AUGUST, Ga. – Scottie Scheffler strolled out of Augusta National with both hands in his pockets as if he’d just finished a casual round at home late in the afternoon.
The Masters are anything but that Friday.
The wind blowing through the Georgia pines has given so many golfers all they can handle, a relentless battle from tee to green. And then Scheffler makes it feel harder.
His 5-under 67 matched the low score of the day and gave him a five-shot lead, setting a Masters record after 36 holes. The last four players led by five shots at the weekend won. The only exception is Harry “Lighthorse ” Cooper in 1936.
That just brings more than a shrug from the world No.
“I think I’m still playing with the golf course out there,” says Scheffler, “And a lot of other people are playing. So I can’t pay too much attention to them either. ”
Scheffler is beating them all, along with the increasingly difficult Augusta National.
“Honestly, you’re living on the edge of every hole,” Adam Scott, who played in Scheffler’s group. “And I played against a guy who looked easy. But that’s how he plays at the moment.”
In his debut as the new world No. 1, Scheffler played a key role. He didn’t trap the last 15 holes, played smart from the fairway and believed in every shot he faced even when the wind was blowing like variable.
Scheffler, 25, of Texas Longhorn, has won three of his previous five starts on the PGA Tour and showed no sign of being overwhelmed by the Augusta National stage.
“I’ve put myself in my place where I can win this golf tournament. I couldn’t ask for more after 36 holes,” said Scheffler. “My game is in a good position. I just have to keep doing what I’m doing and not think too much about things.”
He scored 8 under 136, five shots behind the defending champion Hideki Matsuyama (69), former champion Charl Schwartzel (69), former British Open champion Shane Lowry (68) and 18-hole head Sungjae Im (74).
Former Masters Champion Dustin Johnson (73) led one group with a 2 under 142, while the other included the two-time grand slam champion Collin Morikawa and former PGA . champion Justin Thomasthere are 67 Scheffler matches for the low of the day.
Two hours after the start of a glorious and calm spring day in Augusta, the wind blew and the players continued to live their beloved lives. Scheffler could see sand blowing out of the bunkers. The flag has been ripped off. Scores skyrocketed.
Sergio Garcia said of champion boxer Canelo Alvarez: “It felt like I went 10 rounds with Canelo.
Jordan Spieth hit two on Rae’s Creek and three bogeys at par-3 on day 12. At least this was on Friday, although he missed the cut when he made a double on day 18. Scott tried. maintained the combination until he got a wedge back to the water at par-5 15, hit the green again and took three bogeys.
Scheffler has no such troubles, even if it doesn’t feel like it. “Definitely felt like I was in a fight today,” said Scheffler.
Scheffler soon realized his mistake and started taking control with two birdies just before his turn. After a tough save from the right of the 11th green, he added two birdies from 12 feet on par-3 12 and a hard shot from a good one on par-5 13.
Then the wind started to calm down in the late afternoon and Scheffler started pulling away with two more birds making him a clear and difficult target for the weekend.
And think just two months ago he still hadn’t won the PGA Tour.
Thomas, meanwhile, opened the scoring with 76 and spent the rest of the day brooding over what appeared to be a lost opportunity.
He capped his 67 with three straight birdies and nine behind.
“I could very well go home right now, and not only am I not, but I’m going to be great going into this weekend,” Thomas said.
He’s behind seven anyway, though he’s not surprised at all that Scheffler is able to pull off such good rounds to make for a massive lead.
Thomas said: “If how I played yesterday I should be right there with him. “This place, I like it because you can make a lot of birds – even in conditions like this, if you find your way around and know how to get around, you can make a lot of birds. wind if you don’t control your ball.
“He’s clearly in control of things right now based on a few months ago, so I’m not too surprised,” Thomas added. “But yeah, I would appreciate it if he stopped going too far.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
