AUGUSTA - Andy Ogletree makes a pretty compelling argument as he looks to begin a professional golf career following the Masters.
The Georgia Tech graduate will look for some sponsor exemptions to get started, and making the cut at the Masters as an amateur adds to a growing resume. Ogletree completed his delayed second round Saturday morning at 2 under par – aided by a run of birdies at Nos. 9, 10, 13 and 14. He was 1 under for the tournament as he headed to the third round, one stroke inside the even-par cut line.
“I mean, I can’t speak for tournament directors, but I think, from my side, I feel like I’ve done what I need to do to earn some spots,” Ogletree said. “I’ve played some good golf. I’ve won the U.S. Amateur. I’ve made the cut playing with Tiger Woods at the Masters, so I feel like that deserves a chance to go get to play in some Tour events, and I hope they see it that way, too.”
Ogletree had an early start – too early for the delivery of a good-luck charm – Saturday. With a 7:30 a.m. resumption, on the 11th hole, he was unable to get a quarter from his father, Jim. The family tradition is for Ogletree to get a quarter to use as a ball mark during a round. It didn’t matter. Ogletree long ago shook off nerves that had him 4 over through four holes to start the tournament.
“I came out this morning and was really focused,” Ogletree said. “I was able to make a few birdies and kind of get in front of the cut line, not fighting behind it. So that was huge.”
Ogletree shot 1-under 71 in his third round to move to 2 under par for the tournament, tied for 36th and the low amateur. He is one of two amateurs to make the cut, along with John Augenstein, who is even par after a 3-over day. It was Ogletree who defeated Augenstein in the final of the 2019 U.S. Amateur.
Ogletree was paired in the third round with Shane Lowry and Ian Poulter. Ogletree and Lowry were paired, along with Tiger Woods, in the first two rounds of the Masters and at the U.S. Open. In five rounds of major golf, Ogletree and Lowry have been paired for each.
Grand slam will have to wait
Rory McIlroy shot himself out of a chance at completing the career grand slam with an opening-round 3-over 75. He rebound with rounds of 66 and 67 to stand at 8 under for the tournament, still eight strokes behind leader Dustin Johnson.
“Yeah, 11 under for the last two days, I think that sort of speaks for itself,” McIlroy said. “The good golf was in there, I just didn’t allow myself to play that way on the first 18 holes. This course can do that. This course can make you a little bit careful and a little bit tentative at times. I’ve always said I play my best golf when I’m trusting and freer, and I’ve been a lot freer over the last 36 holes.”
Prize money
The total prize money at the Masters this year is $11.5 million. The winner’s share will be $2,070,000. The runner-up will receive $1,242,000.
The cut
The cut was even-par, the lowest cut score in Masters history, with 60 players advancing to the weekend, including 11 right on the number.
Pre-tournament favorite Bryson DeChambeau was one of the players at par after completing his second round with a 74. He said he hasn’t felt well and was checked for COVID-19 on Friday night.
“I was feeling something a little weird last ‑‑ two nights ago, and I came out yesterday and was fine for the most part,” DeChambeau said. "As I kept going through the round, I started getting a little dizzy. I don’t know what was going on, a little something weird.
“So I got checked for COVID last night, and I was fine, nothing. But I had to do the right thing and make sure there was nothing more serious than that. I don’t know what it is or what happened, but these past couple days, I’ve felt really, really odd and just not a hundred percent. Some of that’s played into it. I just feel kind of dull and numb out there, just not fully aware of everything, and making some silly, silly mistakes for sure.”
Jordan Spieth made a 15-foot putt on 18 to save par and make the cut on the number.
Notables to miss the cut were: Matt Kuchar, Gary Woodland, Matthew Wolff and Kevin Kisner.
Singh withdraws
Vijay Singh withdrew from the Masters because of illness following the completion of 10 holes of his second round. Singh shot an opening-round 75.
Weather
The forecast for Sunday’s final round calls for patchy fog in the morning with increasing clouds and breezy in the afternoon. The high will be 78 degrees and the low 58 degrees. Winds will shifting from the west at 18 mph.
