AUGUSTA (AFP) — Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler shared the lead with fellow Americans Bryson DeChambeau and Max Homa after battling fierce winds in Friday’s second round of the 88th Masters.
Blustery conditions played havoc with the world’s top golfers at Augusta National, where 15-time major winner Tiger Woods grinded out a 23-hole walk to set a record by making his 24th consecutive Masters cut.
Scheffler, the 2022 Masters winner, fired a par 72 to stand on six-under 138 after 36 holes alongside Homa, who shot 71 in quest of his first major title, and DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open champion and round-one leader who shot 73.
“It was very difficult out there,” DeChambeau said of the brisk breeze.
“It was a good challenge. I had to back off quite a few times. I’ve never experienced anything like this out here at Augusta National before.”
Scheffler had three birdies and three bogeys but was proud of seven back-nine pars while tree limbs danced while brutal winds gusted.
“Conditions were really tough out there,” he said.
“Proud of how I fought and kept myself in the tournament. I was trying to make a bunch of pars to stay in the golf tournament. Proud of how I did that.”
PGA Tour star Scheffler and Saudi-backed LIV Golf’s DeChambeau, from opposite sides in golf’s civil war, were set for a weekend showdown on a major stage, the only avenue for such a clash in a divided era.
“It’s different, not being able to play most of the same events and seeing how successful he’s been out there,” DeChambeau said of Scheffler.
“He’s the best player in the world and it’s going to be a lot of fun competing and seeing what he can do compared to what the rest of the field can do, what I can do. I’m looking forward to it, I really am.”
Scheffler, who could join Woods as the only players to win the Masters twice while ranked world No. 1, plunked his approach into Rae’s Creek at the par-5 13th and made bogey to fall out of the solo lead.
Homa birdied two of the first four holes and made his lone bogey at 11.
“I struck the ball really well,” Homa said.
“Most proud of our course management and just controlling thoughts and expectations.”
Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard, among 20 Masters newcomers trying for the first rookie win since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, closed with back-to-back bogeys to fire a 73 and stand fourth on 140.
Woods, meanwhile, had a second-round 72 to share 22nd on 145, breaking the old Masters cut streak record he shared with Gary Player and Fred Couples.
“(I’ll) text Freddy and give him a little needle,” Woods said.
Five-time Masters winner Woods had to play his last five holes of round one on Friday after storms delayed Thursday’s start.
“I’m tired,” he said.
“I’ve been out for a while, competing, grinding. It has been a long 23 holes, a long day.”
Woods has struggled to walk rounds since suffering severe leg injuries in a 2021 car crash, but went to practice after his hefty walk.
“Just need some food and some caffeine, and I’ll be good to go,” Woods said.
Woods, whose only missed Masters cut was as an amateur in 1996, is in his first major since right ankle fusion surgery last April due to injuries from the accident.
Spain’s Jon Rahm, the 2023 Masters champion, struggled to a four-over 76 to stand on 149, one inside the cut line, and stretched the longest active streak of made cuts in majors to 18 events.
“Fighting it all day, never comfortable. I had to play really good golf and get lucky a couple of times with gusts. It was a bad day not to have it,” Rahm said.
“I still made the cut. Two rounds to make up 12 shots. It has been done.”
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, who needs a victory to complete a career grand slam, fired a 77 to stand on 148 despite a double bogey and three bogey.
“I still think I can go out tomorrow and shoot a low one, get back into red numbers, and have half a chance going into Sunday,” said the Northern Irishman.
