Augusta National Golf Club
April 09, 2016: The crowds that swarmed the first tee at Augusta made it seem like a pop icon was on the grounds. But then who told you Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy aren’t so? Spending a week in Augusta makes you think, there is nothing bigger than golf. Just enjoy the fun while it lasts 🙂
– Spieth is generously throwing a window of opportunity toward the end of this round, but does anyone really has the game to take it? We will see tomorrow. As things stand, Spieth is now just one clear of Kaufman and two from Langer. The Masters, as they say, will begin on the back nine on Sunday.
– Spieth is showing some mercy. He pulled his tee shot into the trees and though he played a good rescue to just off the green, two putted for a bogey. Still up by three over Kaufman.
– Spieth pulls away yet again, adding a fine birdie at the 14th. And another par-5 coming up, so he might even take it to where it all started in the first round. Currently -5 and really out of sight for Rory.
– The cushion for Spieth is two now, with Hideki making bogey at the 16th. It was a narrow miss for the Japanese star. Would be massive for Asia, if Matsuyama can remain in contention through most of tomorrow, if not win the Green Jacket.
– Woods, Water and Weather. Perhaps Rory McIlroy could write a book on three reasons why he failed to win the Masters in 2016. He has been playing around the tree trunks for a while and now dissolves his ball into the water around the 12th green. Already 5 back, difficult to see him return from there.
– Another bogey from Rory, the third today. This one at the eleventh, courtesy a tee shot that nestled under the trees at the 10th hole. He is even par and as far from a Masters title as he has always been. For now, that is five behind Spieth, which is the same as the distance between Augusta and Dublin. Can he find a flight? He has just 25 holes to find one or fly home empty handed yet again.
– Just realised from Doug Ferguson of AP that Spieth was still in his mama’s womb when Langer won his second Green Jacket. Three months away from being born!!!
– The first time he won the Masters in 1985, Bernhard Langer played under a West German flag that does not exist anymore. Of course, he won again in 1993 too. But who would have expected a 58 year old on a Saturday leaderboard? But that is exactly where we are, with Langer making a hat-trick of birdies from 13. He is -2, T2 and three behind an unstoppable Spieth.
– Spieth still leading by three. He is playing brilliant golf. Missed a birdie at nine by less than an inch. Matsuyama at -2, Rory, Day, Langer, Kaufman and Piercy are all -1
– The last group conceded a shot at the 7th hole. So Jordan drops to 4-under, but Rory isn’t any better at 1-under
– Only three men now with two rounds of even or better – Matsuyama (71-72) McIlroy (70-71) Piercy (70-72)
– Only four men under par now – Spieth (-5) Matsuyama (-2) McIlroy (-2) Piercy (-1)
– We are through five holes now with the final group. Still three between the two men, Jordan and Rory. I cannot even begin to tell you how big a lead that is on this course, in these conditions. Conversely, you may ask Bryson DeChambeau, and he might say it is nothing. After all it isn’t easy for him to forget the 18th yesterday, isn’t it?
– Meanwhile, the main show is on the grounds. Jordan Spieth has pulled three clear of Rory McIlroy. The former made birdie at the second to go -5 while McIlroy conceded a bogey at the 3rd to fall to -2
– Anirban just gritting his teeth and suffering the pain. “The last two rounds have been mentally exhausting,” he says. “I hope to learn from the experience though.”
– Will be back soon. Anirban is just about to complete his round. And the big stars – Rory and Jordan about to start. Not being on the course should be a criminal offence. I am not ready for jail, so I shall plunge headlong into this windy course.
– A fifth bogey today for Anirban. This is painful, just to witness. Wonder what is going through the young man’s mind 8-over T45
– Good setup by Anirban on the 15th hole. He landed his third on the green, about 20 odd feet from the flag. Overshot the pin with his fourth, missed the line with his next and made bogey. Threw the ball in the water.
– In Augusta right now, the challenge is just to stand your ground. You move up if you do just that. Lahiri started T47, is up eleven spots today, despite being one over.
– We are at 14 and Anirban is just off the fairway to the right. Sails for the flag, but with the gusts flowing hard, the ball lands short. He has, I reckon about 40 feet if he wants birdie here.
– Anirban was dead centre on the fairway of 13th. But his approach landed short and sank in the deep bunker protecting the green in front. He flew out of there, but left himself nearly 25 feet to the pin, two shots for par.
– Anirban has made par at the 12th hole, two putting from not too far. Keeps him at six over, his partner Kaymer is 9-over.
– Anirban is one over for the day, through the eleventh hole. Birdies at 2 & 7 have been offset by bogeys at 1, 3 and 5.
– The scoreboard really feels like it is stuck in a time warp. Nothing is really moving. Larry Mize, the 1987 playoff winner against Greg Norman, threatened briefly. He made three birdies this morning, but the course has taken seven shots from him since then. He is 9-over near the bottom of the pile.
