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Wind blows Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy into a third-round pairing at the Masters Wind blows Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy into a third-round pairing at the Masters
(about 3 hours later)
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The wind redirected drives, altered approaches and even blew earthbound putts around, challenging the laws of gravity in a way that might require an SMU physics major to explain — except that the only one on the premises was otherwise occupied. The elements spared no one on a merciless Friday, from the 66-year-old legend who was saying goodbye to the Masters, to the 22-year-old amateur who was saying hello, and even to the defending champion who was beginning to seem unstoppable.AUGUSTA, Ga. — The wind redirected drives, altered approaches and even blew earthbound putts around, challenging the laws of gravity in a way that might require an SMU physics major to explain — except that the only one on the premises was otherwise occupied. The elements spared no one on a merciless Friday, from the 66-year-old legend who was saying goodbye to the Masters, to the 22-year-old amateur who was saying hello, and even to the defending champion who was beginning to seem unstoppable.
At the end of a remarkable second round, Jordan Spieth, in search of a second consecutive green jacket, had carded a hard-fought, two-over-par 74 and maintained his outright lead for the sixth straight round in this tournament. But that lead is a tenuous one, both because of the margin — one stroke — and who is trailing. At the end of a remarkable second round, Jordan Spieth, in search of a second consecutive green jacket, had carded a hard-fought, 2-over-par 74 and maintained his outright lead for the sixth straight round in this tournament. But that lead is a tenuous one, both because of the margin — one stroke — and who is trailing.
On Saturday afternoon, for the first time on the weekend of a major championship, it will be Spieth (four-under-par 140) and Rory McIlroy (three-under 139) in the final pairing, separated by that one thin stroke. McIlroy, the 26-year-old Northern Irishman, recorded one of only four subpar rounds Friday in a field of 89 golfers — an adventure-filled 71 — while Spieth, following bogeys at 16 and 17, had to sink a 14-foot par putt on 18 just to hang onto the last sliver of his lead. On Saturday afternoon, for the first time on the weekend of a major championship, it will be Spieth (4-under-par 140) and Rory McIlroy (3-under 139) in the final pairing, separated by that one thin stroke. McIlroy, the 26-year-old Northern Irishman, recorded one of only four subpar rounds Friday in a field of 89 golfers — an adventure-filled 71 — while Spieth, following bogeys at 16 and 17, had to sink a 14-foot par putt on 18 just to hang onto the last sliver of his lead.
They have been circling each other like predatory animals for much of the past two years, trading out stints as the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer — though both have recently been passed by Jason Day — and claiming four of the past six major titles. They have played together as pros 12 previous times, but never on the weekend of a major.They have been circling each other like predatory animals for much of the past two years, trading out stints as the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer — though both have recently been passed by Jason Day — and claiming four of the past six major titles. They have played together as pros 12 previous times, but never on the weekend of a major.
“I’d rather be playing with someone less threatening, to be honest,” Spieth said about his Saturday pairing, “but I think it will be a really fun challenge.”“I’d rather be playing with someone less threatening, to be honest,” Spieth said about his Saturday pairing, “but I think it will be a really fun challenge.”
Nineteen golfers began Friday under par, but by the end of a tumultuous, windswept second round only seven were still there. In addition to Spieth and McIlroy, that group includes Scott Piercy and South Korea’s Danny Lee, both at 2-under, and Brandt Snedeker, Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, all at 1-under. Nineteen golfers began Friday under par, but by the end of a tumultuous, windswept second round only seven were still there. In addition to Spieth and McIlroy, that group includes Scott Piercy and South Korea’s Danny Lee, both at 2 under, and Brandt Snedeker, Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, all at 1 under.
The Saturday pairings might have looked quite different had Bryson DeChambeau, the talented – and brainy – amateur from SMU, not imploded at the 18th hole, at the end of a second straight dazzling round. Sitting at 3-under, with a chance to get into the final pairing with Spieth, DeChambeau instead pulled a pair of drives off the 18th tee – the first of which resulted in an unplayable lie — for a triple-bogey seven, dropping him into a tie for eighth. The Saturday pairings might have looked quite different had Bryson DeChambeau, the talented — and brainy — amateur from SMU, not imploded at the 18th hole, at the end of a second straight dazzling round. Sitting at 3 under, with a chance to get into the final pairing with Spieth, DeChambeau instead pulled a pair of drives off the 18th tee — the first of which resulted in an unplayable lie — for a triple-bogey seven, dropping him into a tie for eighth.
