Jordan Spieth Sets Masters Record With Lowest 36-Hole Score
PAUL NEWBERRY, AP National Writer
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — 3:21 p.m.
The record belongs to Jordan Spieth.
The 21-year-old Texan posted the lowest 36-hole score in Masters history, going to the weekend at 14-under 130. That broke the mark of 131, set by Raymond Floyd in 1976.
Spieth shot a 6-under 66 in the second round, essentially blowing away everyone in the field except Charley Hoffman, who is four strokes behind with a couple of holes to play. Normally, that sort of performance would be good enough for the lead.
Not the way Spieth was playing. He had 15 birdies and only one bogey through the first two days.
"I've been kind of on my game and feeling really good about coming to a place that I love, that everybody loves," Spieth said. "It's special to be in the tournament, let alone out front."
Ernie Els, at 139, was the only other player with a single-digit deficit when Spieth finished his round.
Everyone else was at least 10 shots behind.
Spieth missed a chance for another birdie at the 18th hole, his 7-foot putt sliding past the left side of the cup on the slick Augusta greens. He initially went up to tap it in, standing awkwardly so he wouldn't step in the line of playing partner Henrik Stenson, who still had a short putt of his own.
Then, perhaps realizing how important this little putt was, Spieth backed away, marked his ball and waited for Stenson to finish before knocking his in for the record.
Spieth also tied the major championship record for lowest 36-hole score, matching three others.
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2:38 p.m.
Jordan Spieth headed to the 18th hole Friday with a chance at Masters history.
Turning in another brilliant round, Spieth merely needed to make par on the final hole to set a 36-hole scoring record at Augusta National.
The 21-year-old Texan was at 14 under for the tournament, having made 15 birdies and only one bogey over the first two days of the tournament. One more par would give him a 130 heading to the weekend — breaking the mark of 131 set by Raymond Floyd at the 1976 Masters.
The only serious challenger was Charley Hoffman, who ripped off three straight birdies to push his score to 10 under, four shots off the lead.
Ernie Els was the only other player facing less than a double-digit deficit. He was nine shots back at 5-under 139.
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2:33 p.m.
Since Jordan Spieth was playing his own tournament, let's see how things were going in the Masters B-flight.
Charley Hoffman was turning in another strong round Friday, making the turn with a 2-under 34 to push his score to 7 under for the tournament. Then he sank two more birdies on the back nine and was at 9 under. He'd be leading, or close to it, in a normal year. Not bad for only his second Augusta appearance, the last coming in 2011.
Ernie Els shot an even-par 72 on the heels of his opening 67, giving him the clubhouse lead (for what it's worth) at 139.
Also, let's give a shout-out to 58-year-old Mark O'Meara, who hasn't made the Masters cut since 2005. He'll be around for the weekend after a 68 Friday left him at 141 through 36 holes.
Louis Oosthuizen (69) and Angel Cabrera (69) were also at 141.
Then there's Fred Couples, who normally plays well at Augusta no matter the state of his game or health.
Not this time. Couples was 11 over after dumping one into Rae's Creek at the 12th hole.
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1:38 p.m.
Raymond Floyd's 36-hole Masters scoring record was in big trouble.
Jordan Spieth's birdie at the 13th hole Friday — his fifth of the second round — took his score to 13 under for the tournament. He could par out and tie Floyd's record, a 131 from the 1976 Masters.
Of course, the way Spieth was playing, he seemed likely to make at least one or two more birdies before he headed to the weekend with a commanding lead.
Spieth was six strokes ahead of his nearest challenger, Charley Hoffman. Only four other players were closer than 10 shots.
Players such as Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson are going to be facing huge deficit by the time they tee off Friday.
Tiger Woods was playing well, 3 under for the round after a birdie at the tough 11th hole. But he was a daunting 11 shots behind Spieth.
Over his first 31 holes of the tournament, Spieth had 14 birdies, 16 pars and only one bogey.
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12:49 p.m.
So much for the Masters not being decided until the back nine Sunday.
If this keeps up, they can start fitting Jordan Spieth for a green jacket before the weekend.
The 21-year-old Texan is looking to blow away the field, keeping up his dazzling play Friday in the second round at Augusta National. He's already made four birdies through the first 10 holes, pushing his score to a staggering 12-under par and stretching his lead to a commanding five strokes over Charley Hoffman.
No one else was within seven shots of the lead.
Ernie Els summed it up best after Spieth opened with an 8-under 64, just one stroke off the major championship scoring record.
"He's special," the Big Easy said. "Nothing stands out, because he does everything well. He's going to be tough to beat."
Tough, indeed.
Spieth's main competition seemed to be the record book. He has a shot at Augusta's 36-hole scoring record, a 13-under 131 posted by Raymond Floyd in 1976.
As for Tiger Woods, he's playing well in the second round, his score at 2 under for the day as he approaches the turn.
He looks safe to keep alive his streak of never missing a Masters cut as a professional.
But catching Spieth? That would take a monumental comeback.
The same goes for world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, who has a late tee time. In all four of his major titles, he was either leading or right in the mix heading to the weekend. That is unlikely to be the case at this Masters, casting serious doubt on his hopes of completing a career Grand Slam.
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11:17 a.m.
Jordan Spieth is 10-under par at the Masters. And it's not even lunchtime Friday.
The 21-year-old Texan stretched his lead to five strokes with an 18-foot birdie putt at the fifth hole. He also birdied the par-5 second after coming up just short of the green with his approach, then chipping up next to the flag for a short birdie putt.
Just as important, Spieth is making all the testy, par-saving putts that can ruin your day at Augusta National. A 4-footer at No. 1. A 6-footer at the third. A 3-footer at the fourth.
Tiger Woods started his day with a birdie at the first, getting back to even par for the tournament.
But he's still a staggering 10 shots off the lead.
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10:21 a.m.
Former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen is making a move early in the second round at the Masters.
Oosthuizen, who lost in a playoff to Bubba Watson three years ago, birdied the first two holes Friday and added another birdie at No. 5, pushing his score to 3 under for the day and the tournament.
He is now five strokes behind leader Jordan Spieth, who just teed off and made par on the first hole.
Ernie Els has slipped back to 5 under with a bogey at the par-3 fourth. The Big Easy is tied for second, three shots back, with Jason Day, Justin Rose and Charley Hoffman. Sergio Garcia and Russell Henley are both 4 under.
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9:41 a.m.
Ernie Els has already cut into Jordan Spieth's lead at the Masters, making a birdie at the second hole to pull within two strokes of the top spot.
On an overcast morning at Augusta National, the South African started play Friday with possible storms in the forecast.
Jordan Spieth tees off in just before 10 a.m. EDT.
Spieth is loosening up in the practice area after opening Thursday with an 8-under 67, which gave him a three-stroke lead on Els, Justin Rose, Jason Day and Charley Hoffman.
Day and Hoffman also have morning tee times. Rose goes off in the early afternoon.
Tiger Woods, nine shots back a 1 over, begins his second round at 10:30. He's trying to avoid missing the Masters cut for the first time in his pro career.
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