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Justin Rose misses Masters cut as five share halfway lead at seven-under-par

 

Tiger Woods survived a sliding tackle from a security guard before staging his own late charge at the Masters.
The American superstar is a shot off the halfway lead held by five Major champions - including Ryder Cup hero Francesco Molinari - to set up a thrilling weekend in Augusta.

But amid the fan frenzy, his bid for a first Major for 11 years was nearly ended by a bizarre incident at the 14th.
After an afternoon rain delay, the former world No.1 played out from the trees and a security guard raced over to protect him only to slip and kick his right ankle.
Woods hopped away in pain – but then walked to the green and drained a 28-feet birdie putt before birdieing 15 to shoot a 68.
The American won his 14th Major at the 2008 US Open – and won his fourth Green Jacket here in 2005.

Open champion Molinari is on seven-under par along with Aussies Jason Day and Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen and Brooks Koepka.

Tiger Woods made his move on Friday (Image: Getty Images)

• Watch as Tiger Woods is almost injured by marshall

Ian Poulter, who was cheered on at Augusta National by Alan Shearer, is the top British player, two shots back.
Tommy Fleetwood is at two-under par after his second 71.
But world No.1 Justin Rose missed the Masters cut for the first time ever after he bogeyed three of his last four holes, including missing a four-foot par putt at the 18th.
Molinari's highest finish at Augusta is 19th but he is a man transformed over the past year.
“I feel a massive difference when I'm on the greens or around the greens compared to my previous times here,” he said.

Francesco Molinari leads the European charge (Image: Getty Images)

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• Zach Johnson knocks ball off tee during practice swing

But world No.1 Justin Rose missed the Masters cut for the first time ever after he bogeyed three of his last four holes, including missing a four-foot par putt at the 18th.
The world No.1 had opened with a 75 but started with two birdies and was sitting comfortably inside the cut-mark when he eagled No.13 to come into one-over par.
But as the leaders moved to seven-under par – meaning the 10-shot rule moved the cut-line to three-over par – Rose wilted in the closing holes to card a 73 to move to four-over.
“The goal today was to make the cut,” he said. “I've been playing terribly this week, but there's always pride in trying to make it. I've never missed a cut here
“Looked good at 12 and 13. Middle of the fairway on 15, should be an easy birdie to get back to even par. If you get into the red you're still in the tournament. But terrible finish, and a disappointing miss.
“I had a chance there with the ten-shot rule. Missed a four footer at the last, which just sums it up."
Woods, meanwhile, survived a scare on the 14th when a marshall almost took him out as the American finished just one shot off the lead.

Top 10 after day two

T1 A. Scott -7
T1 F. Molinari -7
T1 J. Day -7
T1 B. Koepka -7
T1 L. Oosthuizen -7
T6 J. Harding -6
T6 D. Johnson -6
T6 T. Woods -6

  Woosnam (61) says he has played in his last Masters

 

© Reuters/LUCY NICHOLSON

AUGUSTA, Georgia  (Reuters) - Welshman Ian Woosnam played his final competitive round at Augusta National on Friday, the 1991 champion announced after the second round.

A painful back condition called ankylosing spondylitis that inflames the spine and makes walking uphill difficult prompted the decision, according to the 61-year-old Welshman.

"This is the last one. Sad to go," the diminutive player affectionately known as 'Wee Woosie' said outside the scoring room after carding 76 for a 12-over-par 156 total.

 

"It's a real struggle for me around here. Every time I come to the Masters, walking up these hills, slide slopes and everything it really affects me.

"It's a shame because I still feel like I'm playing pretty good. Walking around here with a bad back it takes the energy out of you but I enjoyed every single minute of today."

Woosnam announced three years ago that he had played at the Masters for the last time, but subsequently changed his mind.This time he says there will be no turning back.

"I determined it a couple of years ago and I got a telling off from my wife," he said.

"She said, 'Get out there and do it again', so I decided to play a couple more times but it doesn't seem to get any better with the walking.

"Maybe they'll give me a cart and I will come back but I don't think I'll get that."

