Jordan Spieth is trying to make the 80th Masters a rerun. Rory McIlroy is trying to make history.
Spieth, the defending champion, weathered a difficult Friday by posting a 2-over-par 74 to hold a one-stroke lead over McIlroy after two rounds of the first major of the year at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga.
McIlroy and Spieth, who have won four of the last six majors, will be paired in the third round.
A 36-hole total of 4-under 140, thanks to a clutch 15-foot par putt on the 18th hole, gave Spieth the lead after a sixth consecutive round in the Masters, a tournament record.
However, the lead was five shots at one time early in Spieth’s round.
“It was a mental test,” the second-ranked Spieth said. “It was windy and the greens were crustier than I have seen them since the weekend in 2014. We got put on the clock at Amen Corner, and that’s tough because it’s windy and you have to rush your shot a little.
“I was at 8 under and I felt like I played better than 4 over on the last 14 holes. I’m disappointed now, but I’m still in the lead. Tomorrow is going to be tougher because it’s supposed to be windy again and the greens will be more crusty. I just have to stay patient.”
McIlroy, making his second attempt to complete the career Grand Slam with a victory in the Masters, collected three birdies in four holes through No. 16 en route to a 71 that equaled the best round of the windy day.
The last time there were no scores in the 70s at the Masters came in the third round in 2007.
“It’s difficult to pull a club and trust it, but that’s what you have to do,” the third-ranked McIlroy said. “The wind is very strong and when it dies a little, you have to take the chance and hit your shot. Trusting it is the big thing. I’m happy with 1 under. Anything under par today is a good score.
” … You had a lot of guys playing well coming in — Jordan, Jason Day, Adam Scott, so I felt like maybe I was part of the narrative, not the narrative as I was last year.”
Spieth, who held a two-shot lead after opening with a 66, started fast with birdies on the first and third holes to lead by five, and after stumbling to a double bogey-6 at No. 5, he added another birdie at No. 8.
After making bogeys on the ninth and 10th holes, he righted the ship briefly with a birdie on the 15th hole but made bogeys on the 16th and 17th. He was in danger of falling into a tie with McIlroy before the par putt on the final hole.
Scott Piercy finished with a 72 in the morning wave and was two strokes back in a tie for third with Danny Lee of New Zealand, who made bogeys on the last two holes to complete a 74.
Brandt Snedeker birdied the last hole for a 72 and was three behind in a tie for fifth with Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who also had a 72, and Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark, who totaled 74.
Bryson DeChambeau, the NCAA and U.S. Amateur champion who will turn pro next week, was tied for second with McIlroy before driving into an unplayable lie on his way to a triple bogey-7 on the last hole.
DeChambeau finished at 72 and was four shots down in a tie for eighth with Dustin Johnson (71), Daniel Berger (71), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (72) of Thailand, Sergio Garcia (75) of Spain, Danny Willett (74) of England and Shane Lowry (76) of Ireland.
Top-ranked Jason Day of Australia, the pre-tournament favorite who has won his last two tournaments and six of his last 13, posted a second straight 72 and was five strokes back in a tie for 15th.
“The wind obviously is making the course play very difficult,” said Day, the reigning PGA champion. “It was tough around Amen Corner, but then it didn’t get any easier coming home. The wind was blowing at least 20 miles an hour.
“Jordan obviously loves this place, to be up there where he is.”
Bubba Watson, who won the Masters in 2012 and 2014, finished 36 holes in 75-75 — 150, 6-over, and made the cut right on the number.
Among those who failed to make the weekend were three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson (72-79–151), 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman (77-74–151), 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (76-76-152), 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson (72-80–152) and Rickie Fowler (80-73–153).
Tom Watson, who won five majors including the Masters in 1977 and 1981, shot 74-78–152 and missed the cut in his last Masters.
“It was a great walk in the south Georgia pines, one more time,” Watson said. “I hit 5-wood on 18 and I’m glad I don’t have to play No. 18 any more. The reality is, the course is too big for me now. It’s time.
“You never know what the cut is going to be, especially the way the wind was blowing. I was 8-over and that was close, if I could have made a few putts. I made everything yesterday, but it came around to bite me today.
“I grew up watching the Masters, watching Jack (Nicklaus) and Arnie (Palmer), and I wanted to play in the Masters … ”
And he did, 43 times.
–Story courtesy of The Sports Xchange, TSX Golf Editor Tom LaMarre
