Three mature trees collapsed at 17e hole. Two stoppages in play complicated the organizers’ plans. Brooks Koepka dominates outrageously after two rounds. The Masters Tournament is “like no other,” if we go by its motto. There are not even two rounds completed that the Augusta National is already making its own.
Since the beginning of the week, fans, players and especially organizers have feared Mother Nature. The weather radars did not announce anything good for the 87e edition of the most prestigious tournament in the world. Experts predicted heavy rain, strong winds and severe thunderstorms starting Friday afternoon.
Thursday went off without a hitch, in oppressive heat. The second round offered golfers with an early start conditions similar to those of the day before. Comedian Brooks Koepka took advantage of his start shortly after dawn to crush all competition. He gave a card of 67 (- 5) to climb to – 12 and be ahead of Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland by five strokes.
As in any major tournament, no one can predict the outcome. However, if Koepka puts on the green jacket on Sunday afternoon, we will have to think back to this stroke of luck to have been among the first to start on Friday.
The rest of the day passed without disruption, until mid-afternoon. At 3:07 p.m., superintendents sounded their blue horns to suspend operations. The sky had darkened, the wind had picked up and a few drops were splashing on the caps of the players.
Just 21 minutes later, play resumed. That gave Jon Rahm, Koepka’s pursuer, time to get angry on the eighth hole and rejoice on the ninth.
PHOTO MIKE BLAKE, REUTERS
Jon Rahm let off steam on his club after his swing on the eighth hole
At 4:22 p.m., the wind was too disturbing. The conditions had become almost impassable and the black clouds were as threatening as Popa when a member of the Paré family had the bad idea to touch his garbage.
At the same time, at 17e hole, three gigantic mature trees collapsed due to the wind. The scene, filmed by the tournament cameras, is spectacular. No one was injured, organizers confirmed.
Nearly 90 minutes later, activities were suspended until 8 a.m. on Saturday. The only problem is that according to the weather forecast, the risk of precipitation in the morning is assessed at 100%. The hypothesis of a final round played on Monday, as expected, is more and more likely.
This interruption will obviously be unfavorable to the competitors still in action at the time of the stoppage of play.
Rahm, in second position three shots from the lead, was about to play the 10e hole. Like Cameron Young, sixth provisionally. As for Viktor Hovland, in fourth place, he started the 11e hole. These golfers could therefore have to play 26 or 27 holes this Saturday, weather permitting.
Koepka walks on water
Brooks Koepka wasted no time before leaving the leading pack and heading alone to the top of the standings. The American managed to give himself an extremely comfortable lead, in particular thanks to the conditions.
The man in the yellow shoes had a birdie on the second hole and an eagle on the eighth. Two par 5s. In fact, Koepka stood out on all the par 5s on the course. On the other two of the Augusta National, the 13e and the 15e, he also had two birdies. His approach to the latter was a brilliant stroke of genius.
His game of irons made the difference in this second round. He could even have increased his lead, as in 10eif he had capitalized on all his approaches with the putter in hand.
The point guard made only one bogey, but apart from that error, he was almost perfect.
The LIV Golf circuit player is in a class of his own. Judging by the quality of his game, it feels like somewhere between 2017 and 2019, when he was the best golfer on the planet and won four major tournaments.
Completely recovered from his successive left knee, right knee and hip injuries, Koepka is in control of this tournament.
Sam who?
Bennett. Sam Bennett is certainly the best story of the last two days. The title holder of the American amateur championship is holding up. Better still, he passes Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa, respectively first and fifth in the world ranking, for amateurs, whereas he is the amateur.
Bennett plays for Texas A&M University and qualified for the Masters Tournament with his US Championship victory.
For the second day in a row, he gave a card of 68 (- 4) and he occupies the third provisional rank. He committed only one bogey in 36 holes.
Bennett is also talked about not only for the quality of his game, his power, his dexterity, the effect of his balls and his steely mind, but also thanks to his career. On his left forearm, he got a tattoo in honor of his late father. Just before he died in 2020, Bennett’s father wrote to him on a piece of paper, ” Don’t wait to do something (Don’t wait before doing something).
Bennett therefore kept the note and had it tattooed respecting the exact calligraphy of his father. The image has gone around the web.
GOLF CHANNEL PHOTO FROM TODAY.COM
Sam Bennett’s tattoo, in honor of his father
Bennett has been making a name for himself for two days. And if through all this controversy between the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf series, it was rather an amateur player, not having the right to touch a penny of his reward, who put on the most prestigious jacket in the world… ?
Woods at the limit
At the time of ending activities on Friday, the provisional cut was located at + 2. Tiger Woods was also at + 2. He would be the last player to avoid the ax.
PHOTO MARK BAKER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tiger Woods, on the ninth hole
The Tiger seemed less affected than the day before by the weather and the difficulties in walking the rough terrain of Augusta National.
He had a good swerve, especially from the third part of the course. His tee shot on the par-3 of the sixth hole made the spectators jump. He bogeyed on the seventh hole, but recovered with a birdie on the next hole.
He was at 12e when the alarm sounded. If he wants to stay in the game, he will have to make at least one birdie to guarantee himself a place for the weekend rounds.