A badly-timed weather delay and even a bizarre sliding tackle from a security guard failed to prevent Tiger Woods from surging into contention for a 15th major title on a sensational second day of the 83rd Masters.
For the second day running, Woods pulled off a superb recovery shot from the trees on the 14th hole at Augusta National, only for a security guard to run in to try to control the crowd, slip on the wet ground and slide knee-first into Woods’s right ankle.
Woods limped away grimacing in pain but there appeared to be no lasting damage and after holing from 15 feet the 43-year-old also converted from twice the distance on the par-five 15th.
Further good chances went begging on the 17th and 18th but a 68 left Woods just one shot off the lead shared by Francesco Molinari, Jason Day, Brooks Koepka, Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen, all current or former major champions.
TWEET OF THE DAY
So, Zachy says I’m having red penguins on my golf balls today. 😂👍🏻👌🏻 pic.twitter.com/625TanfSeN — Danny Willett (@Danny_Willett) April 12, 2019
Danny Willett enjoyed a light-hearted family moment with his son Zach before the second round, tweeting a picture of the youngster drawing on a golf ball alongside the caption: “So, Zachy says I’m having red penguins on my golf balls today.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“It’s the Masters, you’ve got to suck it up.”
Jason Day revealed his wife Ellie’s sympathetic reaction to his back injury.
SHOT OF THE DAY
A new leader at #themasters Adam Scott moves into the lead after an eagle at No. 15. pic.twitter.com/gFYoSqjG8x — Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 12, 2019
Adam Scott almost changed his mind about hitting a two iron over water to the 15th after the 30-minute weather delay, but thankfully held his nerve and hit a superb approach to four feet to set up an eagle.
ROUND OF THE DAY
The round of the day belongs to @XSchauffele. ❌#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/L8cdqXbCfj — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 13, 2019
Xander Schauffele could have feared the worst after a bogey on the first, but birdied the next two holes and recorded six more to card a brilliant 65, the lowest round of the week so far.
STATISTIC OF THE DAY
This is the first time in the history of #TheMasters we've had a five-way tie for the lead after 36 holes. pic.twitter.com/QiOwiE8LHX — The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 12, 2019
The day ended with the first five-way tie after 36 holes in Masters history and all five are either current or former major champions.
TOUGHEST HOLE
The fifth hole, lengthened by 40 yards for 2019, replaced the 18th as the toughest hole with five birdies, 31 bogeys and two double bogeys resulting in a scoring average of 4.345.
EASIEST HOLE
The par-five 15th was the easiest with five eagles, 42 birdies and just four bogeys leading to a scoring average of 4.448.
ON THE UP
The chances of Woods winning a first major title since 2008 after his eventful 68.
ON THE SLIDE
The job prospects of the unfortunate security guard who slid into Woods’s ankle on the 14th.
ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Phil Casey, Press Association Sport Golf Correspondent, Augusta');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '53ece77f-5e8a-466b-bad9-42c6b509b095');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:golf,sport:other');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Masters day two: Tiger Woods surges into contention as five players share lead'});
