Connect with us

Tour News

5 Things We Learned From Round 2 at The Masters

Published

10 years ago

on

If you’ve forgotten this one mantra, copy/paste it and tape it to your bathroom mirror: The golf course is always the story. The golfers, the weather, the patrons and the caddies might intrude from time to time; in the end, however, Augusta National writes every article.

Let’s get to Round 2 and see what this means.

Beware The Large Lead

Those Tiger days are gone. If you have more than a three-shot lead at The Masters, you’re one swing away from being tied. Jordan Spieth hit a decent approach into No. 5 green and walked off with double bogey. Not quite an Ernie Els, but close. Why? His approach stayed short of a ridge that he subsequently had to ride with his first putt. The putting surfaces at Augusta National never stop breaking.

Spieth starts tomorrow’s round at 4-under, one clear of Rory McIlroy. Can you say dream Sunday pairing?

It Ain’t Over Until It’s Over

Kissing cousin to “Beware The Large Lead,” Bryson DeChambeau and the golfing world learned that it is possible to hit it left of left on the 18th hole, take an unplayable lie and make triple bogey, all while sitting in second place at 3-under par. If this had been Sunday, DeChambeau might be a candidate for extreme therapy. As it is, the low amateur has two more days to rebound and make a run at becoming the first amateur to win The Masters. He’s 4 shots back at even par.

Pay Attention To The Second Nine Tomorrow

Of the top 15 golfers, only three played the second nine under par. Their surnames are McIlroy (3-under), Matsuyama (1-under) and Johnson (Dustin, even). If any of the three can repeat that performance tomorrow, chances are that he/they will be in the final pairing come Round 4. And we all know what happens on the inward half late in the day on Sunday.

The 15th Hole Owes Angel Cabrera

Big Time! El Pato has 17 holes figured out at The National. He has played them in 4-under through two rounds. Unfortunately for the 2009 wearer of the Green Jacket, he went swimming on Thursday and made quadruple-bogey nine, then came back on Friday, stayed dry, but somehow made double bogey. Despite these missteps, Cabrera (2-over) finds himself six strokes off the lead with 36 holes to play.

Old Guys Still Got It

If you’re 50 and you know it, clap your hands … and make some putts … and make the cut. Not one, not two, but three guys on the other side of the Big Five-Oh will play the weekend. Two are former champions (Larry Mize and Bernhard Langer) and the third is, yawn, this year’s USA Ryder Cup captain. Davis Love III, can you say “Playing Captain”?

Related Topics:

Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

16 Comments

16 Comments

  1. Mike

    Apr 9, 2016 at 9:01 am

    Go Angel! The most interesting story in golf (“he only wins majors”).

    Reply Report comment

  2. 2007

    Apr 9, 2016 at 3:04 am

    What I learned: I really want the ProTracer and I need it all the time.

    Reply Report comment

    • Ian

      Apr 9, 2016 at 7:46 am

      Second that. Camera operators are battling to follow tee shots.

      Reply Report comment

    • Ronald Montesano

      Apr 9, 2016 at 9:25 am

      Truth!! Can you imagine having it on either of DeChambeau’s drives on 18? Talk about a test of technology!

      Reply Report comment

  3. Chuck D

    Apr 9, 2016 at 1:44 am

    They’ll be trading paint over the weekend like a NASCAR event!! I’m looking forward to the green coat ceremony at Butler Cabin on Sunday!!

    Reply Report comment

    • Ronald Montesano

      Apr 9, 2016 at 9:26 am

      GVS just tweeted that the wind machine is already cranking. Has CBS added wind to the bird noises? Should be a tremendous weekend. We might have to retire the adjective “epic” by Sunday evening.

      Reply Report comment

  4. Troy

    Apr 9, 2016 at 1:04 am

    Course is playing so tough it’s hard to pick who is going to be there at the end of Sunday. I’ve never seen a Masters like this before.

    It’s almost like a US Open style tournament.

    Reply Report comment

    • 2007

      Apr 9, 2016 at 3:04 am

      You don’t remember 2007????? Seriously? I feel sorry for ZJ. He played the place perfectly for the conditions that the players faced then.

      Reply Report comment

      • Ronald Montesano

        Apr 9, 2016 at 9:27 am

        Great memory, Mr. Bond. Double-Oh-Seven was an equalizer. Who is the best wind player out there? Is it Sergio? Could he, would he? Tom Watson would be licking his lips with wind like this in the forecast.

        Reply Report comment

    • Ronald Montesano

      Apr 9, 2016 at 9:30 am

      Troy,

      Correct! This type of atmospheric interference takes the Augusta veterans out of their comfort zones. On a day or weekend like this, an Augusta caddie might be of greater benefit than a tour one!!

      Reply Report comment

  5. brian h

    Apr 8, 2016 at 11:55 pm

    Great article Ron.

    Reply Report comment

    • Ronald Montesano

      Apr 9, 2016 at 9:29 am

      Thank, BH. We never know which items will resonate with our readers, and we hope we have selected the correct ones. We appreciate insight of all flavors, be it harsh or supportive, so keep your comments coming!

      Reply Report comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

3 weeks ago

on

Jun 1, 2026

By

GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.

In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.

Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

 

 

Continue Reading

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the ShopRite LPGA

Published

4 weeks ago

on

May 28, 2026

By

GolfWRX Tour Photographer Greg Moore was on site in Galloway, New Jersey, ahead of the ShopRite LPGA powered by Wakefern to snap some WITB photos and more.

Check out links to all the photos below!

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

 

Continue Reading

Popular Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge

Published

1 month ago

on

May 25, 2026

By

The famed Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, is the scene this week for the Charles Schwab Challenge, where Ludvig Aberg enters the week as the tournament favorite.

Tour Photographer Greg Moore and our traveling equipment insider, Alistair Cameron, are both on site this week in the Lone Star State. Thus far, we’ve been treated to an in-hand look at TaylorMade’s new ZT Max putter, as well as a bounty of WITBs.

Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

 

Continue Reading

Announcement

Our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use have been updated as of January 29th, 2026. Please review the updated policies here Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. By continuing to use our site after January 29th, 2026, you agree to the changes.

WITB

Whats in the Bag4 weeks ago

Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)

Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Whats in the Bag4 weeks ago

Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)

Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Whats in the Bag1 month ago

Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)

Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Whats in the Bag1 month ago

Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...

Facebook

Trending