to be battling in opposition to himself: at 10, a misjudged strategy hits the financial institution and bounces again down, entrance and left. A heavy-handed chip trundles 20 toes previous the flag … however in goes the putt coming again. Between them, the USA’s two greatest stars, Scheffler and Bryson, have made some scrambles at present. It’s the way you win majors.
McIlroy will get a bit too assured along with his downhill birdie putt on 9. He raps it by way of the break and rolls 4 toes previous. Oo-er. However he makes the one coming again. Given what occurred on the earlier gap, that’s some good injury limitation I suppose. However the lead’s solely two now, as a result of whereas Bryson DeChambeau can’t make his eagle putt on 8, he faucets in for birdie. Justin Rose picks up a stroke as properly, and abruptly issues are rather a lot tighter than they regarded quarter-hour in the past.
-10: McIlroy (9)
-8: DeChambeau (8)
-7: Conners (9), Rose (8)
-6: Day (11), Lowry (9)
-5: Hovland (10), Scheffler (10), McCarty (9)
Rory McIlroy made a meal of 8. By comparability, Bryson DeChambeau is making mincemeat of it. Two large blooters, and he’s pin excessive! He’ll take a look at eagle from the perimeter, 15 toes away. McIlroy responds up on 9 by sand-wedging from 113 yards to 6 toes for a positive birdie probability of his personal.
Hats off to Viktor Hovland, who wanted two photographs to extricate himself from the pines down the left of 10 … then will get up and down from 150 yards to restrict the injury to bogey! A sensational 30-footer throughout the inexperienced and he’s -5. A bogey that gained’t harm an excessive amount of. Not so the one dropped by Shane Lowry on 9, the results of a weak splash out of a deep bunker on the entrance of the inexperienced. He turns in 35 and he’s -6 total.
Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Rose are each wayward with their tee photographs at 7. At all times out of place, they each find yourself dropping a shot. Very scrappy. However they don’t lose floor on the prime, as a result of Rory McIlroy’s chip again up from the swale at 8 is manner quick, and this time his putter doesn’t dig him out of hassle. Bogey, his first dropped shot because the ludicrous double at 17 on Thursday. The second best gap on the course as properly.
-10: McIlroy (8)
-7: Lowry (8), DeChambeau (7)
-6: Day (10), Hovland (9), Conners (8), Rose (7)
-5: Scheffler (9), McCarty (8)
-4: Z Johnson (F), Im (10), Hatton (9)
Rory McIlroy is up in opposition to the tall face of the green bunker at 8. He clips the highest of it along with his escape and is left with a protracted iron coming in. His third bounds off the again of the inexperienced and there’s one other par scramble arising. Hassle additionally for Victor Hovland, who sends his tee shot at 10 deep into the bushes close to the cabins down the left, and isn’t capable of hack out along with his first try. He nearly manages it along with his second. This might find yourself being expensive.
Rory McIlroy isn’t the one participant making outrageous par saves. Right here’s Jason Day, lashing his tee shot at 10 deep into the bushes down the fitting. He batters out from the pin straw, below hanging branches, into the bunker entrance proper. That’s just about the most effective final result potential, and he splashes out to 4 toes earlier than making the putt. He stays at -6, and has nonetheless solely dropped one stroke this week, on 18 yesterday. That bogey was a wee disgrace, too, as a result of had he parred, he’d have grow to be the primary participant since Ed Sneed in 1979 to go bogey-free for the opening two rounds.
Hassle In Paradise dept. Right here’s Ewan Murray on a mud-ball controversy raging at Augusta.
OK, so Rory McIlroy has one foot in and one foot out of The Zone. He larrups a protracted drive up the par-five eighth, but it surely’s at all times leaking a little bit to the fitting and results in the large bunker. All is nevertheless not misplaced. In the meantime up forward, Viktor Hovland makes back-to-back birdies at 8 and 9 to show in 34 strokes. He’s -6.
Effectively, right here’s the tip of Rory’s run of threes … but it surely’s a fairly good par save nonetheless. He was in all types of hassle after that wild drive, however lobbed greenside. He was nonetheless confronted with a clumsy chip up and over a ridge working throughout the inexperienced … however knocked it to a few toes. Such a fragile wedge. In goes the par putt, and given the tee shot, that’ll really feel pretty much as good as a birdie. He stays at -11.
