Immelman the man at Augusta
IN: News | US PGA | US Masters (2008) | Round Two | by Bruce Young | 12 Apr 2008
The Masters heads into the weekend with perhaps two less favoured players at the top of the leaderboard but two players who in their own right are outstanding young talents.
28-year-old South African, Trevor Immelman, extended his share of the lead on day two and now stands at 8 under and is atop the leaderboard by one over the 2007 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, Brandt Snedeker.
Immelman was out early on day two and broke clear of his co-leader Justin Rose when he birdied the 5th to move to five under. Rose would not tee off until more than five hours after Immelman and the South African took full advantage of his early use of the greens.
After recording his second consecutive round of 68, he entered the clubhouse as a three shot leader over Brandt Snedeker, but Snedeker would birdie the final two holes as Immelman had done 30 minutes earlier and the difference between them was just one.
“I didn’t play as well today but I made a lot of putts and the two to finish,” said Immelman after his round. “Clearly I am happy but there is no point even thinking about the lead at this stage as there is still a long way to go. Any birdie you can make you try and hold onto it and bank it for as long as you can because you know at some point the golf course is going to strike back and you’ve just got to hang in there while you can.”
Most of those near the top of the leaderboard came from the late groups on day one, then early day two tee times, due mainly to the swirling winds that prevailed for most of the afternoon.
Three shots from Immelman’s lead, and just two behind second place, is a group of players at five under including the lefthanders, Phil Mickelson and Steve Flesch and the Englishman Ian Poulter.
Mickelson was one of the final groups in on day one and so had the benefit of a much earlier time today. He made a fast start and by the turn was at three under for the day and four under for the tournament and the Augusta National specialist was looming as a genuine threat to those ahead. He was only able to add one further birdie, that coming with a lengthy putt at the 17th, but at five under he is well poised for the weekend.
Stephen Ames and Paul Casey added to the international flavour at the top of the leaderboard when they finished at four under and own a share of 6th place.
Mike Weir, Stewart Cink and Aaron Oberholser went quietly about their business and find themselves in a share of 8th place at three under and within five of the lead. Weir added to the theory that Augusta National seems to favour left-handers if they are good enough players. As a golf course that favours the right to left player, Augusta suits the left-handed golfer who, in the words of Lee Trevino ‘can talk to a fade but a draw won’t listen’.
The heroics of the day were saved until the second to last group when Tiger Woods, who had been battling for much of the day to gain forward momentum, hit a spectacular shot to the 17th to two feet and converted to move to 1 under par.
While that was impressive it paled in comparison to the unbelievable par he made at the last when he cut his tee shot right into the trees and was forced to play up the 10th fairway to get close to the green and hopefully save par. He faced a third shot to the par four of about 80 yards over a trap to a tight flag and he hit the most brilliant of shots that spun back off the ridge behind the hole and perhaps unluckily hit his playing partner Stuart Appleby’s ball.
Woods was eight feet from the hole but almost inevitably he holed it for a par that could yet be the difference between winning and losing this event in 48 hours time. Woods is seven shots back but Augusta National has a way of turning things on its head over the final 36 holes.
“Today was quite a grind out there with those conditions,” said Woods. “It was blowing, swirling all over the place. We were backing off shot after shot. And it certainly was not a fast front nine. We played right exactly three hours.”
“So it was a day of patience for sure. I hit the ball well all day. But you got to time that wind. And I was telling Stevie, for most of the day, well about three quarters of the day, it kept being like the half club. It was right in between clubs all day. It’s just the nature of how certain days go. How your numbers work out. Today was just one of those days.
“I’m in good shape, added Woods. “I’m obviously seven back, but I need to play well, obviously we got some tougher conditions coming in, and stay patient. This golf course, you can make up shots here quickly. I’ve just got to hang in there.”
Of the four Australasians who made the cut, all are tied in 29th place at 2 over and not totally without hope of moving into contention over the next 36 holes. Adam Scott improved with a round of 71, Robert Allenby recovered from a mid round struggle for 74, Geoff Ogilvy had 71 after a back nine of 2 under and Stuart Appleby produced a strong finish with two birdies in his last five holes for 70.
Aaron Baddeley and Michael Campbell agonisingly missed by one with Campbell’s effort impressive despite not making the weekend and missing his eighth consecutive Masters cut. Campbell’s game has been a mess of late but his second round of 71 might just be the catalyst to get things moving forward again.
Nick O’Hern missed by two, John Senden by four, Richard Green by five as did the leading Australians after day one, Peter Lonard, who had a horror day for 81.
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