Australia’s Cameron Smith wrapped up his second round in spectacular fashion – playing the final four holes in 5-under to snare a share of the lead at 9-under midway through the second round of the Masters.
Smith caught fire over the closing stretch, carding an eagle at 15 after a sizzling approach shot, and backed it up with birdies at 16 through 18.
The Queenslander joined Presidents Cup mate Abraham Ancer at the top of the leaderboard after the Mexican star – who had never played Augusta National until last Wednesday – put on a ball-striking clinic of his own with six birdies.
Australian Cameron Smith grabbed a share of the overnight lead by playing his last four holes in five under par. #themasters pic.twitter.com/T6E9mACtN6
— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 13, 2020
Meanwhile, the drama continued to follow big-hitting Bryson DeChambeau, this time on the short par-4 third. DeChambeau hit his drive left, but not so far left that it should’ve been lost. From the TV replays, it looked like his ball probably plugged in the soggy turf left of the fairway. Unfortunately for the US Open champion, the search party never found the ball in the allotted three minutes.
DeChambeau needed a ride back in the cart to go hit his third shot from the tee. That shot went left, too, but they found that one. He then had to hack it out from the thick stuff over the green to the right . . . going on to make a disastrous triple-bogey 7.
Defending champ Tiger Woods strolled to a four-under 68 on Thursday. It was a breeze. Friday was a battle. Only able to get 10-and-a-half holes in before darkness – a downpour from Thursday morning has this entire tournament still playing catch-up – Woods played them in even par. At four-under overall, he is not out of the Masters, not even close. But he likely won’t see friendlier scoring conditions all week, and he failed to gain ground on the leaders he trails by five.
Woods did not speak with media, because it was dark out and he has to get up early. Really, really early. Woods needs close to three hours before his tee time to warm his 44-year-old body, and he will resume second round at 7:30am on Saturday morning at Amen Corner. (You do the math on the wake-up time). He will face a 203-yard (180m) downhill approach, from the rough, to the 11th green. But he has a good angle, and assuming he can make par, he will have the tastiest holes of the course in front of him.