1.  END OF DAY ONE MASTERS SCOREBOARD

   

   • Leaderboard

   PLAYER	POS	H	R1	R2	R3	R4	TOTAL
   # FedEx Ranking		18	72	72	72	72	288
   Bryson DeChambeau # 17	T1	F	-6	-	-	-	-6
   Brooks Koepka # 11	T1	F	-6	-	-	-	-6
   Phil Mickelson # 15	3	F	-5	-	-	-	-5
   Ian Poulter # 51	T4	F	-4	-	-	-	-4
   Dustin Johnson # 10	T4	F	-4	-	-	-	-4
   Jon Rahm # 25	T6	F	-3	-	-	-	-3
   Kiradech Aphibarnrat # 66	T6	F	-3	-	-	-	-3
   Adam Scott # 31	T6	F	-3	-	-	-	-3
   Kevin Kisner # 14	T6	F	-3	-	-	-	-3
   Justin Harding	T6	F	-3	-	-	-	-3
   Gary Woodland # 5	T11	F	-2	-	-	-	-2
   Cameron Smith # 56	T11	F	-2	-	-	-	-2
   Francesco Molinari # 16	T11	F	-2	-	-	-	-2
   Lucas Bjerregaard	T11	F	-2	-	-	-	-2
   Corey Conners # 13	T11	F	-2	-	-	-	-2
   Jason Day # 36	T11	F	-2	-	-	-	-2
   Rickie Fowler # 8	T11	F	-2	-	-	-	-2
   J.B. Holmes # 18	T11	F	-2	-	-	-	-2
   Patton Kizzire # 86	T11	F	-2	-	-	-	-2
   Tiger Woods # 81	T11	F	-2	-	-	-	-2

   See full schedule

   Data from Stats LLC 

DE CHAMBEAU, KOEPKA SHARE   MASTERS  LEAD WITH 66s   Bryson DeChambeau produced an incredible finish, posting four closing birdies to share the lead on 66 with Brooks Koepka at six under par the end of day one at the Masters Tournament. A remarkable run of scoring in the late groups stretched the field at Augusta National Golf Club, with DeChambeau amongst a host of European Tour players in the mix going into Friday at the first Major Championship of the year. Debutant Justin Harding of South Africa was one of the players who had set the target at three under par early in the day and for a long time it looked like there would be a highly congested leaderboard as a nine way tie for the lead developed. But four birdies in a row from the 12th hole from Koepka moved the three-time Major Champion to six under par and into a two shot lead. DeChambeau's incredible finish saw him catch his fellow American, thanks in part to a wonderful second shot on the 18th where he was only denied an eagle by the pin flag. He signed for a 66  - his best round at Augusta National - and Koepka parred his way home to record the only bogey free round of the day and share top spot. Three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson birdied five of his last seven holes to sit one shot off the lead at five under par, a shot clear of fellow American Dustin Johnson and England’s Ian Poulter. Harding – who has won five times worldwide in the last year, including his maiden European Tour title at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters – is joined at three under par by Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Kevin Kisner of the United States, Australian Adam Scott and Spain’s Jon Rahm. Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard, who is also making his Masters debut, and The Open champion Francesco Molinari are amongst a group of 10 players at two under par. Player quotes Bryson DeChambeau: “It's my best round out here, a 66.  I was just looking to shoot something in the 60s this week because I haven't done that yet in my couple times playing here. “What a magical back nine.  Wind started to pick up, right around Amen Corner, and it was tough.  It was not easy one bit.  But we just stuck to what we knew we should have done, and we did, and was able to execute a beautiful nine iron on 12 that kind of jump started my back nine, hitting it to five feet, making that putt got me rolling. “Should have pulled the flagstick out (on the 18th). But no, it was a great shot, and I was excited just to tap‑in to finish off a great round.” Ian Poulter:   “I'm very happy with today's work. It's a great start to a long week. The weather is going to be interesting over the next three days with the thunderstorms coming in.  “The course dried out nicely today.  A couple of greens may have been a touch slower than what we've previously had in the past on a Thursday.  But I'm happy with that and feel pretty good about it. “My whole game was together, from the first hole to the 18th hole.  I mean I only missed two greens in regulation, I think.  One of them was 9.  I made bogey there.  And the other green I missed I was kind of 12 feet from the pin and just on the fringe.  So really my putting all around today was extremely solid. I need to do that over the next few days.” Justin Harding: “I was happy with it, I handled my emotions pretty well, a bit annoying on the last making bogey.  But at the end of the day I'll take it. “Golf is purely momentum based.  If you take enough confidence into the rounds then you're bound to play well just pretty much need to get out of your own way. I'll take it and run if I can ‑‑ we're not allowed to run here at Augusta ‑‑ but I'm pleased. “It's one of those where I gave myself a couple chances, I didn't feel like I took great advantage of the par fives. I managed to hit a wedge close in on 16 but other than that it was one of those where you just kind of sneak in a birdie here or there where you can.  Managed to hit a couple of fairways.  I'm still learning and this golf course is difficult.” Jon Rahm: “I think that the most important thing is I never lost patience.  I was one over par on the par fives going to the back nine where it's easy to get a little frustrated and I didn't.  I kept my cool and I was able to make a great birdie on nine and get where I'm going. “It's tough out there, they made a few changes to the golf course, they put some tough pins early in the day already, the greens started getting progressively firmer, so just being able to make a couple good putts and shoot under par is a good round."                                                                                              Ends

