Phil Mickelson and Matt Kuchar also struggle at Augusta National
Saturday 7 April 2018 00:50, UK
Overnight leader Jordan Spieth was one of several big-name Americans who failed to fire in the second round of the Masters.
Spieth started the day with a two-shot lead after opening with a six-under 66 at Augusta National, but he saw that disappear with a double-bogey on the first after driving into the trees to the right of the fairway.
Another errant tee shot on the par-five second and a three-putt from long range added up to a second consecutive six, while a poor bunker shot on the seventh also resulted in a bogey.
Spieth went to the turn in 40 and failed to card a single birdie on the front nine at Augusta National for the first time in his career, although he recovered a little on the back nine with birdies at the 13th and 15th for a two-over 74 which put him four under after 36 holes.
"[It was] frustrating. The first few holes I just hit it everywhere you can't hit it," he told Sky Sports.
"The ultimate goal of each round here at Augusta National is to try and get through to the eighth tee at even par or better - you feel like you are playing really well - and I tried to look at it as 'okay we got through the tough stretch, there's an opportunity to get this scorecard back to even', and when I three-putted the eighth that was a bummer.
"I actually did some really good rebounding on nine to walk to 10 with a little bit of momentum and therefore played the back nine in two under.
"But to still be in the tournament through two rounds is nice. If I look back three or four weeks ago, would I take this position? Absolutely."
Phil Mickelson slumped out of contention with a seven-over 79 which left him on the cut mark on five over for the tournament.
The 47-year-old three-time champion had fancied his chances this week but a triple-bogey seven on the par-four 10th when he hit a tree, forcing him to play out of bushes, started his tumble down the leaderboard.
The left-hander did birdie the 11th but that was followed by three bogeys and a double-bogey on the par-three 12th, when his tee shot found the water on the back nine.
"It was a rough day," said Mickelson. "I thought the course played great. I thought the conditions were challenging, but I thought everything about it was a good fair test.
"You play well you can shoot under par and I don't know what's happened the last couple of days, it's a little disappointing, because I've been playing so well this year, to play like this.
"But it's disappointing, it is my favourite tournament of the year and it's a rough couple of days.
"Given how well I was playing heading into this, I certainly put a lot of pressure on myself to perform this week and get it, because I know the opportunities here are lessening here and especially given as well as I've been playing, I thought this was a great year, a great opportunity."
Matt Kuchar fired an opening 68 and had a share of the lead in the early stages of the second round after Spieth's early mistakes.
But the 39-year-old failed to get his own round going and four bogeys - at the fifth, 12th, 15th and 18th - and only one birdie at the 13th - saw him sign for a three-over 75, leaving him one under for the tournament.
"Decent position. It was a very, very hard day," he said. "I thought I hit a bunch of real good shots and walked away with a bogey, which is part of how it works here, there's a fine line between birdies and bogeys."
Rickie Fowler trod water with a level-par 72 as he stayed on two under, mixing three birdies with three bogeys.
The 29-year-old is happy with his position, though, and is hoping to get his putter firing heading into the weekend.
"Happy where we're at after two rounds, definitely looking forward to the weekend and the putts are definitely due to fall," he said.
"I feel like I've done a good job. I feel like we've managed our way around the golf course really well. Don't have those three‑putts, even a better spot.
"The greens are very tough. They're a fine line. Not very often do you get a gimme after having anything outside of 20 feet. It's really tough to put it in the two-foot circle, just because of how quick they are and the slopes."
Tony Finau also remains in contention on two under as he continued to defy his sprained ankle by adding a two-over 74 to his opening 68.
The Masters debutant, who injured his left ankle as he celebrated a hole-in-one during Wednesday's Par 3 Tournament, says his fitness is improving and he is looking forward to the weekend.
"It feels a lot better than it did yesterday, so we're trending in the right direction," he said. "I was able to transfer my weight a little bit better today than yesterday. So it's looking on the up.
"I feel pretty good. Especially what I've been through just the last 48 hours, with my body and with my ankle, just emotionally it's been a rollercoaster for me.
"But I'm going to be in the hunt going into the weekend and I'm excited about that at a major championship."
One American who enjoyed better fortune was world No 1 Dustin Johnson, who carded a four-under 68 to move to three under.
Johnson was three over after 10 holes on Thursday, but he continued his revival with an eagle on the second and added birdies at the eighth, 13th and 18th after bogeying the fifth.
He said: "Even through the first 10 holes where I was three over I didn't feel like I was playing poorly, and from there I have played a lot better, a lot more solid and six under on the last 26 is pretty good."
World No 2 Justin Thomas went one better than Johnson with a 67 to also finish on three under.
"I drove it pretty similar to yesterday, hit a couple of better iron shots, but overall the putter felt better," he said.
