As I mentioned in earlier up dates, scores were higher on Friday than Thursday, because as is the custom at Augusta, on Friday they pick the toughest spots to place the pins.
For example, one pin was tucked on top of a mound toward the front of the fifth green. The par 5s played into an opposite wind on the back nine, and they were not easy to reach with players like Jim Furyk being forced to lay up.
So nobody was running away from the field, in fact it became bunched, but as always there was high drama through out the day as the cut fell at +4 for the low 50 and ties, and players within 10 shots of the lead.
Jason Day fired a 4-under 68 for a one-shot lead over fellow Aussie Marc Leishman and Masters favourite, Fred Couples and despite being the first player at Augusta National to get hit with a one-shot penalty for slow play, teen sensation Guan Tianlang still made history Friday as the youngest player to make the cut in a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event.
Tiger Woods, since you were asking, played better than his score of -1 71 indicates. He actually tied for the lead by his 8th hole and was right in the mix until a stroke of bad fortune when he hit a lob wedge 3rd at 15 that hit the flagstick and caromed backward off the green and into the water, turning a sure birdie into a scrambling bogey 6.
He then over clubbed his approach into 18, hitting it to the back of the green, and made a 3 putt bogey for his 71,.. the good news for Tiger fans.. He's just 3 shots off the lead at -3.
Freddie Couples, who shared the 36-hole lead at the Masters last year, birdied the 18th hole for a 71, -5 total, and will play in the final group with Day
Angel Cabrera (2009 champ) birdied five of his last six holes for a 69 and is at -4 along with Jim Furyk (71) and Brandt Snedeker (70).
At -3 along with Tiger are Adam Scott (72), Lee Westwood (71) and Justin Rose (71).
As if that is not compelling enough for the weekend, I haven't even mentioned Rory yet !
He was chugging along until he hit a magnificent 5-wood from about 275 yards on #8 that set up a short eagle putt. He added three more birdies on the back nine and had a -2 70, leaving him only four shots out of the lead
Mike Weir shot +7 79 and did not make the cut.
Just a note on perhaps the story of the day Tianlang Guan and his penalty for slow play. While John Parmor who incidently is the Referee in Chief of the European Tour, and is held in the highest regards throughout the world of golf is receiving a lot of guff for the decision, he was merely following the rules of speed of play that the players themselves have established.
Playing with Matteo Manassero and Ben Crenshaw, he was informed his group was out of position as it left the 10th green. They were on the clock on the 12th hole, meaning players would be timed to make sure they hit their shots within the 40-second limit. The teen got his first bad time with his second shot on the 13th hole, and it was clear he was in trouble after his shot into the 17th when Paramor walked out to speak to him...... They were a hole and a half behind.
So the stage is set for another compelling weekend, the sun is set to come out, and with a crowded leader board, Rory, Tiger in the hunt, so many storylines, I will tell you all of them right here !
Live scoreboard click here http://www.majorschampionships.com/masters/leaderboard.html
Round 3 tee times click here http://www.majorschampionships.com/masters/event-info/tee-
BryanA (notes from pgatour.com)
times.html
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