Day two at The Masters gave us another exciting day of golf and leaderboard changes came fast and furious right form the start. A long day of challenging and changing conditions frustrated many players as the winds swirled and the greens got even faster. Day one leader, Jordan Spieth stumbled out of the gate going double bogey, bogey to bring the field back in. Patrick Reed surged into the lead with the best round of the day. His nine birdie, three bogey 66 put him at -9 and two clear of Aussie Mark Leishman. A slew of major champions are close on his heels including Henrik Stenson, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas.
Zeros from Day Two: You have to start at the top and that’s where Jordan Spieth was when he teed off. Two holes later he was plus three for the day and struggling. He finally carded two birdies on thirteen and fifteen to salvage a shaky 74.
Tiger Woods was hoping to find his form but it wasn’t form he found but rather a new hiding spot on Augusta as his approach on the fifth went over the green and into the bushes. He took a drop and a double bogey from a location no one has ever played from before. His iron play was horrid as his distance control stayed in the Champions Locker Room.
Phil Mickelson was a victim of his own creativity today. Phil is a master of flops and stops and hooks and draws and punches and so on and so on. Nothing worked for Phil today. When he tried his “patented” flop on eleven as he was off the green and facing the pond if he went long, his flop shot really did. He got under it and it never came close to the green. He must have been thinking of his stocks today as he and the DOW had the same performance: lousy. He went from 70 yesterday to 79 today and he’s lucky to make the weekend.
Hero & Zero: Sergio Garcia’s Masters reign was done yesterday and today you could see he knew that and his play reflected it. But props to the Augusta Patrons who honored him on every green, especially eighteen and to Sergio for appearing gracious as he accepted their tribute. Now he has to wait around for Sunday and the green jacket ceremony, ouch.
Heroes: Have no fear! Captain America is here. Patrick Reed who has made his fame and fortune 
by saying he was the best golfer in the world and then performing like a super hero in the Ryder Cup was indeed the best golfer on the course today. His 66 in very tough conditions put him where he thinks he should be, above all the best golfers in the world.
Mark Leishman played another great round today and he seems to be on the verge of a big break through. He says he is comfortable here as he was teamed with Adam Scott when Scotty took home his green jacket. He’ll be in the final pairing on Saturday with Reed and hoping to be there again on Sunday.
Dustin Johnson has been flying under the radar, if that’s possible for a number one, but his four under 68 puts him right in the thick of the battle and where he should have been last year. He got it going early with an eagle at two and finished with a nice birdie on eighteen to sit six off Reed’s lead.
Justin Thomas was another major champ who stuttered in round one with a two over 74. His five under 67 got him back in this thing.
My Hero of the Day Award goes to the cameraman who braved the jungle behind five green as the search for Tiger’s ball was going on. It takes a special man to carry that camera where no man has gone before.
There is plenty of golf left, 36 holes on Augusta National is a real load for any golfer. With rain and wind in the forecast there’s no telling who could be leading come Sunday afternoon. But it’s sure going to be fun to watch.
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