Is It The Course, Or The Players?
I know “experts” are writing that Augusta National has been unfairly prepared this year, and that the toughness of the course has taken the shotmaking out of the hands of the players. I suppose if you’re using Tiger and Phil as your barometer, it might seem that way, but the course has nothing to do with the way Woods and Mickelson are driving the ball. Atrocious. When you spray it right and left off the tee, you’re going to end up in difficult situations and in some cases, even the best can’t get up and down. That’s not to say the course isn’t difficult, because it surely is, but there are middle-tier players handling it just fine.
The other side of the coin is that co-leader Tim Clark has put together two very consistent rounds of 71, and has some confidence going into “moving” day. Clark isn’t especially long, and doesn’t have the great short game of Woods or Mickelson, but yet hear he is tied for the lead after two days. Does that mean he’ll be around come Sunday? Probably not. The pressure of the weekend will eliminate 80% of the current top-15, simply because it’s a major and it’s the Masters.
Mickelson is probably out of it, and Woods can’t afford another over-par round. But lurking two back of the leaders is Mr. Singh himself, and of the top-15, is the only one with experience here that can pull it together over the weekend. Paul Casey is 5 back (as is Woods) and he’s could sneak up tomorrow and be a factor come Sunday.