The Takeaway | 4-way Masters tie, Couples veteran vibes & a Mid-Am makes history

From one World No. 1 to another.
Thursday’s story at the Masters was current World No. 1 Dustin Johnson’s WD, while Friday
former World No. 1 & 57-year-old veteran Freddy Couples made a charge and is just 3 strokes
off the pace.
Veterans, rookies, amateurs – everyone seemed to get some action at the Masters on Friday.
The temps were low and the winds high once again at Augusta National – leveling the
playing field after Charley Hoffman’s stand-out 65 in Round 1.
Hoffman found himself some company at the top on Friday, after his 5 bogeys and plus-3
dropped him down to minus-4 overall.
He duked it out in the morning with Sergio Garcia, who got off to a quick start with
3 birdies in a row – culminating with a 33 footer on 3.
In search of his 4th Masters Top 10 & first major title, Garcia took the co-lead, thanks
in-part to his 13 of 14 fairways hit in regulation.
Second after Day 1, William McGirt stayed steady in his first Masters start.
The first tee time off, McGirt had a crazy chip-in from the bunker that fed back to the
hole for a dramatic birdie on 4, then went on to make a 31-foot par save the next hole.
He’s still just 2 back.
While co-leader Garcia had the only bogey-free round on Thursday, Ryan Moore took the honors
Friday – carding a 69 in the morning.
But the afternoon, well, it gave us a log jam at the top.
Come along for the ride!
Rickie Fowler started a fire, coming out hot with a chip-in from the bunker on 2 for eagle
and a birdie on 3 to begin his round 3-under in his first 3 holes.
He was joined in a tie for the lead with Thomas Pieters.
Meanwhile Rory McIlroy also knocked one in from just off the green on 6 from 54 feet
for his second birdie in a row Friday.
Although he birdied 3 of his last 6 holes coming in Thursday, he bogeyed 18 Friday to
post +1.
The cut-line has been set at +6, with defending champ Danny Willett & 2016 Open Champion Henrik
Stenson as notables to sit out the weekend.
But for the first time ever, a Mid-am will be there.
USC product Stewart Hagestad became the first Mid-am to make the cut in Masters history
Friday.
Pretty cool stuff right there.
I’ll also see you this weekend after each round right here in The Takeaway.

The Takeaway | 4-way Masters tie, Couples veteran vibes & a Mid-Am makes history

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