2017 Masters: Fowler, Garcia Headline Crowded Leaderboard
Charley Hoffman’s cushion is gone, as several high-powered stars charged up the Masters leaderboard on Friday.
The Masters Tournament has a funny way of taking the best of players, and finding ways to prove that what they have won’t be enough. On Thursday, Charley Hoffman set the single-round scoring record. Friday, he not only gave it all back, but several of golf’s best are now hot on his heels.
Hoffman teed off shortly after 10 AM at Augusta National, looking set to pick up where he left off. An early birdie on No. 2 pushed his lead to eight under through five, but then the wheels came off. A bogey on the par-3 sixth led to four more in the next five holes, and in the blink of an eye, the target on Hoffman’s back got that much bigger.
"“Obviously I found it more difficult today,” Hoffman told the Washington Post. “But I’m happyApr 7, 2017; Augusta, GA, USA; Charley Hoffman putts on the 7th green during the second round of The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sportswith the way I finished. I was one-under for my last seven holes and gave myself a chance on the weekend.”"
Nobody will ever turn down a share of the lead at the Masters, no matter how they get there. Still, Hoffman now has his work cut out for him heading into the weekend. He hit just ten greens in regulation Friday, and if his putting doesn’t get back in shape, he could be in for a long weekend.
Sergio Garcia is ready to believe that he’s got what it takes to win at Augusta National.
Hoffman, by virtue of his early Friday tee time, will enjoy a long break before he gets started on Saturday. He’ll still be part of the final pairing, alongside Sergio Garcia, who, at 37 years old, looks ready as ever to break through that (self-imposed) glass ceiling.
It was here at Augusta, five years ago, where Garcia sat in a Masters press room and told Spanish media that he didn’t think he could ever win a major.
Garcia has definitely come close, with five top tens in majors since then. Through these first 36 holes, the Spaniard has been deadly accurate all around the course. He’s hit 24 of 28 fairways, 25 of 36 greens in regulation, and has yet to three-putt once. That’s a formula for victory anywhere in the world.
Rickie Fowler can silence his last doubters with a Masters triumph.
Joining Sergio at the top of the leaderboard is none other than Rickie Fowler. Fowler was something of a dark horse heading into Augusta, and that’s easy to understand. Dustin Johnson was winning everything in sight before his back injury, Jason Day has the length to overpower Augusta’s length, and Rory McIlroy is finally healthy and back in form.
Three years ago, Fowler finished inside the top five in all four major championships, the most impressive season imaginable without closing the deal. Since then, he’s become a World Golf Championships powerhouse, played in the Olympics, and been part of winning American teams in the President’s Cup and the Ryder Cup.
Despite all that, however, Fowler still has his doubters. Two more solid days at Augusta, though, and a green jacket draped over Sunday orange will put that all to rest.
Fowler caught fire early, holing a bunker shot on the par-5 second hole for eagle. Back in red numbers, and making up for a closing double bogey on Thursday, Fowler never looked back, despite often finding himself in tough spots.
Fowler will certainly lean on his experience in these high-profile spots throughout the weekend, he explained in his post-Friday round interview:
"I knew the first two days would be tough. We really needed to make sure we could fight through it and stay in the tournament. We’re in a good spot. It’s going to be a fun weekend. We’re going to see a lot of good golf and battle it out."
Stars young and old are easily within reach of the lead.
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While Garcia and Fowler headline the four-way tie for first place along with Hoffman and Masters rookie Thomas Pieters, there’s still plenty of work to be done, and even more stars ready to take their place should any of them slip.
Red-hot newcomer Jon Rahm, as well as 1992 Masters champ Fred Couples sit at 1-under through 36, as does Olympic gold medalist Justin Rose. Jordan Spieth battled back from a disastrous opening round to get back to even par for the tournament, just four shots off the lead. Phil Mickelson‘s five birdies had him on the cusp of joining the leaders, but six bogeys – three in his last five holes – pushed him back to a tie with Spieth.
And of course, there’s McIlroy, who at 1-over is still solidly in contention, with yet another chance to complete his career Grand Slam.
Next: Thursday and Friday at The Masters - Two Tough Days at the Office
The old saying is that the Masters doesn’t begin until the second nine on Sunday. This year, we might just get a head start, as fireworks are sure to fly on Moving Day.