An intriguing Sunday is in store at this 80th Masters, in large part due to the difficulty of Augusta after a another windy Saturday, lightning fast crusty greens, and the defending champion's finish.
Jordan Spieth has threatened to run away with the tournament right from the start with his brilliant opening -6 66 but after opening with 2 birdies on Friday he slipped to a 74 to let the field back in. Then on Saturday he was ahead by 4 strokes standing on the 17th tee but drove wildly to the right resulting in a bogey 5, then did the same on the 18th this time resulting in a double bogey 6. Three shots dropped with his +1 73 -3 total, and as Rory who had stumbled to a 77 said afterwards, " Jordan's finish breathed some life back into my chances."
That finish establishes these storylines for today.
First the wind which has played havoc with scoring all week is scheduled to die down today, the day will be warmer so it follows that scores will be lower. It is now blowing from the east not the NW.
Spieth has a one-shot lead over his friend Smylie Kaufman who is playing in his first Masters and had the low score of the day at -3 69 -2 total.
Then the story of the day could be 58-year-old Bernhard Langer who made three straight birdies on the back nine for a -2 70 -1 total. Much is being made of Jack's win in 1986 when he was 46, but remember this, it was Bernhard Langer who presented Jack with the green jacket in Butler's cabin after his win in 1985!
His second Masters win was in 1993, three months before Spieth was born. He is two shots behind in his bid to become the oldest major champion by 10 years as Julius Boros was 48 when he captured the PGA Championship in 1968. In my opinion the calmer weather today will work against Langer because I believe it will let someone else who is much longer a chance to go low.
Hideki Matsuyama is tied with Langer at -1 after a 72. He starts play today hoping to become the first Japanese player to win a major. He is arguably the best iron player in the field today, he hit 14 greens in regulation on Saturday. Matsuyama has moved into the Orlando area in his quest to become Japan's greatest player, don't overlook him.
Then at even par, slightly under the radar is the guy who has won for the last two weeks, and oh yes the world's #1, Jason Day who plugged away and came in with a 71. How can you be surprised if he wins his first Masters ?
He is tied at even par with Dustin Johnson (72) and Danny Willett (72) who is only here because his wife gave birth to their first child, Zachery on Saturday enabling him to fly to Atlanta on Monday. You may remember he was paired with Zach Johnson when the latter won the Open Championship at St Andrews last summer ..hmmmm.
Spieth's finish and the calmer weather has also given hope to Rory McIlroy who after 77 is at +2 is just 5 shots off the lead and I just feel certain that with his bad round out of the way, he is the guy who will shoot 65 or 66 for a grandstand finish.
Also included in this Masters Sunday afternoon mix are Lee Westwood 71 Brandt Snedeker (74) and Soren Kjeldsen (74) all just 4 shots back at +1.
Who will win??? who knows !!
Bryan Angus
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