The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A quick look at Friday at the Masters:
They said it
“No, no, and I’m planning on being healthy and making the cut and telling Fred (Ridley) I’m coming back the next year, too. This was really ugly. Yesterday there were several times I should have not played, but I thought I could help these guys that I was playing with a little bit even though they’re outdriving me by 50 yards with the wind, so I didn’t want to quit.”
— Fred Couples, who is battling injury, after shooting 80-76 for a 12 over par
“It’s amazing, obviously. The property is amazing: food, all the fans, everything about it. It’s pretty special. It’s what makes it so unique. I’ve played a lot of tour events and one major, and this one obviously stands out, and I can understand why.”
— Masters rookie Akshay
Bhatia after finishing 3 over through two rounds
Shot of the day
Patrick Cantlay recorded a rare eagle at the par-4 No. 3. But not so rare for him. Cantlay’s drive to the right side of the fairway finished 63 yards from the green. His approach hit the green long of the hole, then spun back into the cup. He becomes the fourth player to record an eagle on a par 4 twice during one Masters. Cantlay eagled No. 17 on Thursday. He joins Jack Nicklaus (1995) and Brandt Jobe (2006) with two eagles on par 4s in the same tournament.
Playing in the wind
For the first time since 1999, there have been 10 or more double bogeys (or worse) at No. 15 through the first two rounds.
Seen at the Masters
New Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins and 49ers tight end George Kittle.
Did you know?
■ Eighty years ago, in 1944, it was one of three years in which the Masters was not played because of World War II. According to Augusta National, cattle and turkeys were raised on the grounds during the hiatus to support the war effort.
■ In 1993, a sterling replica of the permanent Masters trophy was first awarded to the champion, along with a gold medal. Although he has six Masters victories, Jack Nicklaus said he obtained four of the replicas. “I couldn’t afford the other two,” he joked Thursday. He said he has one at home, one at the Bear’s Club, one at Muirfield Village and one at the Jack Nicklaus Museum.
By the numbers
327.9 Average driving distance for Georgia Tech amateur Christo Lamprecht, which was the high for the first round. He was 4.1 yards longer than the next golfer, Wyndham Clark.
Updated weather
■ Today: Mostly sunny and breezy. Low: 49F, High: 76F
■ Sunday: Mostly sunny and warm. Low: 54F, High: 84F
TV
■ Today — Round 3:
3 to 7 p.m., CBS
■ Sunday — Final round:
2 to 7 p.m., CBS