I’m not sure where to start.
Let’s start with Jason Day. Yesterday, he seemed barely able to walk. He was having back pain/back spasms. Yet, somehow he was able to scratch out a two under par round. Three or four years ago, Jason Day was a force to be reckoned with. Over the last couple years he is rebuilt his swing so he doesn’t have to swing is hard and could possibly take some of the stress off of his often injured back. If he can keep his back under control, there is no reason why he can’t be there down the stretch on Sunday. (I may be using this phrase a lot because there seems to be a lot of players in this year’s Masters who are playing great golf and should be able to put together enough good shots to be there on Sunday.)
Francisco Molinari seems to be one of those golfers that always flies under the radar. He found his form at the open championship last year and continues to play well. He just won the Arnold Palmer invitational. I mentioned him in yesterday’s post and today he made me look like a golfing savant. Molinari is not a golfer who tends to be himself. He is smart. He plays shots that he can play. He stays out of the rough.
Today, Brooks Koepka got behind the eight ball on the second hole. A double bogey on the par five right out of the gate is a bad omen. Yet, he fought back. Again he played remarkable golf on the back nine to end up one under par and tied for the lead.
Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen can be described very similarly. Both have enormous talent. Both have the sweetest, purest swings on tour. Both probably have not won as much as they should’ve. Both are tied for the lead. Adam Scott still seems to be struggling with the putter. He missed a couple of short ones which could’ve separated him from the pack. Look for Louis to continue to fly under the radar but continue to play great golf.
Dustin Johnson, Justin Harding and Xander Schauffele are all tied at six under par. It should be no surprise that Dustin Johnson is playing well. I suspect he will continue to play well. I’m sorry, I have no idea who Justin Harding is. No clue. On the other hand, I do know Xander Schauffele is. He’s got a great swing. He’s got a good game. He really has no weaknesses. He’s already won on the tour this year. He is a force to be reckoned with. He is hard-nosed and won’t shrink under the spotlight. Finally, also tied at six under par is Tiger Woods. As long as Tiger can keep his driver close to the fairway he has an excellent chance of winning. If he can putt just a little bit better, he will be there on Sunday. His iron play is second to none.
I’m sorry, I have to say something about Justin Rose. I know he is world #1. He got be world number one by finishing high in a lot of tournaments and winning a few. Yet, to me, and this is just my impression, is when the spotlight is on, he seems to shrink. This may be an unfair portrayal. He is world #1. Two weeks ago, at the Dell Match Play, Justin Rose did not make it out around the 16. This week, at the Masters, possibly the most important tournament of the year, Justin Rose did not make the cut.
Maybe it’s just me but it just seems that this year’s Masters is more exciting than we’ve seen in the last 3 to 4 years. It seems that there is more good golf. Guys flat out playing great golf. I can’t wait until tomorrow.
