Bubba Watson storms to 3-stroke lead

By Special Arrangement with The Augusta Chronicle

By David Westin | Staff Writer

April 12, 2014: Bubba Watson never led during the first three rounds of the 2012 Masters Tournament but rallied on the final day and won in sudden death. The former Georgia Bulldog is on top now, halfway through the 78th Masters, with some breathing room.

Watson, 35, ripped apart the second nine at Augusta National Golf Club on Friday with five consecutive birdies en route to 4-under-par 68 – which included bogey on No. 18 – to build a three-shot lead over John Senden, of Australia. It matched the largest 36-hole lead since 2006.

Senden, who qualified for the Masters on March 16, when he won the Valspar Championship, also had a second-round 68 and is alone in second place.

Australian and defending champion Adam Scott made a spirited comeback to stay within shouting distance of Watson. Scott, who opened with 69, was 3-over after five holes Friday but played his final seven in 3-under, finishing with 72, tied for third place, four behind Watson.

Also tied for third are Masters rookies Jordan Spieth (70) and Sweden’s Jonas Blixt (71). Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn (68) is also tied for third. Spieth and Bjorn closed out their rounds with birdies on No. 18.

Watson, who opened with 69 and is the only player to shoot in the 60s both days, is at 7-under 137. It is the lowest 36-hole total since Rory McIlroy’s 134 in 2011.

First-round leader Bill Haas, who opened with 68, struggled to 78 (with 41 on the back nine) and is nine shots behind Watson.

At least he made the cut (148), which past champions Phil Mickelson (76-73), Charl Schwartzel (73-76) and Zach Johnson (78-72) did not. Other notables missing the cut were Sergio Garcia (74-75), Dustin Johnson (77-74) and former Augusta State star Patrick Reed (73-79).

Watson has the top billing in what will be the first Masters weekend since 1994 without Tiger Woods or Mickelson in the field. Woods is recuperating from back surgery.

“I gave a wave to the crowd and everything, but I just tried to think, ‘No big deal, let’s just go to the next hole and focus on the next shot,’” he said. “That’s what I have to do. When I do that, I play pretty well.”