AUGUSTA -- Ellie Day's second day watching her husband, Jason, play at the Masters went far better than the first, insomuch as she could actually watch her husband play.
On Thursday, Jason Day's playing partner Rory McIlroy dominated, creating a swelled gallery.
"[On Thursday], I couldn't see a lick," she said.
On Friday, as her husband answered questions at a news conference about his stunning 8-under 64 that lifted him into second place, Ellie Day stood outside the Masters media center and tried to make sense of it all.
"I'm overwhelmed," she said. "That's all I can think."
This is the Days' first time at the Masters and only their third major. Ellie, who didn't grow up in the game, is a true newbie.
"I'm afraid to touch the grass because it's so perfect," she said. "I didn't know if I could sit on it."
With McIlroy in the lead and her husband scaling the leader board, the course practically tilted towards their threesome, which also included Rickie Fowler, who drew his own fans with a 69.
"I kept trying to yell his name for him," she said because so many of the cheers Thursday were for McIlroy, a good friend of Day's.
The thunderous cheering for Day and then the hordes of media wanting to dissect his round were new territory. The Days, whose goal earlier in the week was to make the cut and who were just trying to learn their way around Augusta, already have a pretty good souvenir from their first Masters.
"I feel like we just won," she said. "It was that exciting."
News shortage
A two-round total of 11 over par for Mike Weir sent him packing and also changed plans for the handful of Canadian news outlets at the tournament. Weir, the 2003 Masters champion, was the only Canadian in the field.
"It just means there's a little less work to do," TSN reporter Bob Weeks said. "It's not as fun when you don't have a horse in the race."
TSN will continue to cover the tournament, but typically devotes significant coverage to Weir. At the height of his popularity, Weeks said, Weir was "as big an athlete as there was for a guy who didn't wear skates."
Ballesteros' birthday
Two-time Masters champion Seve Ballesteros turns 54 on Saturday. Ballesteros is not at the tournament, suffering from a brain tumor. Ballesteros was honored Tuesday at the champions dinner, when defending champion Phil Mickelson ordered a Spanish feast in tribute. As a 17-year-old in his first PGA Tour event, Mickelson played a practice round with Ballesteros, his childhood hero.
Mickelson said earlier this week, "He was every bit the gentleman I thought he was and more, and I just want to let him know that we are thinking of him."
Etc.
The weather forecast for Saturday: a high of 87 degrees with a 40 percent chance of thunderstorm starting in the afternoon. ... Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith was in attendance.
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