Poulter, Westwood lead US Masters

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2010 US Masters | Round Two | 10 Apr 2010

Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter have given English golf fans cause for hope as the 2010 Masters enters the weekend. Their two round totals of 8 under par established a two shot lead over a group of five players at 6 under, namely Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ricky Barnes, Anthony Kim and K.J. Choi.

Poulter was out early on day two and joined Fred Couples in the lead when he birdied the 2nd and 3rd holes and hardly put a foot wrong all day. Birdies at the 12th 13th and 16th moved him to 9 under before a bogey at the final hole would, by day’s end, cost him the outright lead.

“I’ll take a lot of confidence from that, and obviously the last 18 months I’ve been playing very, very well, so I’ve been putting myself in position,” said Poulter referring to his great week at the Open Championship two years ago.

“It’s all about going out there and enjoying. This is a great place to come and play golf. Certainly when you’re playing well, it’s a great golf course, great crowds, and it’s nice to have some family here, as well.”

Westwood was out in the afternoon group on day two and, like Poulter, he made a brilliant start with a second to the par five 2nd which finished 3 feet from the hole and a lengthy curling putt at the 3rd to move quickly to 8 under. His progress continued and when he two putted for birdie at the 13th he was the first to reach double figures this week.

Westwood pulled his tee shot at the 14th then over hooked his approach and eventually took double bogey but he bounced back with a two putt birdie at the 15th before his tee shot at the last found the trees and he dropped a shot.

“I stuck to the same game plan again,” said Westwood. “Messed up once on 14 but paid the consequences there with a double, but other than that I was happy with the way the day went.”

“It’s the best position to be in, so that’s what I set out for at the start of the week, to get up there by the lead. If you’re going to win the tournament, you’ve got to be in the lead at some stage.”

While Poulter and Westwood will have the spotlight of playing in the final group tomorrow they will be comforted by the fact that they are great friends but they will have to put up with the crowds in the group ahead who will be following Tiger Woods and K.J. Choi.

Woods was again impressive although his round was perhaps more solid than it was spectacular. "I putted much better today, said Woods. “I hit my lines all day. I wanted to be in contention, and put myself right there. As of now, I’m two back, and we’ve got 36 more holes to go.”

Mickelson will play in the fourth to last group on day three adding a second round of 71 to his opening 67 and despite some indifferent form in 2010 he looks to be peaking at the right time to contend for this third Green Jacket.

Anthony Kim, fresh from his win in Houston last week, further displayed his liking for Augusta National by adding a round of 70 to his opening 68.

He bogeyed the final hole to slip from outright third position but he is putting so well this week he could be a factor by Sunday.

He will need to improve his driving accuracy over the closing 36 holes if he is to contend in the pressure cooker that is the cauldron of an Augusta National weekend but he is clearly an in form player.

The Australians generally disappointed today, Adam Scott not able to take advantage of his earlier tee time, finishing with 75 to be at even par in 21st position and at the head of the four Australians who made the cut.

Things appeared to be getting away completely on Scott when he bogeyed the 14th to slip to four over for the day but he birdied the 15th and 16th before a bogey at the last. Scott’s putting has been an issue again and unless he can make a significant improvement there his chances of bettering his previous best of 9th at Augusta are all but gone.

Geoff Ogilvy is at 2 over and in 33rd position while Robert Allenby and Nathan Green just made it to the weekend with Green producing a miraculous par at the last to sneak into the weekend in his Masters debut.

48 players made the cut.

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