Australians haven’t won the Masters in a “donkey’s years.” Borrowing a piece of Aussie slang meaning for a long time, they’ve actually never won the tournament.
But all four Australians in this year’s Masters – Jason Day, Marc Leishman, John Senden and Adam Scott – fired solid second rounds to put themselves into position to contend for the only major that has eluded the country.
Day started 2 under and bounced back from an atrocious tee shot on 12 that led to a bogey with birdies on 13 and 16 to grab the lead at 6 under with a 68, the low round of the day. Leishman, the first round leader at 6 under, lost just one shot and is 5 under. Scott started at 3 under, dropped to par by the No. 5 and rallied to reach 3 under again with birdies on Nos. 7, 14 and 18. Senden reached 4 under before consecutive bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17 dropped him to 2 under.
“There’s obviously a lot of pressure on my shoulders being Australian and no Australian having ever won the event but they’ve been very, very close,” said Day, who finished second two years ago. “I just have to get that out of my mind and play.”
Day said that instead of thinking about it as pressure, he considers it an opportunity to be the first and that if he can focus on his game plan – which involves playing to the corners of the doglegs instead of trying to draw or fade balls around the corners – he thinks he will have a chance.
Day said he can’t think about those who are chasing him, a long list that includes Tiger Woods, because that will cause him to stray from the game plan and that will lead to bogeys.
Day said he works to peak at the Masters. He arrived in Augusta on Friday and played the course five consecutive days, taking Wednesday off.
“It’s my favorite time of the year,” he said. “I love this place.”
Australians have won nine British Opens, four PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens.
Leishman said while playing that he didn’t know his countrymen were doing so well, but “hopefully it’s like that Sunday night.”
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