Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia and Thomas Pieters joined first round leader Charley Hoffman in the largest 36-hole logjam at Augusta National in 44 years.
Saffa watch: Four of five make the cut
The good news for the players that made the cut? The wind is set to subside, with the weekend set for perfect scoring conditions after two tough days in Georgia.
Fifteen players were separated by a mere five shots going into the weekend, a group that includes Adam Scott and Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson, and even 57-year-old Fred Couples.
Spain’s Sergio Garcia is the poster child when it comes to describing the ‘best players without a Major’ tag. It is his 70th consecutive Major and he fired a second round 69 to progress smartly up the leaderboard.
He is joined by Ryder Cup teammate Thomas Pieters. The sweet-striking Belgian was briefly on top of the leaderboard on Thursday before the wheels came off, but he made few mistakes on Friday and took advantage of his length as he made an eagle 3 on the par-5 13th. He is now -4, the same place he once was on Thursday, but now a little more clued up on Augusta’s sharp teeth.
While those three all shot under par, Hoffman was playing damage limitation golf, after seeing his lead evaporate shortly after the turn. He finished with a 75 to make it four at the top.
‘Everybody was talking about how great that round was yesterday, but it was pretty easy to me – making putts, hitting good, solid golf shots,’ Hoffman said. ‘Today I think I sort of felt how hard it was for everybody else in this wind when you got out of position.’
Garcia had a scare when scorers mistakenly awarded him with Shane Lowry’s penalty stroke when the pair were searching for their ball on 10. Garcia looked up on the 13th to see his score go from -3 to -1 but he remained calm.
‘The most important thing is I knew where I stood,’ Garcia said.
William McGirt (73) was two shots behind. The group at 1-under 143 included Justin Rose (72), Fred Couples (70) and Spanish rookie Jon Rahm, who had a 70 and looms as a threat to become the first Masters rookie to win since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.
Spieth, undone by a quadruple bogey in the opening round, started slowly and finished strong, with birdies on the 16th and 18th for a 69. Scott, the 2013 Masters champion, also had a 69 and joined Spieth at 144.
And right there with them was Phil Mickelson, who can become the oldest Masters champion. Mickelson was one shot behind until he sputtered down the stretch with three bogeys and two par saves over his last five holes for a 73.
‘If I can have a good putting weekend, I’m going to have a good chance,’ he said.
Defending champion Danny Willett missed the cut after a nightmare 78 on Friday.
