AUGUSTA — Oh, what a weekend the golf gods have gifted us on the 89th Masters.
The one means the leaderboard by way of 36 holes may very well be extra scrumptious could be if Tiger Woods was 10 years youthful along with his left Achilles tendon intact.
Justin Rose, at age 44 and in pursuit of a second profession main championship 12 years faraway from his first one, retained the lead he took in Thursday’s opening spherical at 8-under after capturing 71 Friday.
Bryson DeChambeau, the reigning U.S. Open champion and YouTube golf famous person, is one shot again at 7-under after carding a 4-under 68.
Rory McIlroy, on the chase for the profession Grand Slam, made a livid second-round rally after a demoralizing end to his first spherical, and is 2 photographs off the lead after capturing 66 to get to 6-under.
Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion and winner of two of the previous three, is 5-under and three photographs again after capturing 71 in his pursuit to affix Jack Nicklaus as the one gamers to win three of 4.
Shane Lowery, the 2019 British Open champion at Portrush, the place the Open might be performed in July, can be 5-under and three photographs again, together with Korn Ferry Participant of the 12 months Matt McCarty and LIV Golf member Tyrrell Hatton.
Nicely, within the combine coming into Saturday are Jason Day and Viktor Hovland at 4-under, and 21-year-old star within the making Ludvig Åberg, who’s 3-under, together with two-time main winner Collin Morikawa and former Masters winners Hideki Matsuyama and Patrick Reed.
The leaderboard is filled with star energy. Eight gamers are inside three photographs of the lead, and most of them are among the many recreation’s greatest.
“The leaderboard is stacking up very favorably for what appears to be like like world-class gamers proper up there,’’ Rose mentioned. “So, you’re going to should play nice golf, and also you’re going to should go on the market and need it and go for it and get after it. It’s so simple as that, actually.’’
Rose, who received the 2013 U.S. Open, known as the category, high quality and star energy round him on the leaderboard “the corporate that I anticipate to maintain.’’
“That’s the place I’ve tried to be my entire profession,’’ he mentioned. “That’s the place I’ve been for lots of my profession. I’ve been a top-10 participant on this planet for a decade or extra. So yeah, that is good to be again in that blend, one hundred pc.’’
Fred {Couples}, the 65-year-old 1992 Masters winner who missed the minimize taking part in in his fortieth Masters this week, handicapped the leaderboard after his spherical was over.
“The man to look at is DeChambeau,’’ {Couples} mentioned. “DeChambeau, if [the wind] will not be blowing, I feel he’s going to make 13 birdies the following two days. Then Rory. Have a look at what Rory did at this time. Everybody was choosing on him after a pair doubles [in Thursday’s round]. It’s enjoyable to look at.
“Scheffler has been battling, and Tyrrell Hatton, and I don’t know McCarty very nicely, however that’s what I take pleasure in.’’
Scheffler lamented about “too many errors on the again 9,’’ including, “General, I did sufficient to remain within the event. Three photographs again going into the weekend, hopefully I’ll clear up the cardboard a bit of bit tomorrow.
“Golf is a humorous recreation. It’s a day-to-day factor. Yesterday, I felt actually sharp. At present, not as sharp.’’
Max Homa, who performed with Rose the primary two days, marveled at his play.
“It was nice,’’ Homa mentioned. “When you concentrate on actually rounded golf, that’s what it was. He clearly hit a ton of nice photographs. He made plenty of putts the final couple days. When he was out of place, he had some actually arduous pitches and made them look very simple.
“It was total-package kind golf for 2 days. He was very constant by way of the bag.’’
Day raved in regards to the stacked board.
“Rory’s attempting to complete that Grand Slam that he’s been attempting to get for a very long time,’’ he mentioned. “Scottie is Scottie. I really feel like that man is at all times in competition it doesn’t matter what he does. He at all times provides himself the alternatives. Doesn’t get too excessive or low. It looks as if he’s at all times someplace across the lead.
“For me, I’m type of below the radar, which is sweet. I really feel like sitting at T-9 is sweet going into the weekend. I simply preserve my head down and preserve pushing.’’