Bryson replicates Rory’s antics on 6. A conservative tee shot into the guts of the inexperienced that leaves a 40-footer. A putt raced eight toes previous the flag. Massive par putt arising. In it goes. He’s hanging on all proper. Justin Rose in the meantime celebrates a par saver of comparable distance. They’re -8 and -7 respectively. In the meantime on 8, Scottie Scheffler’s (relative) woes proceed as he leaves his wedge into the beneficiant par-five a very good 25 toes quick. The birdie putt by no means seems to be like dropping, and the defending champ seems to be unusually wanting power. He stays -5.
Maybe Rory McIlroy continues to be in The Zone in spite of everything. From 137 yards, he opens the face of his membership skywards and offers it every little thing to rise up and over the bushes. His ball lands close to the inexperienced to the left, which is a few consequence from the place he was, albeit one which leaves a really testing up and down, from a swale, throughout a viciously tilting inexperienced. If he chips in from right here to maintain that run of threes going, they might as properly award him the Inexperienced Jacket now.
Extra on Rory, whereas we will, as a result of he’s deep within the bushes down the fitting of seven, and there doesn’t appear to be an apparent manner out, by no means thoughts to the inexperienced. “So, six holes, six threes,” observes Matt Emerson. “If he retains this up he’s capturing 54.”
Maybe Rory’s lastly crusing out of The Zone. As a result of he’s adopted up that comparatively shaky par on 6 by carving his drive at 7 in direction of the seventeenth tee field! Some enjoyable upcoming right here. So whereas his argument continues to be related, right here’s Adam Hirst: “This isn’t the Rory of current instances. It’s the Rory of 2012. Regardless of being on the prime of the tree, and even successful two majors, he by no means fairly reached these ranges once more, when he can run away from an excellent area. He hasn’t executed that for greater than a decade.”
Scottie Scheffler will get a flyer from the second lower down the left of seven. His ball sails over the inexperienced and dunks into the bunker behind. He’s forking out downhill, so does fairly properly to get his ball to cease eight toes previous. However he can’t make the one coming again. A bogey that felt prefer it was coming. In the meantime it’s a second successive up-and-down from sand for Bryson DeChambeau, this time at 5. He’s unfortunate as a result of the pin stopped that dropping straight in. He stays three off the lead.
-11: McIlroy (6)
-8: DeChambeau (5)
-7: Lowry (6), Rose (5)
-6: Day (8), Im (8)
-5: Hovland (8), Scheffler (7), McCarty (6), Conners (6)
Rory’s document: a 3-3-3-3-3-3 begin!
Yep, it’s a card of 3-3-3-3-3-3 for Rory McIlroy. This one’s made in a unique model, as he races his first lengthy putt at 6 ten toes previous … however rolls the one coming again straight into the center of the cup. Nerveless. In doing so, he turns into the primary participant in Masters historical past to start a spherical with six consecutive threes.
BREAKING NEWS: Rory McIlroy is just not good. He finds the guts of the inexperienced on the par-three sixth, however he’s nowhere close to the flag. The cautious play. He’s received one thing to lose now. Even so, two putts from 48 toes and it’ll be a card of 3-3-3-3-3-3.
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Rory McIlroy rattles house his right-to-left slider on 5 for an additional birdie, and that is fairly absurd, he’s opened with 3-3-3-3-3! He’s already 5 below for his spherical. Again on 4, Justin Rose carelessly three-putts to drop out of a share for second; that’s his third bogey in ten holes. His taking part in associate Bryson DeChambeau in the meantime splashes out elegantly from the sand to kick-in distance, and that’s a positive sandy par. And up on 6, Shane Lowry’s reward for one of many tee photographs of the day, to 3 toes, is birdie. What value an all-Eire last pairing tomorrow?
-11: McIlroy (5)
-8: DeChambeau (4)
-7: Lowry (6), Rose (4)
-6: Day (9), Im (7), Scheffler (6), Conners (5)
Bryson DeChambeau dunks his tee shot at 4 into the bunker guarding the front-right of the par-three inexperienced. The pin’s back-left. Up on the supposedly treacherous fifth, Rory McIlroy lands his 342-yard drive safely to the fitting of the damaging fairway bunkers, then clips his strategy from 173 yards to 18 toes. He’ll have an out of doors take a look at birdie, and two putts for a par you’d take all day lengthy. And on 6, from the underside of the swale on the again, Gentle-Fingers Scottie bumps his chip into the financial institution, his ball bouncing gently up onto the inexperienced earlier than rolling out serenely to a few toes. What a par save that’s. Bogey regarded more than likely. As soon as once more, Scheffler is flat-out refusing to go away regardless of not being fairly accountable for his sport.
