For a dozen holes of the second round of the Masters, the biggest threat to Justin Rose seemed to come from within. After the game, Jordan Spieth appeared in Rose’s rearview mirror as the kind of old friend you smile at while wishing he was completely elsewhere.
In 2015, Rose tried to chase Spieth down on a Masters Sunday and failed. While the scenario for now is completely different – Rose holds the advantage and there are 36 holes to play – Spieth is stepping forward as golf’s savior. That he is within touching distance of Rose’s lead, days after a first win in the tournament in almost four years, feels tremendously important.
Does Spieth allow himself to believe that he can win? Too right, he does. “I was thinking about it,” he said. ‘I’m now able to think it for sure. Halfway through, I would have been content to be two back.
“I’m glad the golf course is getting harder to play over the weekend. I look forward to that kind of challenge and think it could be an advantage for me if I control the ball. ‘Spieth was fully aware that storm winds were according to Saturday afternoon’s forecast.
It’s hardly cruel for Rose to point out that the will of most neutral observers is for Spieth to claim a second masters coming Sunday night in this iconic corner of Georgia. Yet such outcomes still feel far away. Rose, at seven below par, is led by one of Will Zalatoris and Brian Harman. Spieth joined Marc Leishman at minus five.
Rory McIlroy was among those who missed the Augusta result, the first time the Northern Irishman has had such a disaster here since 2010. Brooks Koepka also left after making an unwanted reference to The Best of the Connells (based on something like that): 74-75.
That Rose shot equivalent is the complete story of his day. After starting the second round with a lead of four strokes, the English returned three strokes to the track against the 8th tee. In 6th place, a 67-foot Rose pit did not have enough vagueness to negotiate over a hill and rolled on its feet again. He remained at minus four, and at this point equaled Bernd Wiesberger, to a birdie on the 13th. Rose picked up on the 14th and 16th shots to pull himself back to the overall position he had completed. A 72 obviously shorted the fireworks of its first round 65, but Rose, such a fierce rival, stood firm when it would be easy to wither.
“I think it was just a classic day at Augusta National if you were just a little bit away,” Rose explained. ‘You can be a foot or two out on certain occasions and end up struggling. I think maybe it’s starting to feel pretty fast from behind.
‘I had a word with myself on the 8th tea. I just changed my mind a bit at that point and started playing game against the golf course. I scratched a line on my scorecard and told myself I was three, can I continue to beat the golf course from then on? I had a hole at 18 to win my match 1up, but unfortunately it just passed. An honorable draw. ‘ As Rose knows all too well, the Masters are claiming a winner.
Spieth dropped just a single shot during his 68. Birdies on the 2nd, 10th, 13th, 15th and 17th endorsed his newfound confidence. Leishman posted 67 of the morning waves. Zalatoris’ 68 and Harman’s 69 were delivered late in the day.
Justin Thomas, whose claims at this event seemed stronger than anyone before hitting a ball, sat under the table for five hours until Spieth finally had an accident. Thomas pushed his course figure down from 7 feet and became a 66 in a 67. Thomas has Tony Finau, Kim Si-woo, Cameron Champ, Hideki Matsuyama and Wiesberger for company at minus four.
Bryson DeChambeau showed that he is gravel to match his eccentricity with a 67 – nine strokes better than he managed on Thursday. On one below the bar, it would be foolish to exclude Masters’ honor for the reigning US Open champion. From the course he heads to the track, row after row until the darkness approaches. His is a relentless pursuit.
“You have to experience failure to understand what success is,” DeChambeau said. ‘It’s just not realistic to be successful all the time. It’s so amazing to this golf course. ”
Sign up for The Recap, our weekly email with the choice of editors.
That José María Olazábal survived the track was astounding. The Spaniard, who won here in 1994 and 1999, has yet to play competitive golf as he struggled at the last Masters in November. There he signed for 78 and 80. The 55-year-old returned to add a 71 to Thursday’s 75, hitting the last 36 holes for the first time since 2014.
“It’s like winning the event,” said a radiant Olazabal. “I enjoyed the two days. Obviously I hit the ball better, but due to the conditions on the golf course. It’s great to see Augusta play like we did the last two days, fast and firm. It reminds me a lot of the late 80s and 90s. “On the 64th birthday of Seve Ballesteros, there was a touch of remark.