5 weekend storylines to look at at The Masters

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

The leaderboard is loaded with star energy. An novice 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 a number of holes left. So there’s a lot to deal with regardless that Saturday’s circumstances might get ugly.

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

Unhealthy climate makes Saturday’s play fully unpredictable

Friday’s play at Augusta was suspended late afternoon on account of excessive winds, driving rains, and thunderstorm circumstances. A trio of timber even fell over close to the seventeenth tee field simply earlier than the day’s play was finally referred to as off. Fortunately, in accordance 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 a lot 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. Doubtlessly the one perk is taking part in a wetter and softer course that might assistance on a few of Augusta’s fast-and-slippery greens. The climate will mentally problem a number of the gamers who dislike being in these kinds of circumstances.

The Saturday climate isn’t restricted to the second spherical. These circumstances will carry over into the third spherical if play accelerates by way of 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 means, count on a considerably completely different day of golf on Saturday than we’ve seen up to now within the event.

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

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

Presently sitting on the cutline at +2 by way of 11 holes, Woods should grind to make it to the end line. The cool, moist circumstances anticipated on Saturday may very well be impactful on Woods making an attempt to remain at his bodily greatest throughout a event during which he already seems to be drained strolling a long-and-hilly course.

To the advantage of 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 enchanting dash to the end to see if Woods can tie his buddy and mentor Fred {Couples} and Gary Participant atop the Augusta Nationwide file books. Woods making the reduce, and lengthening play into the ultimate two rounds, would add to his unimaginable Augusta epilogue coming off of his 2021 automobile accident.

Brooks Koepka makes an attempt to shut after an unimaginable begin

Not many individuals predicted this sort 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 by way of 2019. The newest model of Koepka, not less than when it comes to normal public notion, was that of a washed-up former champion who scurried away to a simple paycheck with LIV Golf.

By 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 final subject, Koepka’s opening flurry was paying homage 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 unimaginable begin can’t be missed for a former main champion recognized for delivering an early blow.

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

The stellar play of Sam Bennett continued by way of Friday’s second spherical. The Texas A&M senior and reigning U.S. Beginner 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 by way of 36 holes at Augusta due to confidence and a notable show in fact administration.

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

Bennett pounded fairways (93 p.c by way of two rounds) and greens (73 p.c by way of 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 might harm Bennett if the course will get softer and permits for much less runouts due to the anticipated climate.

No person would blame Bennett for exhibiting his expertise at any level in the course of the weekend. However for an novice to have an opportunity to play within the remaining group in the course of the weekend at Augusta could be a extremely enjoyable change of tempo.

A loaded leaderboard stays to problem Brooks Koepka

It’d 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 form 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 properly inside placing 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.