Say this for Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia: They know how to turn it on when they need to.
They’re two of the top-ranked players in the world, but each was in danger of missing the cut with six holes remaining in the second round of the Masters on Friday. Playing together, they shot a combined 8-under par over those last six holes to make sure they were around for the weekend.
Garcia is solidly in at 2-under 142 and Fowler just scooted in under the cut line at 145.
“You know, basically it was do or die,” said Fowler, donning his familiar shade of “Honolulu blue” Puma outfit. “You know the cut was looking like 2 (over) or so. It was nice to have that birdie look on 18 to get to 1 and make sure I was safe there.”
After a double bogey, Fowler left the 11 green at 5-over for the tournament. He proceeded to card birdies at 13, 15, 17 and 17 and 18.
Garcia went out in 40 on Friday, but rallied for a 34 on the back with birdies at 14, 15, 17 and 18. A bogey at 16 spoiled a near-perfect finish.
“If not for that I would be heading home,” Garcia said of his strong finish. “I had to have that kind of finish. … I don’t know, I guess I just got lucky.”
Garcia never seems to play well at Augusta but entered as the world’s ninth-ranked player. Fowler, ranked No. 13, came in listed among the favorites to win his first major here.
“I’ve always had the fight in me,” Fowler said. “I don’t like going home, that’s for sure. I don’t want to be missing out on a weekend here. … So luckily I made some birdies coming in that will let me play some more rounds here.”
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