2016 Masters leaderboard http://www.masters.com/en_US/scores/index.html
In my Wednesday preview I stressed that the cool windy weather forecast to set in today and tomorrow may end up being the lead story and that remains to be seen, but for sure as the greens which are already very fast are only going to firm up, pins therefore will be less accessible. It is cool and cloudy at 50*F this morning and the wind is expected to pick up gusting to 20mph as the day goes on.
As we begin this Friday at the Masters it seems logical that anything under 70 will be a very good score.
Yesterday Jordan Spieth went out early before the trickiest of the winds blew through and with 6 birdies and as many par saving putts he posted -6 66 to lead this 80th Masters by 2 shots over Danny Lee and Shane Lowry.
He kissed his putter after another of those clutch 8 foot par savers, this one on the 16th, and that for me summed up his day as much as anything. He didn't have his A game but got away without any bogey's and he did drive the ball very well.
Poor Ernie Els wasn't so fortunate after taking a 9 on the first which was just painful to watch considering he had a 2 footer for par. Afterwards he admitted that he was shocked and was overcome by the heebee jeebies to the point he was scared to take the putter back. He shot himself right out of the tournament in one hole, finishing with an unsightly +8 80.
Jason Day was cruising, -5 through 14 holes, but he 3 putted the par 5 15th for a bogey, then yanked his tee shot into the pond at 16 and took a triple, then made bogey at 17 to end up E 72.
Similarly Rory McIlroy was at -4 before 3 putting the 16th, and failing to get up and down at 18 to finish -2 70.
Both he and Jason get the advantage of playing in the early wave today.
The back nine woes continued for Rickie Fowler who needed 44 strokes on his way to 80, and Bubba who needed 41 as part of his 76, the same score as another pre tournament favourite, Adam Scott.
There is a real international flavour at the top of the leaderboard with Spieth's playing partner Paul Casey among five Europeans at 69, along with Ian Poulter, Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia and Soren Kjeldsen. I've already mentioned Lowry from Ireland and Lee from New Zealand at -4 and remember Rory and Danny Willett are at -2 70.
Still, with play about to get underway this morning, it's the American, Jordan Spieth who will be in the late wave has that -6 66 in the bank, and that may be crucial come Sunday afternoon.
As he said afterwards I’m extremely pleased with that round today. I felt like we stole a few.”
Bryan Angus
Bryan Angus
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