BlogThe weekend at the Masters

So what happened on Friday?

So we are at the halfway point and the talk of the first two days is the great play of Jordan Spieth.  He may of shot 66, two worst than his 64 on Thursday but on Friday he made no bogeys and about the only fault was maybe missing a six footer at 18 for birdie.  Still he is at 14 under, 130 which not only broke the 36 hole record but ties the 36 hole low total in majors, more on that in a bit.

Five shots back is Charley Hoffman, who has to be a bit disappointed.  Hoffman shot 67-68 and most of the time would be going into the weekend with the lead.  But with Spieth posting a 14 under total, Hoffman is five back.  Now how good is being at 135?  Hoffman would of led every Masters with the exception of 1976 when Raymond Floyd was at 131.  In 1996 Greg Norman was at 132, Chris DiMarco was at 134 in both 2001 and 2005 and in 2011 Rory McIlroy was at 134.  So Hoffman has this to think about.  All of those 36 hole leaders we mentioned, of the five years the only winner was Floyd in 1976.

Before we go on, should tell you some of the nuggets on Spieth’s first 36 holes:

• *Spieth has made only 1 bogey, joining 30 others in Masters history to play 36 holes with just one bogey. (Masters history five have played bogey-free first 36 holes)  On that list with one is Masters champions Byron Nelson in 1942 and Jack Nicklaus in 1972
• *Spieth has made 15 birdies which now is the most made after 36 holes.  Previously 14 was the most by Raymond Floyd and Ted Schultz in 1992 and Greg Norman in 1996. (Floyd made 13 in 1976)
• *Spieth got to double figures with a birdie on the 5th hole in the 2nd round.  Only Greg Norman in 1996 got to 10 under faster, he did it in 20 holes while Spieth did it in 23 holes.
• *Spieth is 2 under on the par 3s, the most is 5 under
• *Spieth is 6 under on the par 4s, the most is 8 under
• *Spieth is 6 under on the par 5s, the most is 9 under

So the big question, can Spieth do it?  He should but we said the same thing about Rory McIlroy in 2011.  That didn’t turn out very well.  But Spieth seems totally different, a better fit for the pressures and problems associated with leading the Masters.  It’s weird, normally you look at the stats to see why, of course his putting has been terrific but he is also hitting the ball well hitting 28 of 36 greens (only two others have it more).  The thing that I like is that he is playing smart golf, when he misses a fairway or a green his focus is to play safe in trying to just make par.  To think he has only made one bogey over 36 holes and that is on a par 5.

Can Charley Hoffman win?  I don’t think so, this is his 16th major and he only has made the cut in half of them.  His best finish was T27th at the Masters in 2011 and you just don’t see a guy with a poor record in the majors content on the back nine on Sunday.

Who should Spieth be the most worried about?  I would say Dustin Johnson.  Of course I didn’t like him coming into this event but he has proved me wrong as he is having one of his best Masters ever.  Johnson has eight birdies but can you believe he made three eagles today?  Johnson is the first to have three eagles in one round.  40 times the Masters has seen 2 eagles in a day, but never three.  Another record that Johnson has, he has played the par 5s today in 7 under which will be a new Masters record for most under on par 5s for a single day.  The previous best was 6 under by Claude Harmon in 2nd round, 1952; Steve Jones in final round, 1999 and Ernie Els in final round, 2004.  I feel that Johnson will be a force and start to nickel and dime on that lead.  He may be seven shots back but can see him backing up some of those shots on Saturday.

How about Justin Rose?  Another of those I didn’t like the beginning of the week, Rose didn’t play as well on Friday with a 70 but he is still in it.  Do I think he will contend, still think he won’t.  Just hasn’t been able to play a solid 72 holes and I see that trend continuing over the weekend.

Can Phil do it?  Damn right he can.  After a 70 on Thursday, he shot 68 with five birdies and one bogey.  He has hit 23 of 28 fairways and 25 of 36 greens but more importantly he seems to be doing better with the putter taking only 58 putts (8 more than Spieth) but he looks better with it than he has all year.  Still Phil is 8 shots back, but anything can happen and if Phil can post 67-67 who knows.

Anybody else has a chance?  Before we talk about those with a chance, here are those I don’t like.  Ernie Els surprised us all with a 67 on Thursday, but he shot 72 on Friday and I just don’t think he can do it.  I also don’t like Paul Casey, every time I looked up he was not doing well, still he has shot 69-68 and could be a force.

How about Rory and Tiger?  Tiger played better shooting a 69 and I think that he will be better.  But even with a pair of 66s I just don’t see him making up 12 shots.  As for Rory McIlroy he shot another 71 and just doesn’t seem right.  I think that he is coming back but it won’t be this week.

Below is a list of the top-18 players on the leader board going to even par which is 8 shots back of Jordan Spieth