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

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Rory McIlroy to skip Masters par 3 

curtain-raiser to avoid distraction

Niall Horan, of the band One Direction, and Rory McIlroy at the 2015 Masters Par 3 Contest 
 ( Getty Images )

By Golfweek Staff

Monday, March 28, 2016

Many big names will likely compete in the Masters Par 3 Contest this year, but one star will be noticeably missing.
Rory McIlroy announced Monday that he will not participate in the 2016 edition of the Par 3 Contest, scheduled for next Wednesday.  The World No. 3 was unequivocal in his reasoning for his absence.
"It's just too much hassle and it's a bit of a distraction," McIlroy said.
That distraction was likely aided by McIlroy's penchant for high-profile Par 3 caddies. In 2014, he put tennis star (and then-fiancee) Caroline Wozniacki on the bag. Last year, One Direction's Niall Horan served as McIlroy's caddie.
This also isn't the first time a major player has skipped out on the Wednesday event. Tiger Woods opted out of it for an entire decade, from 2004-2013. After missing the Masters in 2014, Woods resumed play in the Par 3 Contest in 2015.
McIlroy, competing in his eighth Masters, had only once previously eschewed the Par 3 Contest. But that single absence was in 2011, arguably the Northern Irishman's best showing at Augusta National. The four-time major champion only finished T-15 that week (compared to a T-8 and a fourth the last two years) but he held a four-shot 54-hole lead on that occasion.
"The year I had my best chance at Augusta, 2011, I didn't play the Par 3 Contest," McIlroy said. "So maybe the decision not to play it this year can work in my favor."
The 26-year-old, who has four top-10s but no wins in 2016, plans to play a practice round that Wednesday morning instead. He said he looks to arrive at Augusta on Sunday night, and intimated that his game is in pretty good shape.
McIlroy, a four-time major champion, has captured every major title – except the Masters. He will complete the career grand slam if he can take home the green jacket next week. But, especially with the Par 3 Contest out of the way, it seems McIlroy feels a lack of focus on his exploits this year could be a key advantage for him at the Masters.
"This year you have the attention spread between Jordan (Spieth) going back to defend and Jason (Day) winning for a second week in a row and also there's Adam (Scott) who has won at Augusta before and is coming off his back-to-back wins," McIlroy said. "So there's a lot more going on around others competing in the Masters this year already than the spotlight I found myself in a year ago."

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Inspired by Golfweek cover, man makes Lego replica of Masters leaderboard

Andy Puckett's Legos replica of the Masters Tournament scoreboard ( The Augusta Chronicle's Instagram/@aug_chronicle )

By Kevin Casey

It's pretty incredible what Andy Duckett can do with a bunch of Lego blocks. And Golfweek is partially responsible for his latest creation!
Two years ago, the Georgia native made a Lego replica of Augusta National's clubhouse. This time: a 40-pound model of the official Masters leaderboard.
Duckett, an architect, began his ambitious leaderboard project last year, not knowing the scope of his design going in. He certainly didn't expect it to be 40 lbs, nor the dimensions it came out in the end (65 inches long, 16 inches high, 5 inches deep). Here is a look at the Lego replica:

His finished masterpiece arrived at Augusta in March. The Lego leaderboard is currently on display at Trends and Traditions Antique Mall on Washington Road. Duckett detailed his thought process behind his latest Lego venture.
“I’m constantly looking for something extra to spice up my golf display, and this idea sort of came to me,” Duckett told The Augusta Chronicle. “As an architect, I’ve always been interested in Lego bricks, and the availability of pieces in Atlanta is unbelievable. My scoreboard has more than 5,000 pieces.”
But everybody needs a source of inspiration. What was Duckett's, you ask? As it turns out, Golfweek!
“Late last summer, I started thinking about doing a model of the St. Andrews clubhouse, but then I saw a Golfweek magazine cover with a beautiful photograph of the Masters scoreboard,” Duckett said. “It was such a striking photo that I decided to build the scoreboard because it’s not a complicated shape."
That's right, it was, we believe, the cover photo from our Masters preview issue last year that got Duckett's juices flowing.
Here's that 2015 issue photograph (shot by Getty Images' Ross Kinnaird):

• 

Glad we and (Kinnaird) could help. Duckett sold his clubhouse replica for $1,700 and says he'll try to sell the Lego leaderboard as well.
Duckett also indicated that he's not done with Masters Lego creations, telling the Augusta Chronicle that he's looking to make a replica of a hole at Augusta National in the future.
He hasn't indicated what his source of inspiration could be there. But whether or not it involves Golfweek, based on Duckett's past work, we're sure it will be splendid.

