Max Homa played a round of golf that was steady and consistent, despite the tough conditions at the Masters on Friday. His performance, along with Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau, has put them all at the top of the leaderboard as they head into the weekend.
Homa managed to make 15 pars, which might sound ordinary, but it was quite impressive given the challenging weather conditions. He finished with a score of 1-under 71.
Scheffler had a bit of a tough time with a few bogeys, but he held his own and ended with a score of 72, his highest of the year so far. DeChambeau had an adventurous moment on the 13th hole but managed to finish with a score of 73.
Throughout the day, the wind was strong, causing difficulties for the players. Despite the tough conditions, the goal for many was simply to stay in contention, as Scheffler mentioned.
As the weekend approaches, the players who cut will still have to deal with windy conditions, but perhaps not as severe. And, Tiger Woods will be among those competing over the weekend.
Woods made history at the Masters by qualifying for the 24th consecutive time. He had to play 23 holes, finishing the weather-delayed first round and then playing the second round, where he scored an even-par 72.
Despite being seven shots behind, Woods felt he still had a chance to win the tournament. For him, it was crucial to finish the rounds.
“That was one of the toughest days,” Homa said. “The conditions were so challenging. It felt like a relief to be off the course.”
The average score was 75.09, with only eight players shooting below par and the same number shooting 80 or higher. Ludvig Aberg had the best round at 69. DeChambeau described it as a tough but great challenge.
Homa may not have been the center of attention, but he had a memorable experience playing alongside Woods. The crowds were electrifying, especially when Woods was on the course.
“I hope to make my memories this weekend,” Homa said. “But right now, I’m just focused on taking it one shot at a time. The atmosphere and the beauty of this course surrounded by fans will stay with me for a long time.”
The leaders were at 6-under 138, two shots ahead of first-timer Nicolai Hojgaard from Denmark, who scored a 73. Collin Morikawa, a two-time major champion, managed a 70 and was three shots behind, one of only two players to break par in both rounds.
Justin Thomas had a tough time, especially on the par-5 15th hole, where he hit his shot into the pond, leading to a series of double bogeys and bogeys. His round of 79 caused him to miss the cut by one shot.
Defending champion Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy also struggled, but the cut line shifted, allowing them to continue. Rahm finished with a 76, while McIlroy, aiming for a career Grand Slam, had a difficult round, making no birdies for only the third time in his 56 rounds at Augusta National.
Homa, who played with Woods during his final British Open, felt more comfortable at Augusta National. He made two early birdies and managed the tough conditions well, with only one bogey on the challenging 11th hole.
DeChambeau reached 8 under briefly with a birdie on the 13th hole, despite hitting into the trees.
So he turned his attention towards the 14th hole, even lifting the signpost momentarily over his shoulder — “It weighed around 30 pounds, not too heavy,” he mentioned — and faced a 145-yard shot over Rae’s Creek to a pin located at the back right.
“The spectators were kind enough to move aside to ensure there was enough space, so if I made a mistake, nobody would get hit by the ball,” he explained. “I made a great shot around the corner and capitalized on a fairly open entrance to the green.”
He managed to land it about 15 feet from the hole for a birdie but struggled a bit towards the end, dropping two shots. Given the challenging conditions, that was considered acceptable.
The wind was so strong that players thought the game might be halted, with balls moving erratically and gusts appearing suddenly. As a result, the rounds lasted nearly six hours.
On Thursday, Scheffler used a driver and 3-iron to reach the 15th green, while on Friday, he opted for the same clubs just to lay up on the 15th.
“The shot can vary by three clubs, depending on when you hit it,” Harris English remarked. “Just 10 to 20 seconds earlier or later, it could be a completely different situation.”
Among those who cut were three former Masters champions — 58-year-old Jose Maria Olazabal, 61-year-old Vijay Singh, and 53-year-old Phil Mickelson — who collectively have played in the Masters 97 times.
