April 08, 2016: Ready for a late night to follow The Masters, an annual pilgrimage for the golfers and fans at the Augusta National Golf Club. Jordan Spieth really took it away yesterday with a stupendous 66 on Thursday. Spieth astounded pundits with a supremely confident effort that underlined his comfort around the course at the Augusta National Golf Club. Some fancied names faltered, among them Adam Scott and Rickie Fowler. But it is far from over, we could see some great recoveries today. Stay with us on the Live Blog.
This is Tom Watson’s final Masters, so we will keep an eye on him too.
Quick Notes
No real move made by any of the big players this morning
Anirban Lahiri – work to do to just stay the weekend, after a 76 on Thursday
Jordan Spieth comfortably ahead at 7-under
– You really love golf, if you are still up with us for a second round. We appreciate you patrons, every single one of you. And we will continue to bring you the best of everything golf, here at Golfing Indian, your trusted source for everything golf. As we leave here to do our reports and features, Spieth is leading by two over DeChambeau and McIlroy, with six to play. McIlroy, of course, is in the clubhouse. So is Lahiri, who is 5-over, but that should be enough to make the cut.
– Bryson DeChambeau has made a big move. Birdies at 11 & 12 and he is three under, just two short of playing partner Spieth, alongside McIlroy. They love Brys here in Augusta, at a club that respects amateurism above all.
– Good move up the order today by Rory McIlroy. He is lying second at 3-under and all it took was a 71. That kind of explains the state of play and the course today.
– There hasn’t been a round in the 60s today. No one better than even par has yet made their way back to the clubhouse, with the lone exception being Troy Merritt who shot 71.
– Rory McIlroy went into the trees to the right off the 18th tee, he is back on the fairway with his second but needs to get up and down in two to remain at 3-under. A very tough task awaits him as he looks to finish a good round round of golf.
– Meanwhile, Spieth still made it feel like he was playing a different course altogether, soaring to 7-under through 8 holes, but has given back two since then. If Spieth can stay there, Lahiri will play the weekend since the top 50 and everyone within 10 off the leader get to play round three and four. We will wait and see.
– “I missed putts from 8 to 10 feet on 13, 15 and 16,” said a frustrated Anirban. “I would love to stay the weekend. I should try and play the par-5 holes much better if I do.
“I am not playing badly, but it is the small margins that are going against me,” added Anirban, just moments after completing his second round.
– Anirban was gutted by the wind Gods today, but as much as he is worried, it is still possible he might make the cut at 5-over 149. You never know with the way the wind is blowing this afternoon and those pin locations aren’t making it any easier.
– Anirban Lahiri has turned. He is 3-over through the 10th hole. We are stepping out for a bit of air and check out the back nine with Lahiri. Here is a snapshot of how things are at this time (1344hrs in Augusta)
– Apparently Ian Poulter hasn’t made any friends here in America. He is in the deep woods on the 14th and there are some precious smiles from some of the media around here in Augusta. He is even par after starting at 3-under this morning. Remember, he had a top ten finish last year in The Masters.
– Did I tell Lahiri made bogey on seven? He is back at 3-over now, but even if he keep it that way, it is possible he makes the cut this weekend.
– This is getting more and more incredulous by the minute. Jordan Spieth has started his round with a birdie at the first, distancing himself from a field that is constantly drifting farther anyways. He is four shots up over Danny Lee and Scott Piercy who are both 3-under on the back nine.
– Any hopes of Rory McIlroy chasing down Spieth must be put on hold. He made double bogey at four and a bogey at five, just one under now.
– Lahiri is wearing a grey and pink ensemble today that is catching quite some attention. With birdies at the third and fifth, he has also staged a smart recovery from being four over yesterday
– Smart move Mr. Scott Piercy. He birdied two in a row, 2 & 3 to climb up the order. Lee, Piercy and Kjeldsen now at four under, two behind Mr. Spieth. Shane Lowry though has given away a shot at the first hole, down to three under.
– Anirban Lahiri is out on the course with Kjeldsen and Jimmy Walker. He made par on the first two holes, remains at four over. Must be very edgy knowing that he is dancing on the edge of a knife.
– Soren Kjeldsen has his family cheering him on wildly from outside the ropes. He birdied the second to go four under, joining Lee and Lowry.
– Meanwhile, Day birdied the second and went back to even. But there are winds blowing and it is expected to get progressively worse. I reckon there will not be too many players still in the red at the halfway stage of the 145th Masters.
– Danny Lee has just birdied the fifth and he is back to 4-under, where he began today. Lee and Shane Lowry are the ones closest to Spieth, two away.
– The folks at the Beeb are in form. Ouch they go with a picture of Els looking down. 44 cries the sign, that is the number of putts he has taken over 20 holes. Painful outing for the Big Easy. I like him very much by the way, so this hurts even more.
– The more I look at the scores, the more this feels like a US Open. Davis Love III has made an early move – birdies at 3 & 5 help him up the order to T8 at 2-under. 73 on Thursday. The cut is certainly going over par, perhaps even a 3 or 4 over should be able to stay on. But we will wait and watch.
– Jason Day sent it soaring to 258 yards on the par-5 2nd hole. His approach was good enough to land on the green, but he has over 50 feet to the flag. Birdie possible? Perhaps.
– Ernie Els saw a ghost on the first pin yesterday. He made five over right there, currently at 10-over after the first hole on day two.
– Some of the numbers look like blood on the hands. But this is The Masters and the course has license to kill. It is unhesitating in driving the knife. Look at Ian Woosnam 15-over through eight holes. I can only hope one of the television channels can keep him for the weekend.
– Danny Lee got off to a brilliant start, making a birdie at the second holes. But he slipped back to 3-under when he three putted from 25 feet on the third. You know it is really stressful watching these guys torn apart by these greens. Jordan is a professor though and understands these lines like a nursery rhyme.
– Jason Day has started on the wrong foot, making bogey at the first hole.
