Jordan Spieth breaks Masters record

Edited by Anand Datla

April 11, 2015: At 21, Jordan Spieth is a truly incredible golfer. The young American launched into a brutal assault this week, showing no signs of slowing down in the second round. Spieth finished day two at 14-under 130, the lowest halfway score at any major ever. He followed through with a 66 on Friday to add to the 64 he collected in the opening round.

He has made 15 birdies and just a lone bogey (No. 15, first round) in the first 36 holes. He was bogey-free on Friday. Charley Hoffman is in second place after posting a 9-under 135 (67-68) that ended with a bogey at No. 18. If Spieth is still two shots ahead at the end of the day, he will tie the tournament record for largest lead after two rounds.

“I just need to keep my head down and set a goal for myself,” Spieth said. “Who knows what can happen on the weekend here. They don’t like seeing low scores here, so they might speed the greens up. It may play more challengeing this weekend, and I need to be prepared for that.”

Raymond Floyd set the record for low opening 36 holes when he shot 131 (65-66) in 1976, en route to an eight-shot win during which he tied the tournament’s 72-hole scoring record (271). Tiger Woods broke that record by one stroke in 1997.

Spieth started Friday with a three-shot lead. He made his first birdie Friday at the par-5 second hole, then hit his 183-yard approach shot at No. 5 to 18 feet and made the putt for his second birdie of the day. He also birdied the par-5 eighth and made the turn in 33.

Spieth made birdie at No. 10 after hitting his 180-yard to 18 feet. He had to lay up on the par-5 13th after hitting his tee shot into the trees, but wedged to 8 feet and made the putt for his fifth birdie of the day. His final birdie came at the par-5 15th, where he layed up before hitting his third shot to 8 feet again.

Spieth can tie that Woods’ record by shooting 4 under on the weekend. If Spieth, 21, holds on to win, he would be the second-youngest champion in Masters’ history.

The Masters record for largest 36-hole lead is five shots, which was done three times (Herman Keiser, 1946; Jack Nicklaus, 1975; Raymond Floyd, 1976). All three players went on to win.

Edited & Republished from PGA Tour Website