The Masters: Brooks Koepka builds commanding lead as Rory McIlroy looks set to miss cut at Augusta National | Golf News
Brooks Koepka carded a bogey-free 67 to set the clubhouse goal at Augusta National; Jon Rahm three again when play suspended due to inclement climate and fallen timber; second spherical to resume at 8am native time (1pm BST); watch this weekend reside on Sky Sports Golf
By Ali Stafford at Augusta National
Brooks Koepka constructed a commanding lead within the second spherical at The Masters earlier than fallen timber and the specter of storms noticed play suspended at Augusta National.
Koepka adopted Sunday’s victory at the LIV Golf League occasion in Orlando by firing a seven-under 65 on the opening day, seeing him share the early lead alongside Viktor Hovland and Jon Rahm, earlier than leaping to the highest of the leaderboard with one other spectacular show on Friday morning.
The four-time main champion produced a masterclass from tee to inexperienced on his means to a bogey-free 67, shifting him to 12 beneath, with solely a chilly putter stopping the American from constructing a record-breaking midway lead.
Play was halted for simply over 20 minutes due to the specter of thunderstorms however resumed at 3.28pm native time (8.28pm BST), solely to be suspended once more lower than an hour later due to the specter of additional inclement climate and with 39 gamers nonetheless to full their second rounds.
Three timber have been blown over to the left of the 17th tee due to the wind, though match officers confirmed in an announcement that no accidents have been reported. Play was formally known as off for the day and the second spherical is set to resume at 8am native time (1pm BST).
How Koepka raced forward at The Masters
Former world No 1 Koepka produced an excellent up-and-down from a greenside bunker to birdie the par-five second and holed from 10 toes to save par at the subsequent, then ended a run of pars by firing an excellent strategy to set up a 15-foot eagle at the par-five eighth.
Koepka missed birdie possibilities from inside 10 toes on his subsequent two holes, however prolonged his lead to 4 photographs when a brief pitch set up a close-range birdie at the par-five 13th, with the American unable to benefit from one other alternative on the subsequent gap.
A two-putt from 20 toes noticed Koepka birdie the par-five 15th, having been cleared of a possible guidelines violation on the identical gap the day gone by, earlier than two-putt pars over the ultimate three holes accomplished a blemish-free spherical.
Nick Dougherty, Luke Donald and Brad Faxon focus on whether or not Koepka and his caddie have been in breach of the foundations after showing to point out to Gary Woodland which membership to use on the 15th gap
“I was really solid,” Koepka mentioned. “Didn’t really do too much wrong. Maybe the speed kind of got me on a few putts. Wasn’t hitting them hard enough there towards the end, but striking the ball really well and leaving it in good spots. That’s what you’ve got to do, you’ve got to make birdies on these par-fives, take advantage of them.”
Who else impressed?
Rahm was two beneath for his spherical with 9 holes to end when play was stopped, lifting him to solo second on 9 beneath, whereas US Amateur champion Sam Bennett is in third after firing back-to-back 68s.
Bennett birdied his opening gap and cancelled out a bogey at the fourth by making successive features from the seventh, with back-to-back birdies from the 13th on a blemish-free again 9 taking him to eight beneath.
Overnight co-leader Hovland is six again with eight to play, alongside Collin Morikawa, who carded successive 69s, whereas Jason Day was initially Koepka’s closest challenger and briefly inside three of the lead till he dropped 4 photographs over the ultimate 4 holes.
Viktor Hovland continued his good type at The Masters by sinking a formidable putt at the primary
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler slipped down the leaderboard with a three-over 75, whereas Rory McIlroy – who might have leapfrogged him as world No 1 this week – solely registered two birdies and looks set to miss the cut on 5 over after carding seven bogeys in a second-round 77.
McIlroy’s newest failed bid for a profession Grand Slam leaves him at the moment three strokes exterior the projected cut mark of two over, with Tiger Woods on the bubble and stage par for this spherical with seven holes to full.
Heavy rain and robust winds are forecast for Saturday, with additional delays probably, which means a primary Monday end at The Masters since 1983 might develop into a risk.
Watch The Masters all through the weekend reside on Sky Sports. Live protection will resume on Saturday at the sooner time from 1pm on Sky Sports Golf, with additional feeds out there through the crimson button.
