Compleat Golfer takes a look at the highs and lows of round two at the Masters following the start of the year’s first Major.
Winners
This entire category should belong to Rory McIlroy. The defending champion has ripped up the script which says it’s nigh impossible to defend your title. Instead, he’s now put himself in basically an impossible position to lose … he has the best 36 hole score at The Masters, no player within six shots and the trends all point to him being awarded a second Green Jacket on Sunday.
Here’s why he will win:
- 32 of the last 35 Masters winners were within four shots of the lead entering the third round.
- Largest 36 hole leads in men’s majors since 1st Masters in 1934 Henry Cotton, 1934 Open, 9 Brooks Koepka, 2019 PGA, 7 Tiger Woods, 2000 US Open, 6 Rory McIlroy, 2011 US Open, 6 Martin Kaymer, 2014 US Open, 6 Rory McIlroy, 2026 Masters, 6 Previous 5 all went on to win
- Only 8 of the previous 89 Masters winners have been 6+ shots off the lead entering the third round.
Other winners:
Tyrrell Hatton for his superb 66 to vault into contention
Tommy Fleetwood’s 68 moving him into the top 5 against fellow winners on the day Justin Rose, Patrick Reed and Shane Lowry,
Charl Schwartzel for grinding out a 73 that saw him make the cut.
Losers
Bryson DeChambeau
Tripled the last. Declined to speak to the media.
Xander Schauffele
The only player in the top 20 to shoot level on Friday. He sits 10 back of McIlroy and his slow day has cost him a realistic chance at the title he’s been chasing for years.
The Missed Cut Brigade
J.J. Spaun, Bryson DeChambeau, Akshay Bhatia, Robert MacIntyre, Min Woo Lee and Cameron Smith all missed the cut.
Article Link: The Masters: Winners and losers from round two