Bryson DeChambeau is up and out of his putt in a short time. It’s at all times breaking large left. A careless bogey on a gap that’s given up 18 birdies at present and is averaging 3.7 strokes. In the meantime on the par-three sixth, Scottie Scheffler airmails his iron over the inexperienced. He’s down the underside of a swale with little or no inexperienced to work with up prime. That’ll take a look at his smooth fingers.
-10: McIlroy (4)
-8: Rose (3), DeChambeau (3)
-6: Day (7), Im (7), Scheffler (5), Lowry (5), Conners (4)
Rory’s tee shot at 4 lands pin excessive, however simply off the inexperienced to the left. He takes putter anyway, and practically makes the 30-footer from the perimeter. Simply (!) a par, and it’s now a begin of 3-3-3-3. That’s how he began the again 9 yesterday. In the meantime a spot of hassle for Bryson on 3, as he slips whereas taking his tee shot and sends his ball miles left. His second hits the financial institution and topples again down; his third sticks on the dancefloor however 15 toes previous the flag. Massive par putt arising.
Shane Lowry mishits his tee shot on the par-three 4th. Brief and proper. He’s left with a tough wedge over the bunker and may’t get shut sufficient to avoid wasting his par. He slips again to -6. In the meantime a staunch scramble by Scottie Scheffler at 5. A spot of luck as his drive lands between the 2 large fairway bunkers down the left. His second finds greenside sand, from the place he will get up and down. Like final night time, there stays a way that he’s not fairly received his A-game proper now. Like final night time, he’s hanging on in there. He stays -6.
Rory McIlroy does certainly begin 3-3-3. He tickles in his birdie putt on 3, just about the identical straight one Shane Lowry had moments earlier. Maybe a little bit left-to-right motion, however solely a smidgen. Both manner, it is a preposterously quick begin by McIlroy, who’s now nine-under par for his final 12 holes. In the meantime on 2, Bryson DeChambeau makes a two-putt from the most effective a part of 100 toes for birdie. He’s began birdie-birdie, but in some way is just not the story. In the intervening time.
-10: McIlroy (3)
-9: DeChambeau (2)
-8: Rose (2)
-7: Lowry (3), Conners (3)
-6: Day (6), Scheffler (4)
One other birdie for Shane Lowry! A uncommon straight putt at Augusta, on 3, and the 2019 Open champion is true on this now. He’s -7. Following him within the group behind, Rory McIlroy bangs his tee shot to the underside of the financial institution in entrance of the inexperienced. He lobs his chip as much as seven toes, and he’ll have a putt for a birdie and a 3-3-3 begin. In the meantime a protracted rake for birdie on 8 for Tommy Fleetwood, and he’s -3, not out of this fairly but.
… Rory McIlroy chips in from the again of two for eagle! His shot in, arrowed straight on the flag, was by no means going to carry the small part of inexperienced, and toppled down a little bit swale behind. Regardless of, as a result of he steers a delicate right-to-left curling chip into the cup. Like Bryson’s putt earlier than it, that at all times regarded prefer it was heading in. That is positively psychedelic, and we’re solely a few holes into Transferring Day! On Sky, Dame Laura Davies can also be on a scorching streak, wryly observing that we’ve had “three leaders within the final 25 seconds.” Corey Conners’ fuss-free birdie goes virtually unnoticed, whereas elsewhere there’s par for Justin Rose at 1, and birdie for Jason Day at 5. That is shaping as much as be a Masters for the ages.
