Scottie, Max and Bryson: USA trio lead at Masters halfway point
How did things play out on the second day of the Masters? NCG’s Matt Chivers can fill you in on Friday’s events at Augusta…
We are 36 holes down with 36 holes left of the 2024 Masters.
Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Max Homa battled hard on Friday to head a leaderboard with not a lot of red on it, and much green (if you’re looking at the classic Augusta National Golf Club leaderboard).
Take a look below at our Masters day two report…
Masters report: So what happened?
Of the players near the top of the leaderboard heading into Friday, Max Homa was one of the first out on the course aiming to make a dent in DeChambeau’s lead. The likeable American finished his first scorecard with a five-under 67 and he then tackled the tougher conditions of day two.
Homa, looking for his first major title, made two birdies, a bogey and 15 pars on his way to a round of one-under-par. He could sit pretty on six-under-par as the likes of DeChambeau, Scheffler and co. took on the breezy course down Magnolia Lane.
After carding five-under-par in round one, Masters debutant Nicolai Hojgaard continued to turn heads on a tough day two. His one-over-par 73 kept him on four-under-par and inside the top five for the vast majority of Friday’s proceedings.
Although DeChambeau couldn’t match his excellence from day one, he was still in good shape by the time he tapped in for a one-over-par 73 in the blustery conditions.
The big-hitting American battled hard on the front nine with one bogey and birdie. He traded birdies and bogeys on the back nine and unfortunately, he three-putted the 18th hole to fall one behind Scheffler on six-under-par at the time.
After an opening 66, Scheffler maintained his challenge for a second Green Jacket with a solid 72. It might not have mirrored his heroics from day one, but his three birdies and three bogeys kept him tied with DeChambeau and Homa on 6-under-par by the end of the round.
The World No.1 is in the thick of contention heading into the third round and this trio of Americans led by two shots from Hojgaard.
Towards the middle of the leaderboard, but still extremely significant, was Tiger Woods. With rounds of 72 and 73, he made the cut with ease and you can read how the 15-time major champion made history in the process.
You can see which top players MISSED THE CUT at the Masters.
What did they have to say?
Scottie Scheffler:
Quotes to come…
Bryson DeChambeau:
“I’m very excited. I get an opportunity to show my skill set, and hopefully it’s good enough to do something special this weekend. I feel like the game is in a great spot. Mindset is in a solid place.
“Caddie is keeping me in check. We’re joking out there, having fun in some tough conditions. So I feel like everything is lining up pretty well.
“Just got to make sure my lag putts are doing well and striking it well off the tee. That’s all that matters. If I can do those things, I think I’ll put myself in a good place.”
Max Homa:
“Obviously been quite difficult out there. I struck the ball really well. I’ve really done everything quite well on the golf course, but most proud of what’s gone on with our course management and just controlling thoughts and expectation and all that.
“So it’s been fun, and I feel like this – these conditions have helped almost lean into the patience and all the things you hear, the clichés. So I feel like I’ve done a great job of that and then hit some good shots alongside that.
“It’s been quite fun. I am very glad to be inside, I will say.”
Nicolai Hojgaard:
“It is really, really tricky. Wind is swirling. It’s gusting. There are some tough shots on the back
nine. Front nine is tricky as well. But back nine there’s more water in play. That’s where the really tough shots are.
“I felt like I managed my game really well today, even though I didn’t strike it properly. I felt like I was a bit all over the place, but kind of putted myself around, which was quite good to see. Yeah, I’m looking forward to the next two days.”
Tiger Woods:
“It means I have a chance going into the weekend. I’m here. I have a chance to win the golf
tournament. I don’t know if they’re all going to finish today, but I’m done. I got my two rounds in. Just need some food and some caffeine, and I’ll be good to go.
“Yeah, I’m tired. I’ve been out for a while, competing, grinding. It’s been a long 23 holes, a long day,” he added. “But Lance and I really did some good fighting today, and we’ve got a chance.”
Shot of the day
The conditions were brutal and so, great shots and big hole-outs were few and far between.
Woods finished on one-over-par and safely inside the top 30 after 36 holes, and it was thanks to this superb chip-in on the par-3 6th hole…
Stat of the day
There can only be one stat of the day at the Masters.
Tiger Woods has made his 24th cut in a row at Augusta National which is now an individual record. The Cat has always been at one with Augusta National and this shows with his five Green Jackets.
Brutal moments of the day…
Friday saw the end of the first rounds from Thursday due to a two-and-a-half-hour weather delay, and it also saw Jordan Spieth self-implode on hole 15.
Still yet to complete his first 18 holes, the three-time major champion made a quadruple bogey on this par 5 to drop out of contention and eventually miss the cut on nine-over-par.
Brian Harman also gave Spieth a run for his money in this regard. The Open champion of 2023 took 47 shots on the back nine when finishing his first round on Friday. That’s 11-over-par.
The wind caused havoc on the golf course and this was never more obvious than when Gary Woodland reached the 16th hole and his ball went for a walk-about…
The best (or worst) clothing of the day…
Depending on your taste, Jason Day donned some terrific or terrible clothing on day two of the Masters. The Australian went back out to finish his first round on Friday morning with Tiger Woods and Max Homa, wearing a Malbon Golf sweater.
Day signed a deal with Malbon Golf back in January and ever since, he has stood out on the PGA Tour without the Nike swoosh which he had worn since 2016.
You can read more here, but the picture we all want to see is below…
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What did you make of the Masters day two? Will it be Bryson or Scottie who goes on to win the tournament? Tell NCG on X!
Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
