The Masters
Latest > Reed leads, Tiger makes the cut and it's Moving day!!
Apr 6th, 2018
Reed leads, Tiger makes the cut and it's Moving day!!
Bring it on...
Words: GolfPunk & PGA Tour
The Wrap:
Patrick Reed is -8 for the four par-5s through two rounds at Augusta, making birdies on every signel one opf them.
“You're not going to shoot a low score if you don't,” said a delighted Reed after the round.
It has helped him to a 69-66 start and a two-shot lead over Marc Leishman and a four-shots clear of Henrik Stenson in third.
“To be able to go out and capitalize on those par-5s and to make a lot of birdies there, it kind of allows you to be really aggressive when you feel like you're really comfortable with a shot,” Reed added. “Or at the same time, even though you might have a short iron, because of what you're doing on the par-5s, you might play a little bit on the cautious side.”
Prior to this year, Reed had never shot a round in the 60s at Augusta National through 12 tries.
And boy, is he making up for it in 2018, opening with rounds of 69 and 66 this year. Now here's a challenge for Reed: No player in the history of the Masters has ever carded four rounds in the 60s... History afoot?
“There's a lot of holes left, and I just need to go out and play some solid golf and just go out and continue shooting in the 60s and see if it gets the job done,” said Reed
NO LAY UP IN LEISHMAN
Australian Marc Leishman produced the shot of the day at the 15th, a stunning play shot that carved around a whole load of trees and bunkers, found the putting surface and rolled out to six feet. He promptly made the eagle putt and finished the round alone in second place.
“With the way I hooded the club over to hook it that much, it turned it into like a 3‑ or 4‑iron,” he explained. “I hooded the club a lot and just swung into‑out, and the ball comes out like that. I don't really think about it too much. I just see a shot and swing.”
What makes his gung-ho attitude even more impressive is it was on the 15th hole where he lost his chance at a Green Jacket five years ago.
“You have to grab the bull by the horns … it's not going to come to you,” said Leishman of winning the tournament. "You have to go out and win it. That's how I've always played. I try and win tournaments.
“Like that shot on 15 today, I'm not one to lay up if there's a chance I can get there. I saw it firsthand, know what it takes. I feel like I learned a lot that day and hopefully it will put me in good stead for this week and can be sitting here Sunday night.”
QUOTES OF THE DAY:
“Even though I'm a lot behind, if I play a special weekend, shoot two rounds in the mid 60s, you never know.” – Tiger Woods will start 13 shots back Saturday.
“I've always felt comfortable being up around the lead. It's a place that I'm thankfully quite familiar with and know how to deal with.” – Rory McIlroy
“The greens are very tough. They're a fine line. Not very often do you get a gimme after having anything outside of 20 feet.” – Rickie Fowler
“This experience is invaluable. Just can't wait to get back every year after this.” India’s Shubhankar Sharma who missed the cut in his first Masters
“I think it's going to be pretty bunched up over the weekend and it should be very entertaining.” Louis Oosthuizen sits seven back and T8.
BITS & PIECES:
Tiger Woods: A scratchy 75 leaves Woods at 4 over and in need of a miracle weekend starting 14 back.
Jordan Spieth: The overnight leader dropped to T4 with a scratchy 74 but he’s still within reach of a second Green Jacket. Read about his travails here.
Rory McIlroy: 69-71 for McIlroy has the career Grand Slam well and truly within reach. He starts Saturday T4, five shots back. Read about the big names lurking here.
Dustin Johnson: The World No. 1 is T6, just six back.
Justin Thomas: The FedExCup leader is also T6, just six shots back.
Rickie Fowler: 70-72 for Fowler and a T8 slot means the major drought could yet be broken.
Phil Mickelson: A dismal 79 on Friday, equaling his worst at Augusta, dropped Phil out of the race at 5 over.
Sergio Garcia: Became just the 10th player in Masters history to miss the cut in their title defense, shooting 81-78 to be 15 over. See other notables to miss the weekend here.
STAT ATTACK:
Driving distance: Dustin Johnson 323.4 yards
Fairways hit: Webb Simpson 13/14
Greens in regulation: Bubba Watson 15/18
Proximity to the hole: Chez Reavie 30 feet, 2 inches
Scrambling: Louis Oosthuizen 6/6
Strokes Gained: Putting: Patrick Reed 3.569
Strokes Gained: Tee to Green: Marc Leishman 5.380
