Are you at the office, at school, or out of power and unable to watch the Masters Tournament? La Presse offers you a glimpse of the highlights, and less glorious moments, of the first half of the second round.
Brooks Koepka wasted no time in leaving the leading pack and heading to the top of the standings alone. Tied with Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland at -7 at the end of the first round, the American has just finished his second round with an extremely comfortable lead. He returned a card of 67 (-5), for a total of -12. Koepka, however, took advantage of a very early start on Friday morning, when the conditions were ideal, like the day before. Hovland and Rahm may not be able to enjoy the same luck this afternoon. The point guard made only one bogey, but aside from that mistake, he was almost perfect. If he has such a lead, it is mainly thanks to his game of irons and his approaches.
The current edition of the Masters Tournament is also an opportunity to see some veterans playing as if time were not a variable. Among them, Jason Day stands out. Bothered by numerous injuries in recent years, the Australian had slipped in the standings. Today, he is ranked 35th in the world, but more importantly, the provisional second in the tournament. He’s been playing like he’s been in the last decade. Its outfit is surprising, but it delights many amateurs.
Sam Bennett is by far the most successful amateur player to date. Visibly allergic to bogeys, he committed only one in 28 holes. His power, his dexterity and the effect he gives to his balls give him the air of a professional. As the defending U.S. Open amateur champion, the University of Texas A player
Precisely, the reigning champion of the event would certainly have wished for a better start to the day. Scottie Scheffler closed the front nine with a double bogey and is currently struggling to survive the cut. Since the beginning of hostilities, his game on short putts has been appalling. It seems more at home on putts 20 feet and longer than on putts five feet and under. He even showed several signs of impatience. Something rather rare. If Scheffler were to miss the weekend rounds, it would be a huge disappointment.
Favorite according to many, Rory McIlroy is not fighting for the lead. Like Scheffler, he struggles to resist the cut. Barring an extraordinary turnaround, he won’t complete the grand slam this year. Nothing is going well for the Northern Irishman. He made four bogeys on the front nine. He is slowly picking up the pace, but it is getting late. A disappointing tournament for McIlroy, yet equipped to be part of the leading group. Like Thursday, his short game is lacking.
