Times staff, wires
Friday, April 8, 2011
Rory McIlroy fretted about an errant chip that nearly slid into the water, a few putts that didn't fall in the cup. That's about it. He put together another strong round, shooting 3-under 69 that kept him in the lead at 10-under 134, two shots ahead of Jason Day and three in front of K.J. Choi and Tiger Woods. "I drove it good. I gave myself a lot of opportunities. I just didn't make as many putts as I would've liked on the back nine," McIlroy said. "But I can't really complain. I'm in the lead going to the weekend at the Masters." The player from Northern Ireland went 29 holes before he made his first bogey, at the picturesque 12th hole, where his tee shot plopped into a bunker and he couldn't get up and down. Speaking before Woods made his charge up the leaderboard, McIlroy said he wasn't concerned about what anyone else was doing. "If I start thinking about anybody else, it could cost you a couple of shots," he said. "I don't really care what anybody else does. I don't need to know. "It would be great for the tournament if Tiger is up there, but I am in a better position, and I feel comfortable."
Cool but not cold
For a while, K.J. Choi was the hottest player on the course. Going back to Thursday, he played a stretch of 12 holes at 8 under. But he struggled down the stretch Friday, going 1 over on the back nine and finishing with 70. He was third at 7-under 137.
The South Korean has never won a major title, but he has been a contender at Augusta before. In 2004 he finished third. A year ago he was right in the mix all four days before slipping into a tie for fourth.
"I have more confidence," said Choi, who plays a Tiger Woods-like character in the movie Seven Days in Utopia, which will be released in August. "I enjoy the pressure more."
Going the distance, whatever it is
Alvaro Quiros' first tournament with Gareth Bryn Lord caddying is going well.
Not only has the big-hitting Spaniard, below, made the cut for the first time in three Masters starts, the first-round co-leader with Rory McIlroy remained in the thick of things at 6 under, four strokes behind McIlroy. Quiros didn't play quite as well as he did in shooting a first-round 65. But he hung in and birdied the difficult 18th on the way to 73.
The interesting thing about his partnership with Lord, who most recently was on the bag for Robert Karlsson, is how they measure distances. Quiros thinks in meters; Lord works in yards. "I didn't know that, but after that, I'm going to pay more attention to the yardage," Quiros said, smiling, after his round.
Mickelsons enjoying things no matter what
Phil Mickelson waited at the bottom of the ninth fairway for the green to clear when he looked over to his left and smiled broadly. He touched two fingers to his eyes, then pointed them toward a blond woman in a royal blue dress. Amy Mickelson laughed and waved back at her husband. "I can't believe how much I've missed this place," she said.
Her time at the Masters last year was short, yet sweeter than ever. On a course for the first time since being diagnosed with breast cancer 11 months earlier, she went to the 18th green to watch her husband make one last birdie to win a third green jacket.
This year has been just as enjoyable, even as Mickelson squandered several good birdie chances Friday and had to settle for 72, leaving him 2 under for the tournament.
Amy, who arrived Thursday night, walked 18 holes while being constantly interrupted by fans who welcomed her back, wished her the best or just wanted to say they were thinking of her.
She is adjusting to her medication, and though she still has days and weeks when she's not at her best, "at least it's predictable."
"I'm starting to settle into my meds," she said.
More misses
The winners of the past three majors failed to make the cut at 1-over 145. Going home along with PGA Championship winner Martin Kaymer were U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell (74-73—147) and British Open champ Louis Oosthuizen (75-74—149).
Day time
The day's best round was by Jason Day, a 23-year-old Australian in his first Masters. Day made eight birdies in what also was the best round of the tournament, 8-under 64 that sent him surging up the leaderboard into second place, two shots behind playing partner Rory McIlroy. The third member of Day's group was 22-year-old Californian Rickie Fowler, also shot 69 — meaning the threesome combined for a 14-under score — and was in a group at 5-under 139. "It was fun playing with Rory and Rickie out there," Day said. "I can't even remember shooting 8 under. It was just a lot of great golf, and I'm looking forward to the weekend. I'm sure I will be very nervous. I'll try to relax (Friday night) and just go out there (today) and have fun."
