AUGUSTA — On an overpopulated Masters leaderboard, each of the 30 players in the second-round lead or within five shots had a story to tell.
Two were the most compelling, two that sprang from different eras and told of how it was possible, if only for a day, to be separated by 30 years but only a single stroke.
For a day, the Masters abided both old memories and young dreams.
Fred Couples, two years into his AARP membership, had Friday’s lowest round, his 67 one of only five for the day in the 60s. He and Jason Dufner were tied for the second-round lead at 5-under 139.
Friday was Fred’s day at this tournament. He already shared with Ben Hogan the lowest round ever shot by an over-50 player (Couples’ 66 came two years ago). Then he went almost as low again, fashioning yet another good kind of senior moment.
“I feel like I am very young when I get here,” Couples said. It is not recommended that you drink the water at Rae’s Creek, but there must be something revitalizing in it.
As Couples sat in the tournament interview room reviewing his day, there came a tap, tap, tapping at the door behind him. An impish face peeked through the small window in the door, a wide grin filling the frame.
It was Rory McIlroy doing what youth does, being precocious, pushing the elders to hurry up and get out of the way.
At least this was a very good-natured battle of the ages.
“[Couples] is just cool. I hope I’m that cool when I’m 52,” said McIlroy after he took over the interview perch. He is but 22 and cannot even see 30 years down the road. The kid is among five players at 4 under entering the weekend, one skinny stroke back of Couples and Dufner.
Couples is not supposed to be taking the lead 20 years after his one Masters title. “Very shocking,” said the author himself.
And just how long he can remain there is a matter of how long his chronically bad back can stay limber and how much more magic he can milk from his favorite week of the year.
“Can I win? I believe I can, yes,” he said.
McIlroy, though, is right where he was projected to be, the world’s No. 2-ranked player and its most recognizable new star chasing down a tournament he let get away last year.
Couples is the old golfer who acts like a kid here. McIlroy is the kid who behaves like a wrinkly Masters veteran.
“Yeah, I’m comfortable here,” McIlroy said. Some numbers back that up. He has been fairly precise this week, hitting 26 of 36 greens in regulation (seventh-best in the field). But he has room to improve on the greens, ranking 33rd with 59 putts through two rounds.
“I’m in a nice position, and I definitely would have taken it after the start yesterday [a double bogey on his first hole, standing 1 over after 13 holes],” he said.
Between the extremes of Couples and McIlroy is a rainbow of other stories to follow this weekend. That is the benefit when no one player seems interested in separating himself.
Look who is putting well now. Sergio Garcia, using a claw grip to correct his formerly abysmal play on the greens, is second here in fewest putts. Consequently, he is among the band at 4 under.
Garcia does not seem too troubled by an infected middle finger on his left hand. In fact, he happily flashed it at a writer inquiring about it Friday. He never gets the chance to do that and say it was all just in the interest of full disclosure.
First-round leader Lee Westwood suffered a double bogey on the 18th hole Friday, but fell only one shot off the lead.
Phil Mickelson was heard from, shooting 33 on the back side on his way to a Friday 68. He is at 2 under, three back of Couples and Dufner.
And he really looks forward to today. “Saturday is the day you can really make a move,” he said. “Sunday you kind of cherish the back nine and it’s exciting, but I feel like Saturday is the day you have got to play well to position yourself. Tomorrow will be a critical day.”
Tiger Woods was notable by his absence from the party Friday.
The four-time Masters champion who arrived with the trumpets blaring was instead in full retreat. He hit only seven of 18 greens in regulation Friday. His frustration built until he drop-kicked his iron after a wandering tee shot on the par-3 16th. He had fashioned 11 consecutive sub-par rounds until his 75 on Friday. He is 3 over, eight off the lead. He is tied for 40th, his worst 36-hole Masters position since 2003.
As poorly as he played Friday, he was even worse at giving any kind of concession speech.
“I’ve been around the block for a number of years, and I understand how to be patient. I understand how to grind it out,” he said.
“The tournament is not over. Last year I think going into the final round I made up seven shots. I can do this. I just have to be patient.”
At least he is invited back Saturday. Among those missing the cut were K.J. Choi, the world’s 23rd-ranked player who finished fourth and eighth at the past two Masters, and Paul Casey, No. 38 in the world.
The world’s 373rd-ranked player, however, has a choice Masters launch window Saturday. Couples will tee off last, at 2:45, the old guy still able to command prime time.
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