-9: McIlroy (2)
-8: Rose (1), DeChambeau (1)
-7: Conners (2)
-6: Day (5), Hovland (4), Scheffler (3), Lowry (2)
-5: Im (5), McCarty (2)
-4: Z Johnson (F), Hatton (3)
An outrageous opening birdie for Bryson DeChambeau! His strategy into 1 sails over the flag and solely simply holds the again of the inexperienced. He’s left with a 45-footer coming again, over a ridge and with some right-to-left drift. Certainly not? Yep! It’s a kind of that in some way regarded in all the best way, from the second it left the face of his putter. Merely sensational, and that’s received the gang pumping! However if you happen to suppose that’s dramatic …
Rory McIlroy seems to be within the temper to trigger bedlam along with his large stick at present. He lotions one other drive, this time at 2, straight down the center. It additionally lands on the downslope behind the large fairway bunker, some frankly pointless assist. Simply 369 yards this time. “I believe you want a stewardess for issues within the air for that lengthy,” deadpans the always-entertaining Dame Laura Davies on Sky Sports activities. In the meantime up on the inexperienced, Rory’s compatriot and good friend Shane Lowry will get up and down from the entrance to make birdie and transfer to -6.
Bryson DeChambeau isn’t going to beat Rory McIlroy’s 371-yard mark on Tea Olive. As a result of he’s not going to strive. Out comes the 3-wood, which he belts down the center. He’s received a bit extra self-discipline nowadays, does Bryson. Justin Rose’s tee shot leaks off to the fitting. In the meantime up on the inexperienced, McIlroy rolls in his birdie putt to make an instantaneous transfer. Additionally information of the resurgent Viktor Hovland, who follows birdie at 2 with one other at 3, and Transferring Day is already starting to bubble up properly!
-8: Rose
-7: McIlroy (1), DeChambeau
-6: Hovland (3), Scheffler (2), Conners (1)
-5: Day (4), Im (4), McCarty (1), Lowry (1)
-4: Z Johnson (F), Morikawa (6), Hatton (2)
66 for Zach Johnson
Par on the final for the 2007 champ, and Zach Johnson indicators for his best-ever spherical at Augusta on the age of 49! (When he gained right here 18 years in the past, he shot rounds of 71, 73, 76 and 69, his complete of +1 beating Retief Goosen, Rory Sabbatini and Tiger Woods by two photographs. It was very chilly and moist that 12 months, to be truthful.) Anyway, he’s the brand new clubhouse chief at -4.
So, that McIlroy drive of 371 yards. It’s unsurprisingly the longest of the day at Tea Olive. The following finest? Patrick Cantlay’s 315-yard effort. Bryson nonetheless to come back, in fact. And Rory’s wedge in is sweet, however not spectacular. He’ll take a look at birdie from 10 toes. Examine and distinction Scottie Scheffler’s wedge into 2, spun again to kick-in distance from 108 yards. The birdie strikes the defending champ to -6.
“Fore please, Rory McIlroy now driving!” What a response yesterday to Thursday night’s double-fiascos at 15 and 17. Again in 31 for a spotless spherical of 66. And now he’s completely striped his opening tee shot down the observe. A 371-yard drive to start. Secure to say his taking part in associate Corey Conners will likely be hitting first into most greens at present.
The reigning Open and PGA champion Xander Schauffele rakes one in from downtown on 6. It’s his second birdie of the spherical, however he doesn’t have a good time too wildly, given it follows dropped photographs at 3 and 5. He’s again to the place he began the day at -2.
Scottie Scheffler can’t make his birdie at 1. Only a par, which is greater than his taking part in associate Tyrrell Hatton can handle. Hatton is unable to splash out shut from the bunker on the entrance of the inexperienced, and he instantly falls again to -4. After his shaky end to final night time’s spherical, that’s three photographs gone in 4 holes for the Liverpool FC supporting star. Some comfort could also be present in Arsenal dropping factors at house to Brentford?
It couldn’t final for Zach Johnson. He finds the bunker guarding the entrance of the seventeenth inexperienced, and may’t rise up and down for a sandy par. He slips to -4. Going the opposite manner: Jason Day, who birdies 2 to maneuver to -5.
Eagle on 2 for the 2020 runner-up Im Sung-jae! A chip-in from 20 yards off the entrance. A few bounces earlier than it rolls in and out. Superb. He strikes as much as -5. Again on 1, Scottie Scheffler has to form his second round some overhanging branches, and does so marvellously, touchdown his quick iron from 145 yards pin excessive. He’ll take a look at birdie from 9 toes.