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.

Olazabal not well enough to play in Masters

 

José María Olazábal has confirmed he will not play in the Masters next month because of health reasons.
The Spaniard has been forced to decline his invitation to the season’s first Major, having not played a competitive round since the second day at Augusta National last year.
The 50 year old has won the Green Jacket twice, in 1994 and 1999, and has amassed eight top ten finishes from his 27 appearances. 

Westwood heading to Masters 

FROM GOLF CHANNEL.COM
Lee Westwood did his part in Thailand. The math took care of the rest, and he's going to the Masters.
Westwood, who tied for second two weeks ago in the Thailand Golf Championship, will move up one spot to No. 50 next week in the final world ranking of the year, assuring him a place in the field at Augusta National in April.
Westwood is No. 51 this week, but with gradual reductions in points, he will go back to no. 50 in the last ranking of 2015. Chris Kirk, who will fall to No. 51, already is in the Masters from winning Colonial.
Among the 12 criteria for pros to qualify, Augusta National takes the top 50 in the world at the end of the year, and again one week before the Masters.
The addition of 15 players from the top 50 brings the number of active players to 89 going into the new year. The Masters has the smallest field of the four majors and prefers it to be under 100. It has not exceeded 100 players since 1966.
A year ago, 90 players had qualified at the end of the year.
Still to be determined before April is if the field will include four-time champion Tiger Woods, who has not played since August 23 and has gone through two procedures in the same spot in his back since then.
 Woods said earlier this month he can only walk and has received no indication when the nerve damage will heal.
The only way for players to qualify for the Masters is to win a US PGA Tour event (except for the Puerto Rico Open). 
Five players in the winners-only field are not going to Augusta National because they won BEFORE last year's Masters or won opposite-field events, which do not count toward an invitation - James Hahn, Padraig Harrington, Alex Cejka, Matt Every and J.J. Henry.
Of the 15 who qualified through the top 50, Sergio Garcia and Billy Horschel were the only ones to play a full US PGA Tour schedule last year.
Australian Open winner Matt Jones (No. 54) and Ryan Palmer (No. 58) will end the year outside the top 50. Palmer, who father died in a traffic accident in West Texas in August, was No. 40 when he played his final event in Las Vegas in October.
Among those who will be playing the Masters for the first time are Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger and Emiliano Grillo from the high school class of 2011, along with HSBC Champions winner Russell Knox and Kevin Kisner, who had four runner-up finishes before winning the RSM Classic at Sea Island in final US PGA Tour event of the year.

Tiger Woods says "a bone popped out" on shot on 9th hole, but he was able to "put it back in"

from Golf Digest
By Sam Weinman
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Just when you thought Tiger Woods was finally healthy, he ran into more trouble on the 9th hole of the Masters on Sunday. The good news is it wasn't his back. Or his knee. Or the other knee. 

Instead it appeared to be Woods' wrist that he injured when hitting a tree root with his second shot (Update: it appears it was not a root, but a particularly hard part of the ground). Upon impact, Woods immediately let go of his club, and started shaking his right wrist. While clearly aggravated the rest of the hole, Woods was able to get up and down for par, but bogeyed the 10th after spraying the tee shot way right.

 In his post-round interview with CBS's Bill Macatee, Woods said "a bone popped out" when he hit the shot on 9, but he was able "to put it back in." 

Related: Tiger Woods chronicles of pain

Although he's been spared wrist problems as a pro, Woods did withdraw from the 2005 U.S. Open at Shinnecock after injuring his left wrist hitting out of heavy rough. 

At the time of the injury, Woods, who is playing with Rory McIlroy, was one over for the day and 12 shots behind leader Jordan Spieth. His injury was met with swift reaction on social media.

