63-year old and two-time Masters winner Bernhard Langer makes history at the 2020 Masters after becoming the oldest player to make the cut at the tournament. I know what you’re thinking, “wow, that’s really historic and definitely worth the tease!” Well, if you happen to pay attention to the Champions Tour, this isn’t too much of a surprise. He’s second in total Champions Tour wins and isn’t showing signs of stopping. Will he have a strong showing on moving day and put pressure on the young players at the top of leaderboard? Or will age finally catch up to the ageless?
While not all of round two is complete yet, as they have suspended play yet again due to darkness, we have a pretty good look at the top of the leaderboard going into the weekend.
2020 Masters Leaderboard
The weekend at the 2020 Masters is setting up to be a good one. While not all cuts are final yet, the top of the leaderboard is loaded, including a couple of major champions and a lot of players looking for their first.
Play on day two at the Masters has been suspended due to darkness.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 13, 2020
Leaderboard ⬇️
T1 @Abraham_Ancer (-9)
T1 @DJohnsonPGA
T1 Cameron Smith
T1 @JustinThomas34
T5 @Patrick_Cantlay (-8)
T5 Sung Jae Im (-8)
T5 Hideki Matsuyama (Thru 15)
T5 @JonRahmpga (Thru 12)
Don’t ignore the players that are a little lower on the leaderboard. Players like McIlroy at three-under, Woods, Fowler at four-under, Koepka, Mickelson at five-under can all put pressure on the leaders with a strong start to round three.
Takeaways From Day Two of the 2020 Masters
Young Guns
There was a time in golf when, like any other sport, the young players won’t win right away. After a couple years of experience, they’ll get a win or two, but that’s changed dramatically. After play is suspended for Friday, the leaderboard has four players tied for the lead. Three of those players are under 30-years old. Oh, and twelve of the players in the top twenty are 30-years old or younger, one of them being 22-years old.
Tiger’s Play
Tiger was able to have a steady round one after hitting 83-percent of greens in regulation after only hitting 71-percent of fairways. The difference of play in round two can summarized with the same stat. In round two thus far, Tiger is hitting 88-percent of fairways and 70-percent of greens, forcing him to save par more often than he did in round one. With eight holes remaining in round two, we will see if Tiger can find some of his younger self and make a push going into the weekend.
Bryson’s Power Lacks Accuracy
As I mentioned in the Masters preview, Bryson dominated the U.S. Open because he was able to overpower the golf course. Well, Augusta National is different. Instead of being in the rough and using strength to hit the green, at August you will find yourself in the trees and struggling to save par. While Bryson still has the power this week at the Masters, his accuracy is nowhere to be found. He’s only hitting 61-percent of fairways and 60-percent of greens, setting him up for disappointment and potentially missing the cut. Sitting at one-over par, he’ll need at least two birdies in the last six holes of the round to play the weekend.
Dustin Johnson Uses Power with Accuracy to Share the Lead
Taking the opposite approach of Bryson, Dustin Johnson has decided to hit fairways this week. Johnson is tied for the lead after day two is complete for many reasons, but the biggest may be that he has hit 71-percent of fairways and 86-percent of greens this week, setting up plenty of birdie opportunities.
McIlroy’s Wild Turnaround
If you’ve every played golf, you know your score can vary day to day. Sure, for me it’s 95 one day and 105 the next and I question everything I know about the game. But if I shot 105 then had a half-hour to get ready for the round, would I shoot lower? Hell no. And that’s why I’m writing about the 2020 Masters instead of playing it. Today, Rory McIlroy proved why he’s one of the best in the world. After shooting a three-over 75 in round one, he followed it up with a six-under 66 in round two and now sits at three-under with a chance to do something special on this Masters weekend.
Top Shots from the Tournament Leaders
Cameron Smith had the shot of the day to set up a tap-in eagle at the 15th to get to six-under par.
Cameron would follow-up that eagle with a birdie at 16, 17, and 18 to get nine-under par and a share of the lead going into the weekend. Justin Thomas looked to be in trouble when he found himself in the pine straw at the eighth after a poor second shot.From 247 yards to mere feet. Cameron Smith’s first eagle at Augusta National on No. 15. #themasters pic.twitter.com/E8jW9M5bYZ
— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 13, 2020
Thomas would finish his round with another birdie at the ninth to tie the lead going into the weekend. Dustin Johnson looked like he was going to runaway with the tournament early on Friday after a strong start.Justin Thomas makes adept use of the contours of the green to get up-and-down for birdie on No. 8. #themasters pic.twitter.com/WDd27p50Ww
— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 13, 2020
Johnson would go birdie-birdie on the next two holes and follow those up with a bogey-bogey stretch. Pars filled his round until the ninth when he would make another birdie to tie the lead. Abraham Ancer was three back after day one and made a run to tie the lead after day two. This birdie at the sixth helped his momentum.Dustin Johnson takes the solo lead with a birdie on No. 11. #themasters pic.twitter.com/nW7tpgiEmv
— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 13, 2020
Ancer joins the lead with his fifth birdie of the day. #themasters pic.twitter.com/jE2GVboXCO
— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 13, 2020
Top Shots from the Rest of the Field
While some of the leaders had a great shots, some of the best shots of the day came from players down on the leaderboard that will miss the cut or will need a good Saturday to put pressure on the leaders.
Phil Mickelson finished round two at five-under and a chance to make a run. Before that, Mickelson finished up round one on Friday with this shot at the last.
Sebastian Munoz finished round two at six-under and a chance to contend this weekend because of shots like this.A past champion’s course knowledge on display. #themasters pic.twitter.com/z6vGUky9eP
— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 13, 2020
Five-time Masters winner Tiger Woods had a strong round one that set him up to make a run. He sits at 4-under thru 10 holes with play suspended for the day. Here he is at the second with a shot at eagle.Sebastian Munoz finishes his second round with a chip-in birdie on No. 18. #themasters pic.twitter.com/DmGAjlucdm
— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 13, 2020
Jon Rahm posted a three-under round one setting himself up for a chance to make the leaders nervous. He started off strong in round two before play was suspended with a four-under front nine and looking for a strong finish to his second round on Saturday.Tiger Woods makes birdie from a bunker on No. 2. #themasters pic.twitter.com/fyfKveURNF
— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 13, 2020
After another birdie at the 12th, Rahm now sits one back of the leaders with six to play in round two.Jon Rahm makes the turn at seven under par following a birdie at No. 9. #themasters pic.twitter.com/FDjNyBhHsS
— The Masters (@TheMasters) November 13, 2020
As always, expect fireworks this weekend at the Masters.
For more of the latest sports coverage from Belly Up, click here or follow @BellyUpSports on Twitter.
