Five weekend storylines to watch at The Masters

The Masters almost made it via two full rounds earlier than climate finally suspended play on Friday afternoon.

The leaderboard is loaded with star energy. An beginner is making the most important climb up the Augusta Nationwide leaderboard in a long time, and Tiger Woods is combating for a record-tying made reduce with just a few holes left. So there’s lots to give attention to though Saturday’s situations might get ugly.

Right here’s a take a look at some storylines to observe as play picks up on Saturday morning.

Dangerous climate makes Saturday’s play fully unpredictable

Friday’s play at Augusta was suspended late afternoon as a result of excessive winds, driving rains, and thunderstorm situations. A trio of bushes even fell over close to the seventeenth tee field simply earlier than the day’s play was finally known as off. Fortunately, in line with a launch from Augusta Nationwide, no person was harm.

On the golf entrance, there are nonetheless 12 teams of gamers left on the course who’ve but to finish the second spherical. Loads of these opponents are both in competition for the lead, like Jon Rahm or Viktor Hovland, or combating to make the reduce, like Tiger Woods and Talor Gooch. Play resumes at 8 a.m. Saturday morning with lots on the road.

Sadly for the teams ending up second-round play, Saturday’s climate is predicted to be chilly, wet, and depressing. Many of the day is forecasted to characteristic rain with a excessive of solely 52 levels. Probably the one perk is enjoying a wetter and softer course that would assistance on a few of Augusta’s fast-and-slippery greens. The climate will mentally problem among the gamers who dislike being in all these situations.

The Saturday climate isn’t restricted to the second spherical. These situations will carry over into the third spherical if play accelerates via the day with no suspensions. Augusta Nationwide is also compelled into extra scheduling changes if the rain turns into too heavy throughout Saturday’s play.

Both manner, count on a considerably completely different day of golf on Saturday than we’ve seen to this point within the match.

Tiger Woods nonetheless has work to do to make his Masters record-tying reduce

Seven holes of par golf. That’s the end result it should possible take for Tiger Woods to make a record-tying twenty third consecutive reduce at The Masters on Saturday morning. Since turning skilled through the fall of 1996, Woods has by no means missed a reduce at Augusta Nationwide.

At the moment sitting on the cutline at +2 via 11 holes, Woods must grind to make it to the end line. The cool, moist situations anticipated on Saturday could possibly be impactful on Woods making an attempt to remain at his bodily greatest throughout a match wherein he already appears to be like drained strolling a long-and-hilly course.

To the good thing about Tiger, he has two par fives to play (13 and 15), which might place him with two birdie alternatives to assist his trigger down the stretch. However to start the morning, Woods has a troublesome first shot on the dreaded par-3 twelfth gap at Augusta – one of many extra daunting pictures in golf.

It’ll be an interesting dash to the end to see if Woods can tie his good friend and mentor Fred {Couples} and Gary Participant atop the Augusta Nationwide report books. Woods making the reduce, and lengthening play into the ultimate two rounds, would add to his unbelievable Augusta epilogue coming off of his 2021 automobile accident.

Brooks Koepka makes an attempt to shut after an unbelievable begin

Not many individuals predicted this type of begin from Brooks Koepka.

The four-time main champion made his mark throughout a damaging three-year run that noticed him win back-to-back U.S. Opens and back-to-back PGA Championships from 2017 via 2019. The newest model of Koepka, no less than by way of normal public notion, was that of a washed-up former champion who scurried away to a simple paycheck with LIV Golf.

By means of two rounds this week, Koepka has proven flashes of his brilliance. After posting a gap 65 for a share of the lead, Koepka adopted that up with one other good -5 efficiency on Friday to place him at -12 total for the championship.

With a (present) three-stroke lead over Jon Rahm, and an much more sizable benefit over the overall area, Koepka’s opening flurry was harking back to his 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black. An analogous -12 begin noticed Koepka open up a seven-stroke lead on the sphere earlier than capturing his fourth main.

Though Koepka goes to have stiffer (and nearer) competitors the ultimate two rounds, the unbelievable begin can’t be missed for a former main champion identified for delivering an early blow.

Can reigning U.S. Newbie Champion Sam Bennett keep in competition?

The stellar play of Sam Bennett continued via Friday’s second spherical. The Texas A&M senior and reigning U.S. Newbie Champion touched solo 2nd place on the leaderboard thanks to a different regular -4 to place him at -8 total.

Paired with world No. 1 and defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler and one of many hottest gamers on this planet, Max Homa, Bennett soundly outplayed his skilled group mates via 36 holes at Augusta because of confidence and a notable show after all administration.

Astoundingly, Bennett solely has one bogey via two rounds. However can he proceed the historic begin?

Bennett pounded fairways (93 p.c via two rounds) and greens (73 p.c via two rounds) at an above-average price in comparison with the sphere the primary two days. However below-average distance off the tee for the week is one thing that would harm Bennett if the course will get softer and permits for much less runouts because of the anticipated climate.

No one would blame Bennett for displaying his expertise at any level through the weekend. However for an beginner to have an opportunity to play within the last group through the weekend at Augusta can be a extremely enjoyable change of tempo.

A loaded leaderboard stays to problem Brooks Koepka

It would really feel like Brooks Koepka has a agency grasp of the lead at this level. Given the climate and loaded leaderboard, it could be foolish to proclaim any type of champion with a lot golf left to play.

The Masters leaderboard continues to characteristic former main winners and top-20 gamers within the OWGR. There’s nonetheless an opportunity former world No. 1 Jon Rahm makes a climb to seize Koepka by the top of spherical two. In the meantime, former main winners like Collin Morikawa (-6), Jason Day (-5) and Jordan Spieth (-5) are nonetheless nicely inside hanging distance with 36+ holes left.

If there’s even a slight mishap from Koepka throughout an unpredictable Saturday, there are many notable suitors ready to pounce. It ought to make for a riveting weekend of golf.