Apr7 Masters daythree
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The 2007 Augusta National has been dubbed one of toughest golf courses ever played as round three gets underway here in Georgia.
The temperature has plummeted here in Augusta, with experienced pundits saying it’s the coldest they’ve seen it for 20 years.
But that will do little to cool the players’ heads when they get out on one of the toughest Augusta set-ups in the tournament’s history.
Lee Westwood was heavily critical of the brutal set-up, saying only five or six players could win because it “asks too many questions which there are no answers to.”
And Padraig Harrington – who shot a round of the day 68 yesterday – said: “It’s going to be equally tough, if not tougher, at the weekend.”
Brett Wetterich and Tim Clark head the leaderboard this morning, at two under par. Local hero Vaughn Taylor is one shot back – and the last player under par.
The scoring has just reflected how tough it is out there. There were twice as many bogeys as birdies in the second round – 442 compared to 233 – and there were 69 doubles or worse.
The scoring average was a fraction lower than round one as players accustomed slightly to the course, but it was still high at 75.62.
Other stats from round two include:
300 yards: Davis Love’s average driving distance, topping the field.
152: The score it tok to make the cut this year, only two shots less than the all-time Masters record – 154 in 1982. Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia and Colin Montgomerie are among the big names going home early.
60: The number of players who made the cut. The record is 64.
23: The number of consecutive Masters cuts made by Fred Couples – he made it with no shots to spare this year.
22: The number of putts taken by Harrington – an average of 1.2 per hole.
16: The number of greens hit in regulation by Jim Furyk, who topped the field.
0: The number of amateurs to make the cut – the last one who did were Ryan Moore and Luke List in 2005.
