AUGUSTA – Even as the first wave of players launched for a Masters Friday, it already was becoming clear who was going to rule the day: The Augusta National pin-setting committee.
With the exception of a relatively kind placement on the par-3 12th – a hole that ranked second toughest Thursday – the pins elsewhere were secreted away in various crannies and nooks. Some almost seemed to be set in the fringe, were that possible. Good luck today, fellas.
Many of the first-round success stories are playing in the afternoon Friday, so stay tuned right to the end: Leader Bill Haas (4 under) tees off at 1:15; defending champion Adam Scott (3 under) at 1:48; and the dynamic younger stars Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth (both 1 under) are in the last group, at 1:59.
Two of the players to watch who went off earlier were giving no indication that anyone was going to shoot 59 out here Friday. Louis Oosthuizen was one-over through six holes (to go to 2 under for the tournament). Bubba Watson (3 under) began with a par on the first, a good score on a very difficult opening hole.
One great comeback story in the making: South Africa’s Branden Grace shot 84 Thursday, the day’s high round, but was at 2-under 34 on the front nine Friday. His has a history of dramatic U-turns. Last year, having shot 78 in the first round, he rallied for a 70 on that Friday. He not only made the cut that year, he went on to finish a respectable 18th.
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