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5 Things We Learned From Round 2 at The Masters

Published

9 years ago

on

If you’ve forgotten this one mantra, copy/paste it and tape it to your bathroom mirror: The golf course is always the story. The golfers, the weather, the patrons and the caddies might intrude from time to time; in the end, however, Augusta National writes every article.

Let’s get to Round 2 and see what this means.

Beware The Large Lead

Those Tiger days are gone. If you have more than a three-shot lead at The Masters, you’re one swing away from being tied. Jordan Spieth hit a decent approach into No. 5 green and walked off with double bogey. Not quite an Ernie Els, but close. Why? His approach stayed short of a ridge that he subsequently had to ride with his first putt. The putting surfaces at Augusta National never stop breaking.

Spieth starts tomorrow’s round at 4-under, one clear of Rory McIlroy. Can you say dream Sunday pairing?

It Ain’t Over Until It’s Over

Kissing cousin to “Beware The Large Lead,” Bryson DeChambeau and the golfing world learned that it is possible to hit it left of left on the 18th hole, take an unplayable lie and make triple bogey, all while sitting in second place at 3-under par. If this had been Sunday, DeChambeau might be a candidate for extreme therapy. As it is, the low amateur has two more days to rebound and make a run at becoming the first amateur to win The Masters. He’s 4 shots back at even par.

Pay Attention To The Second Nine Tomorrow

Of the top 15 golfers, only three played the second nine under par. Their surnames are McIlroy (3-under), Matsuyama (1-under) and Johnson (Dustin, even). If any of the three can repeat that performance tomorrow, chances are that he/they will be in the final pairing come Round 4. And we all know what happens on the inward half late in the day on Sunday.

The 15th Hole Owes Angel Cabrera

Big Time! El Pato has 17 holes figured out at The National. He has played them in 4-under through two rounds. Unfortunately for the 2009 wearer of the Green Jacket, he went swimming on Thursday and made quadruple-bogey nine, then came back on Friday, stayed dry, but somehow made double bogey. Despite these missteps, Cabrera (2-over) finds himself six strokes off the lead with 36 holes to play.

Old Guys Still Got It

If you’re 50 and you know it, clap your hands … and make some putts … and make the cut. Not one, not two, but three guys on the other side of the Big Five-Oh will play the weekend. Two are former champions (Larry Mize and Bernhard Langer) and the third is, yawn, this year’s USA Ryder Cup captain. Davis Love III, can you say “Playing Captain”?

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Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

16 Comments

16 Comments

  1. Mike

    Apr 9, 2016 at 9:01 am

    Go Angel! The most interesting story in golf (“he only wins majors”).

    Reply Report comment

  2. 2007

    Apr 9, 2016 at 3:04 am

    What I learned: I really want the ProTracer and I need it all the time.

    Reply Report comment

    • Ian

      Apr 9, 2016 at 7:46 am

      Second that. Camera operators are battling to follow tee shots.

      Reply Report comment

    • Ronald Montesano

      Apr 9, 2016 at 9:25 am

      Truth!! Can you imagine having it on either of DeChambeau’s drives on 18? Talk about a test of technology!

      Reply Report comment

  3. Chuck D

    Apr 9, 2016 at 1:44 am

    They’ll be trading paint over the weekend like a NASCAR event!! I’m looking forward to the green coat ceremony at Butler Cabin on Sunday!!

    Reply Report comment

    • Ronald Montesano

      Apr 9, 2016 at 9:26 am

      GVS just tweeted that the wind machine is already cranking. Has CBS added wind to the bird noises? Should be a tremendous weekend. We might have to retire the adjective “epic” by Sunday evening.

      Reply Report comment

  4. Troy

    Apr 9, 2016 at 1:04 am

    Course is playing so tough it’s hard to pick who is going to be there at the end of Sunday. I’ve never seen a Masters like this before.

    It’s almost like a US Open style tournament.

    Reply Report comment

    • 2007

      Apr 9, 2016 at 3:04 am

      You don’t remember 2007????? Seriously? I feel sorry for ZJ. He played the place perfectly for the conditions that the players faced then.

      Reply Report comment

      • Ronald Montesano

        Apr 9, 2016 at 9:27 am

        Great memory, Mr. Bond. Double-Oh-Seven was an equalizer. Who is the best wind player out there? Is it Sergio? Could he, would he? Tom Watson would be licking his lips with wind like this in the forecast.

        Reply Report comment

    • Ronald Montesano

      Apr 9, 2016 at 9:30 am

      Troy,

      Correct! This type of atmospheric interference takes the Augusta veterans out of their comfort zones. On a day or weekend like this, an Augusta caddie might be of greater benefit than a tour one!!

      Reply Report comment

  5. brian h

    Apr 8, 2016 at 11:55 pm

    Great article Ron.

    Reply Report comment

    • Ronald Montesano

      Apr 9, 2016 at 9:29 am

      Thank, BH. We never know which items will resonate with our readers, and we hope we have selected the correct ones. We appreciate insight of all flavors, be it harsh or supportive, so keep your comments coming!

      Reply Report comment

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