News
Five things we learned on Day 2 of the 2017 Masters
Funny how golf is. The world No. 1 withdraws from the 81st playing of the Masters with a freak injury, and the tournament shapes up to be the best in a good while after 36 holes. Top golfers are in the mix, new faces stake a claim, and even a pair of amateurs stick around for the weekend. We learned five more things on Friday and we’d love to share them with you.
Bounce-back Friday followed Throwback Thursday
After the emotional farewell to Arnold Palmer on Thursday, Friday etched itself in memory as the day of the bounceback. Thomas Pieters bounced back from his dreadful back nine in Round 1 with a stellar 67 to share the halfway lead with three others. Jon Rahm doubled the 10th, then followed it with the first birdie of the day on the difficult 11th. And even Sergio Garcia, he of the eternal heartbreak, came back after making a silly 6 on the par-five 13th with birdies at Nos. 15 and 17 to join Pieters, Rickie Fowler and first-round leader Charley Hoffman atop the field at 4-under par.
Watch @TheSergioGarcia's second round in under three minutes. #themasters pic.twitter.com/1zkXVJqwzK
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 7, 2017
Get used to the term “Ageless Wonder” at Augusta National
With no disrespect to Tom Watson’s run at the Open Championship in 2009 at Turnberry when he was 59 year old, Augusta National is where old dreams die hard. In 2016, Bernhard Langer made at run at his third Green Jacket at the age of 58. This year, the resurgent Fred Couples, on the 25th anniversary of his Masters victory, finds himself at 1-under, again in the mix. Will he win? Who knows and who cares! He’s Freddie, he’s ageless and the legacy of Bobby Jones continues to celebrate the wily veteran, despite all efforts to toughen the course each year.
Watch Fred Couples almost hole out from 171 yards on No. 18. #themasters pic.twitter.com/E0HCs6lWPj
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 7, 2017
Adding to their wardrobe
Couples is the only Masters champion currently in the top-9, but on his heels circles a venue of vultures waiting for the proper moment to prey. Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson are at even par, Charl Schwartzel at 2-over and … wait, that’s it? Looks like 2017 might be a year for another first-time winner. Augusta rarely recognizes three consecutive rookie winners. It happened from 2007-2009, but since then, your Lefty’s and your Bubba’s stopped back for seconds and thirds.
Watch @BrandenGrace hole out from 95 yards for the first eagle on No. 15. #themasters pic.twitter.com/97RrRzmWwB
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 7, 2017
How ’bout them amateurs?
Five began play on Thursday and 40 percent are still around. The U.S. Amateur champion (and Asia-Pacific boss) Curtis Luck sneaked in at 6-over, right on the cut line. Luck bogeyed Nos. 16 and 18 on Day 2, but had enough in the tank to limp across the semi-finish line. Joining him is the curse-breaker, the first USGA Mid-Amateur champion to survive the 36-hole challenge along Rae’s Creek. Stewart Hagestad made it his business to learn the nuances of the National; he even quit his job to focus on amateur golf, which led him here. Hagestad toured the 36 holes in 3-over, closing with a stylish birdie on No. 18 to open a three-stroke advantage in the race for the low amateur medal.
Masters 2017: Curtis Luck | 15th Hole, Round 2 pic.twitter.com/MDGOsKRzWU
— Masters Highlights (@MastersMoments) April 7, 2017
Who won’t stick around?
Heartbreaker award to Billy Hurley III, who teed off on No. 18 at 5-over, one stroke inside the cut line, and holed out at 7-over; a double-bogey at the last to miss by one. Joining him on the couch is defending champion Danny Willett, who opened Round 2 with a Jordan-esque quadruple bogey and never really recovered. He, too, missed by one.
Top story: El #Golf es Humano @MastersMoments: ‘Masters 2017: Danny Willett | 1… pic.twitter.com/n75tGN3tkO, see more https://t.co/eIyKe8MPzM
— El golf es humano (@ElGolfesHumano) April 7, 2017
European Ryder Cuppers Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Henrik Stenson have also packed their bags, as neither was able to find comfort over the sloping, speedy greens. Three U.S. Ryder Cuppers (Zach Johnson, Patrick Reed and assistant captain Bubba Watson) will also watch the weekend’s events from behind the ropes.
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Morning 9: 58 on the Korn Ferry Tour | Rory on possible return to policy board
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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News
Morning 9: Tiger’s TGL teammates | Woosnam’s criticism of Cantlay | Rory’s return to tour policy board
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cc ryder
Apr 8, 2017 at 8:32 am
thanks for the article. well done
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