American Patrick Reed leads by three, Rory in the chase
Just as fast as Jordan Spieth was dropping shots on the opening holes at Augusta National on Friday, fellow Texan Patrick Reed was picking them up. The 27-year old birdied the first three holes to snatch the outright lead from Spieth at 6-under par and so leave the overnight leader trailing by three shots.
But it was an Australian, Marc Leishman who then challenged Reed for much of the round. And when it wasn’t the Aussie, it was the wind. Indeed, the Masters’ scoreboard was distinctly barren of red figures on Friday showing just how tricky conditions were on Augusta’s undulations fairways and super-fast greens. It would be Black Friday for many. The day when the pending axe would fall leaving just the top-50 plus ties in the field, as well as the players within ten shots of the leader, to play at the weekend.
Reed fired a brilliant round of 6-under par, 66 on Friday, which included nine birdies, to get to 9-under par, two ahead of Leishman.
Leading the European challenge at the end of day two was Sweden’s Henrik Stenson in third place on 5-under par. Another former World Number One, Rory McIlroy was just one stroke behind tied with Spieth. The player from Northern Ireland still has an old score to settle at Augusta. A score which dates back to 2011 when he came so close to winning the Masters, if it were not for his famous Sunday ‘meltdown’. Rory has come a long way in his career since then. And to watch him playing at Augusta in this the 82nd edition, it looks as if the wait is about to be over. His time has come, many predict. This could be the year that he adds a Green Jacket to his collection of Major titles for the Grand Slam. It is true, he does exude a wonderful calmness on the golf course this year. As Gary Player, the Masters Champion in 1974 and 1978, puts it, “Rory has an inner belief”.
Painful cut for some
The halfway cut came at 5-over par leaving players like Danny Willett (England) and Alex Noren (Sweden) packing their bags for the flight home. Defending champion Sergio Garcia also missed the cut. His horror hole at 15, where he took 13 strokes on Thursday, was too tall an order for the Spaniard to overcome. But he’ll be staying on at Augusta at the weekend in order to hand over the Green Jacket to the new Masters Champion on Sunday. Good news for Tiger fans. Woods just made the cut (+4).
Some heavy showers on Saturday took their toll on many scores. But McIlroy held on in there and caused a real buzz at the 8th hole where he played a tremendous shot onto the green from a near impossible position. It was “an eagle from Alcatraz”, as so beautifully described by BBC commentator, Ken Brown. Rory’s eagle got him into a share of the lead with Reed on 9-under. But the player from Northern Ireland was not the only one to be 5-under for the day after eight holes. Last year’s Race to Dubai winner Tommy Fleetwood (England) played the opening holes in 5-under too. Clearly the Europeans were not prepared to let a little bit of rain dampen their spirits.
Reed leads for first time in a Major
Leishman put a brave face on during a round in which he was plagued by a whole bunch of putts pulling-up just shy of the hole. It was pretty painful to see, but the Aussie remained calm, despite the bush-fire burning within, no doubt. Tomorrow is another day. With a bit of luck, he will hole everything in sight on Sunday. That’s golf!
Patrick Reed’s putter just got hotter and hotter after McIlroy drew equal. The American immediately snatched the lead back on the next hole with another birdie, then knocked in a few more putts for birdies before finally closing out with a 67 to take the outright lead by three strokes going into Sunday’s final round. It’s the first time the Texan has had the outright lead in a Major.
It looks as if Sunday will be the ultimate test of nerves for the players in the final pairing. Patrick Reed in search of his first Major victory and Rory McIlroy (-11) in search of that illusive Green Jacket for his first Grand Slam.
Are you ready for the final showdown of the 82nd Masters today? I know I am.
Wendy Hoad