 Spieth wins Masters by four shots over Rose, 

Mickelson for first Major at age of 21

Jordan Spieth during the 2015 Masters. ( Getty Images )

By Golfweek Staff

Sunday, April 12, 2015

The Masters - Leaderboard

Augusta (Ga.) National GC

Pos	Name	Thru	Today	Overall
1	Jordan Spieth	$1,800,000	600	-18
2	Justin Rose	$880,000	270	-14
2	Phil Mickelson	$880,000	270	-14
4	Rory McIlroy	$480,000	150	-12
5	Hideki Matsuyama	$400,000	120	-11

Complete Leaderboard »

Jordan Spieth fired a 2-under 70 on Sunday at the 79th Masters, securing a four-shot and wire-to-wire victory for his first major title at the age of 21.
Spieth cleared Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose by four shots, with Rory McIlroy finishing solo fourth after a 6-under 66 playing alongside Tiger Woods.
Woods shot a 1-over 73 that featured a wrist injury, which he said after the round was a bone that popped out of place and he had to put it back in.
 update: Spieth/Rose on 18th holeSpieth takes driver and finds the pinestraw on the right, while Rose is in the fairway.
Spieth leaves second shot in front of the green, and he takes three shots to get in, falling back to 18 under, but clearing Justin Rose and Phil Mickelson by four shots.
He ties the Masters scoring record at 18 under, which Tiger Woods shot in 1997.
Phil Mickelson caps a 3-under 69 with a nice up-and-down for par on the 18th,

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Recap on Masters third-round scoreboard

1	Jordan Spieth	F	-2	64-66-70	200	-16
2	Justin Rose	F	-5	67-70-67	204	-12
3	Phil Mickelson	F	-5	70-68-67	205	-11
4	Charley Hoffman	F	-1	67-68-71	206	-10
5	Kevin Na	F	-2	74-66-70	210	-6
5	Kevin Streelman	F	-2	70-70-70	210	-6
5	Dustin Johnson	F	+1	70-67-73	210	-6
5	Rory McIlroy	F	-4	71-71-68	210	-6
5	Tiger Woods	F	-4	73-69-68	210	-6
10	Paul Casey	F	+2	69-68-74	211	-5
10	Hideki Matsuyama	F	-2	71-70-70	211	-5
12	Zach Johnson	F	-4	72-72-68	212	-4
12	Louis Oosthuizen	F	-1	72-69-71	212	-4
12	Bill Haas	F	E	69-71-72	212	-4
12	Ian Poulter	F	-5	73-72-67	212	-4
12	Jonas Blixt	F	-2	72-70-70	212	-4
12	Jason Day	F	-1	67-74-71	212	-4
18	Hunter Mahan	F	-4	75-70-68	213	-3
18	Sergio Garcia	F	-1	68-74-71	213	-3
18	Ryan Moore	F	+1	74-66-73	213	-3
21	Charl Schwartzel	F	+1	71-70-73	214	-2
21	Angel Cabrera	F	+1	72-69-73	214	-2
21	Ernie Els	F	+3	67-72-75	214	-2
21	Russell Henley	F	E	68-74-72	214	-2
25	Bubba Watson	F	+1	71-71-73	215	-1
25	Adam Scott	F	+2	72-69-74	215	-1
25	Cameron Tringale	F	-3	71-75-69	215	-1
25	Bernd Wiesberger	F	-2	75-70-70	215	-1
25	Rickie Fowler	F	-2	73-72-70	215	-1
30	Brooks Koepka	F	-1	74-71-71	216	E
30	Henrik Stenson	F	-2	73-73-70	216	E
30	Seung-yul Noh	F	E	70-74-72	216	E
30	Webb Simpson	F	E	69-75-72	216	E
30	Lee Westwood	F	-2	73-73-70	216	E
30	Patrick Reed	F	+2	70-72-74	216	E
36	Morgan Hoffmann	F	E	73-72-72	217	+1
36	Sang-Moon Bae	F	E	74-71-72	217	+1
36	Geoff Ogilvy	F	+1	74-70-73	217	+1
36	Chris Kirk	F	E	72-73-72	217	+1
36	Ryan Palmer	F	+2	69-74-74	217	+1
36	John Senden	F	E	71-74-72	217	+1
42	Matt Kuchar	F	E	72-74-72	218	+2
42	Mark O'Meara	F	+5	73-68-77	218	+2
42	Keegan Bradley	F	+3	71-72-75	218	+2
42	Danny Willett	F	+4	71-71-76	218	+2
46	Steve Stricker	F	+1	73-73-73	219	+3
46	Jason Dufner	F	+2	74-71-74	219	+3
46	Erik Compton	F	+2	73-72-74	219	+3
46	Jimmy Walker	F	+2	73-72-74	219	+3
50	Anirban Lahiri	F	+2	71-75-74	220	+4
51	Jamie Donaldson	F	+4	74-71-76	221	+5
51	Graeme McDowell	F	+4	71-74-76	221	+5
53	Darren Clarke	F	+5	74-71-77	222	+6
54	Vijay Singh	F	+7	75-70-79	224	+8
55	Thongchai Jaidee	F	+8	75-70-80	225	+9