“Fore please, Scottie Scheffler now driving.” Right here’s the defending champion and world primary, who was uncharacteristically untidy yesterday, but nonetheless managed to grind out a one-under spherical of 71. By all accounts he was on the vary late final night time, not in a very good humour, as he battled to get his sport again into the easy-going form of Thursday. His opening drive finds the primary lower down the left. A slight narrowing of the eyes as he friends after it, however no nice drama. He’ll little doubt go away all that emotional nonsense to Leisure’s Tyrrell Hatton, who he’s going spherical with at present.
Information of one other former champion who has been having fun with himself at present. The 2015 winner Jordan Spieth is again house having shot a blemish-free spherical of 69, his birdies coming at 8, 9 and 13. He was so unfortunate {that a} 20-footer left-to-right swinging putt from the perimeter in the back of 15 didn’t drop as properly. And he practically chipped in from the again of 18. So near being so a lot better. At -1 total he’s the very early clubhouse chief alongside debutant Max Greyserman.
Zach Johnson continues to blister his manner round Augusta Nationwide, the 2007 champion rolling again the years on his twenty first Masters begin. He’s now birdied 15 and 16, making it six birdies in eight holes. He’s -5 total, and correctly within the combine. Ought to he par his manner house, he’ll be signing for a joint-best-of-week 65.
-8: Rose
-7: DeChambeau
-6: McIlroy, Conners
-5: Z Johnson (16), McCarty, Lowry, Scheffler, Hatton
-4: Reed (3), Morikawa (2), Day (1), R Højgaard, Hovland
-3: Åberg (2), Matsuyama (2), Im (1)
-2: Rahm (16), An (12), Harman (5), Schauffele (4), Fleetwood (4)
4 birdies in a row for An Byeong-hun! Holes 8 by way of 11. Except the primary of these, a par-five that’s taking part in best all week, that’s speculated to be a really tough run of holes. Effectively, not for An, who’s starting to take pleasure in himself round right here, his tie for sixteenth final time spherical his finest end within the Masters. He’s -2 total.
Tom Kim was the primary man out at present. With an odd variety of gamers having made the lower – 53 – he went spherical with marker Michael McDermott, the Jeff Knox de nos jours, an Augusta Nationwide member adequate to have overwhelmed future professional JB Holmes on the 2003 US Beginner. The relaxed ambiance appears to have suited the fun-loving Kim to a tee, as a result of he’s carded his finest spherical of the week, a level-par 72, ending with one heck of a flourish: lobbing excessive from simply off the entrance of the 18th inexperienced, his ball taking one bounce earlier than slam-dunking into the cup in outrageous vogue! Kim throws his putter into the sky, punches the air, then embraces McDermott, the pair hugging and laughing in a really infectious method. Hunt down the footage on the Masters web site and take a look at to not grin like a loon. It’s not possible to not love Tom Kim.
A particularly smiley Bryson DeChambeau has a chat with CBS Sports activities. “If I can simply hold it within the fairway … iron photographs into the inexperienced … I watch rather a lot … see what gamers are doing … the place the pin areas are … how individuals are taking part in it … attempting to get snug with that … get my day began off a little bit late on objective … really feel snug like I’m simply getting up, on the brink of go play some golf and have a very good time … I’m excited … it’s gonna be a number of enjoyable!”
Shot of the week at 12 by Denny McCarthy! On the 155-yard par-three, he lands his ball 5 toes in entrance of the flag. A few tiny bounces take it a few toes nearer, however no additional. That’s a kick-in birdie, although. The 32-year-old from Florida, whose finest end right here was a modest tie for forty fifth final 12 months, strikes into the pink at -1 total. So shut there to solely the fourth ace at 12 in Masters historical past. The others: the two-time US Open champion Curtis Unusual in 1988, the beginner Invoice Hyndman in 1959, and Claude Harmon, Butch’s dad, in 1947 (a 12 months earlier than his victory).
A downbeat begin to Tommy Fleetwood’s spherical. He misreads a protracted putt from the again of 1, the ball ending pin excessive however having damaged seven toes to the fitting. The try to avoid wasting par is pulled left straight off the bat. The bogey knocks him again to -1. However within the following match it’s a quick begin for one of many pre-tournament scorching suggestions, although, as Collin Morikawa swishes his strategy from 150 yards pin excessive and strokes within the ten-footer for birdie. He’s -4.
Rory McIlroy talks to CBS Sports activities. “It’s the identical mindset at present … handle what I’m doing … strive not to go searching … strive not watch the leaderboards … although they’re large and white and fairly unavoidable! … letting the rating come to me … not attempting to drive the problem … observe the identical plan I adopted yesterday.”