By coming back to the pack Friday, with his first over-par score in 10 career rounds in the Masters, Spieth pushed the cut-line to 6-over, which was enough to allow pre-tournament favorites such as Bubba Watson (150), Adam Scott (148) and Louis Oosthuizen (149) to play through the weekend. But it was not enough to spare three-time Masters champ Phil Mickelson, who putted clear off the ninth green and carded three double-bogeys on his way to a 79, his worst score ever in Masters play; he missed the cut at 151. Two-time champ Tom Watson, 66, playing in his final Masters, also missed the cut at 152. By coming back to the pack Friday, with his first over-par score in 10 career rounds in the Masters, Spieth pushed the cut-line to 6 over, which was enough to allow pre-tournament favorites such as Bubba Watson (150), Adam Scott (148) and Louis Oosthuizen (149) to play through the weekend. But it was not enough to spare three-time Masters champ Phil Mickelson, who putted clear off the ninth green and carded three double-bogeys on his way to a 79, his worst score ever in Masters play; he missed the cut at 151. Two-time champ Tom Watson, 66, playing in his final Masters, also missed the cut at 152.
Augusta National has plenty of built-in defense mechanisms — chiefly its fast, undulating greens — without having to rely on a gusty wind. The combination of the hard greens and stiff wind made for plenty of adventures, and no one was spared — not even Spieth, who took a four-putt double-bogey on No. 5.Augusta National has plenty of built-in defense mechanisms — chiefly its fast, undulating greens — without having to rely on a gusty wind. The combination of the hard greens and stiff wind made for plenty of adventures, and no one was spared — not even Spieth, who took a four-putt double-bogey on No. 5.
“It was very tough to stay cool,” he said. “I mean, it’s a lot easier said than done. You could say, ‘Looked like you got emotional out there’ — [but] I mean, you guys try it. That was a hard golf course.”“It was very tough to stay cool,” he said. “I mean, it’s a lot easier said than done. You could say, ‘Looked like you got emotional out there’ — [but] I mean, you guys try it. That was a hard golf course.”
His fellow competitors agreed:His fellow competitors agreed:
“Almost impossible out there,” said Shane Lowry. “Almost impossible out there,” Shane Lowry said.
“Brutally hard out there,” said Lee Westwood. “Brutally hard out there,” Lee Westwood said.
“It’s brutal,” said Kjeldsen. “It’s brutal,” Kjeldsen said.
“It’s tough enough at the best of times, but . . . you put 20- to 30-mile-an-hour winds in there,” said Danny Willett, “and it’s brutal.” “It’s tough enough at the best of times, but . . . you put 20- to 30-mile-an-hour winds in there,” Danny Willett said, “and it’s brutal.”
The wind was not only stiff, but as fickle as . . . well, the wind — seemingly swirling in some places and switching up to 180 degrees in others. At one point, when Spieth hit his approach to No. 10 from the middle of the fairway, the wind suddenly shifted being left-to-right to blowing into Spieth’s face. As his ball fell short of the green, he screamed, “How is that into the wind?”The wind was not only stiff, but as fickle as . . . well, the wind — seemingly swirling in some places and switching up to 180 degrees in others. At one point, when Spieth hit his approach to No. 10 from the middle of the fairway, the wind suddenly shifted being left-to-right to blowing into Spieth’s face. As his ball fell short of the green, he screamed, “How is that into the wind?”
The wind wasn’t the only thing bothering Spieth. By the next hole, his threesome was informed it was being put “on the clock” — basically, a slow-play warning — and Spieth felt he had to hurry with his approach to the 11th green, which he hit to the front of the green, requiring a tough two-putt from about 75 feet.The wind wasn’t the only thing bothering Spieth. By the next hole, his threesome was informed it was being put “on the clock” — basically, a slow-play warning — and Spieth felt he had to hurry with his approach to the 11th green, which he hit to the front of the green, requiring a tough two-putt from about 75 feet.
“We’re on the frickin’ clock,” he yelled as he hit the approach. “I want to take my time, but we can’t!”“We’re on the frickin’ clock,” he yelled as he hit the approach. “I want to take my time, but we can’t!”
Spieth began the day with a two-stroke lead, saw it grow to three while he warmed up on the driving range and at one point extended it to five – including seven shots over McIlroy. But by the time he stared down that final 14-footer on the 18th green, suddenly feeling the hot breath of his most accomplished rival on his neck, it was down to one. Spieth began the day with a two-stroke lead, saw it grow to three while he warmed up on the driving range and at one point extended it to five — including seven shots over McIlroy. But by the time he stared down that final 14-footer on the 18th green, suddenly feeling the hot breath of his most accomplished rival on his neck, it was down to one.
And it isn’t so much the margin as the identity of the other golfer in his pairing that makes Saturday’s round at the Masters such a delightful proposition, to everyone but Spieth himself.And it isn’t so much the margin as the identity of the other golfer in his pairing that makes Saturday’s round at the Masters such a delightful proposition, to everyone but Spieth himself.