2015 Masters scoreboard http://www.masters.com/en_US/scores/index.html
After spending the morning yesterday blogging the tough day Mike Weir ( 82) and Corey Connors (80) had, and I'm sure they will be better today, I had to go to work on what was just an awful day weather wise around the GTA, but that certainly wasn't the case at Augusta.
For me of all the compelling cases that made up day one, 45 year old Ernie Els and his opening -5 67 was the best. He has 4 majors now, his last win was the 2012 Open Championship when Adam Scott collapsed over the last 4 holes at Royal Lytham and St Annes, and Ernie who shot 32 on his back nine was left the winner.
His loss at the 2004 Masters that Phil Mickelson won while Ernie was warming up expecting a playoff was the closest he has come to winning, his 67 yesterday was only his 4th below 70 in 32 rounds. He is off at 8.40 this morning, it's calm and warm already with possible rain forecast to arrive around 5pm this afternoon.
I think it is just too much to ask of the big fella to win this 79th Masters, he just isn't as good as many here anymore, but I like many are hoping he can stay close enough to the lead to make Sunday afternoon really compelling !
Speaking of compelling, Jordan Spieth leads -8 64 with half of his round in birdies, yes 9 of them, he simply went out and took Augusta apart and lived up to his advance billing as tournament favourite, He is off today at 9.57EST
Ben Crenshaw's scores don't matter here anymore, and that's the reason why there will be tears streaming down his gentle face as he walks up the 18th hill for one last time after 44 years and 2 wins, with his faithful caddy Carl Jackson by his side.
Jason Day with 5 birdies in a row from 12-16 led to his fine -5 67, typical of his talent, Justin Rose out of form this year found it again with his -5 67, remember this guy is a proven 1st class iron player and we all watched him putt the lights out at the Ryder Cup, so no surprise he can score low here.
Sergio's -4 68 had 5 birdies in it, more importantly just one bogey at the par 3 6th. He is the best ball striker in the world when he is on, will it be his week on the greens.
Watch for Paul Casey -3 69, I like the way he's been playing and Phil Mickelson at -2 70 looks fit and aggressive. He finally seems to have grown out of the disaster that was always lurking at key moments in his game.
Now what about Tiger (73) and Rory (71). Tiger is rusty of course, played some real clunkers, but made some sublime chips like the one on 12 after putting his tee shot in the water proved his chipping woes are over. I think he will make the cut which would fall at +2 (top 50 and those within 10 shots)
Rory had little in the way of fireworks with 3 birdies and 2 bogey's -1 71 and he just needs a solid day today to stay within range come the weekend. He is off at 1.48 and may run into some bad weather late in his round.
Finally what about crusty old Tom Watson, now 65 who won the last of his 2 titles at Augusta in 1981, 34 years ago, who has a bag full of Adams hybrids these days and went out like Rory in -1 71. Amazing..
Now for more compelling stories today...
Bryan Angus
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