Zach Johnson performs the par-five thirteenth in textbook vogue. A drive down the center. A lay-up wedge across the nook. A chip from 85 yards to a few toes. That’s a birdie, and extra proof from him that you simply don’t want boom-boom size to succeed at Augusta Nationwide. It helps, in fact it helps, the roll of honour reveals that. However it’s not a whole deal-breaker. He’s now 5 below for his spherical at present, and -3 total.
Some Good Scoring dept. Some former champions are on the market proving a low quantity is feasible. Jon Rahm, of LIV Golf and Purchaser’s Regret fame, whose victory right here in some way feels rather a lot longer than simply a few years in the past, flew out of the blocks this morning with three consecutive birdies. He’s at present degree par for the Event. The 2015 champ Jordan Spieth has birdied 8, 9 and 13 in a at present flawless spherical; he’s -1 total. And 2007 winner Zach Johnson is at present the most popular property out on the, er, property, having made birdies at 9, 10 and 12 plus eagle at 2. One bogey blemish at 6, and he’s -2 total.
It’s a sunny day at Augusta Nationwide, if not a very hot one. The wind is predicted to select up a little bit because the day goes on, however to not any nice extent, and never as blustery as yesterday afternoon. An out of doors probability of a rain bathe later as properly, although even when it arrives, nothing too dramatic is forecast. Throw in some enticing pin placements, and circumstances are ripe for some good scoring.
Dunlap’s valedictory spherical would have been much more spectacular had he not completed with three consecutive bogeys. However that wasn’t essentially the most egregious late-round meltdown yesterday. Oh no. Not by a protracted chalk. Step ahead 2019 and 2023 runner-up Brooks Koepka, who could be competing proper now had he managed to make bogey at 18 final night time. Sadly for the five-time main winner, he pulled his tee shot into the bushes down the left and was compelled to take an unplayable. After chopping again out, he short-sided himself in a swale to the left of the inexperienced along with his fourth, chipped up weakly, and three-putted from there. A quadruple-bogey eight. Ooo-wee. Whether or not he feels as unhealthy as Cameron Younger, who would even be right here at present had been it not for carelessly taking three putts from kick-in distance on 16, is a moot level, and a query I might most actually be too scared/sensible to place to the large man’s face.
Earlier than issues get wild, let’s take this chance to tip the cap to younger Nick Dunlap. The 21-year-old shot 90 on Thursday, and lots of a participant would have responded by taking part in the sickness or damage card to minimise embarrassment earlier than withdrawing quietly. However Dunlap took his frustration out on a bucket of vary balls, then got here again yesterday to submit a one-under spherical of 71. He nonetheless missed the lower in final place, in fact, but when they had been handing out Inexperienced Jackets for moxie, Dunlap would absolutely be on the head of the queue. The differential between his first two rounds is the second-biggest in Masters historical past, the most important nonetheless Craig Wooden’s 88-67 effort in 1936. Wooden went on to win the Masters 5 years later, so if you happen to’re a fan of outlandish omens, pile your money on Dunlap successful this Event in 2030.
Preamble
It’s Transferring Day! Right here’s what the highest of the leaderboard seems to be like …
-8: Rose
-7: DeChambeau
-6: McIlroy, Conners
-5: McCarty, Lowry, Scheffler, Hatton
-4: R Højgaard, Hovland, Day
-3: Im, Åberg, Matsuyama, Reed, Morikawa
-2: Schauffele, Fleetwood, Riley, M Kim, Harman
-1: Watson, Burns, Echavarria, English, MW Lee
E: Hoge, Homa, Taylor, Berger, Fitzpatrick, Clark, Theegala, Thompson, Rai, Thomas
… listed here are some large names who’ve missed the lower …
Dustin Johnson, Bernhard Langer, Keegan Bradley, Sergio Garcia, Mike Weir, Fred {Couples}, Tony Finau, Brooks Koepka (due to a quadruple-bogey eight up the final), Adam Scott, Cameron Smith, Billy Horschel, Phil Mickelson, Robert MacIntyre, Jose Maria Olazabal, Cameron Younger (due to a four-putt from 12 toes at 16) and Will Zalatoris …
… and at present’s tee instances will be discovered right here. We’ll get going right here at 6pm BST. It’s on!
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