Tiger Woods had loads of prep time between his final aggressive spherical on the PGA Tour, on the Genesis Invitational, in February, and his first spherical on the 88th Masters this week — 55 days, to be precise. The identical couldn’t be stated of the time Woods had between his first Masters spherical and his second.

As a result of inclement climate delayed the beginning of the opening spherical, Woods’ Thursday tee time was pushed to three:54 p.m., which means he and his enjoying companions — Max Homa and Jason Day — had been capable of full solely 13 holes earlier than darkness set in. They resumed their first spherical at 7:50 a.m. Friday in cool, blustery circumstances and performed their remaining 5 holes in 1 hours and 36 minutes. When Woods tapped in for a bogey 5 on 18 at 9:26 a.m., he had a one-over 73 on his card and precisely 52 minutes to prepared himself for his second spherical.       

Having lower than an hour between rounds won’t sound like an enormous deal; maybe you do it frequently at your membership, or in your annual 36-holes-a-day buddies’ journey. However you probably haven’t had 5 microdisectomies in your again…and a number of knee surgical procedures…and screws and pins in your proper ankle…and a subtalar fusion in that very same ankle to handle post-traumatic arthritis and…effectively, your fast turnaround most definitely has by no means come on a Masters Friday at Augusta Nationwide. Woods, in the meantime? He’s half golfer, half medical miracle. It’s outstanding he’s navigating this course, not to mention making birdies on it. He all however creaks when he walks and squeaks when he swings, which explains why he rises at 4:30 a.m. to prime his physique for morning tee instances.

So, how would a participant who’s accustomed to spending hours, days and even weeks readying for a spherical make use of much less prep time than it takes to roast a small hen?

That is how.

After cleansing up his bogey on 18, Woods eliminated his cap and shook fingers along with his enjoying companions and their caddies. He exited the again of the inexperienced and made his manner by way of a channel of patrons, seven or eight deep, a few of whom who had been calling his identify. Inside a minute or two, Woods had traversed the rolling expanse between the house gap and the clubhouse and ducked into scoring. At 9:35, he emerged, card checked and signed, along with his agent, Mark Steinberg, at his aspect. A gaggle of reporters milled in an interview pen, hopeful that Woods would possibly provide just a few phrases. He didn’t. As an alternative, he stayed on the transfer and disappeared down the walkway good of scoring.     

By 9:41, Woods was on the far left aspect of the practically abandoned apply vary along with his new caddie, Lance Bennett, and righthand man, Rob McNamara. Job No. 1: transferring the second-round pin places to their yardage books, a process that required practically six minutes of paper-flipping and note-scribbling. Subsequent to the bottom of Woods’ bag was a water bottle and a plastic container holding a snack.

At 9:44, Woods loosened his belt and unbuttoned his pants, revealing a supportive patch that was hooked up to his decrease again. He rubbed what Icy Scorching, a topical ache reliever, over his midriff and the world round his decrease backbone, as if he had been making use of lotion on the seashore. When Woods had completed, Bennett cleansed Woods’ fingers with water.

Woods pulled a wedge from his bag. It was now 9:47, 31 minutes from his beginning time. A stiff wind straight into his face, Woods hit 5 balls to a mini-flag not more than 40 yards from him, then two extra to a flag at 60 or 70 yards. Along with his eighth swing, similar wedge in hand, Woods started taking purpose at a inexperienced 75 yards away. After three extra swings, he paused to stretch his again.

His wedge work finished, Woods leaned towards his bag and unsheathed what seemed to be an 8- or 9-iron and hit 10 balls into the sprawling emerald expanse. Earlier than Woods’ eleventh swing, McNamara saddled as much as him and hovered the butt of an iron close to the low level in Woods’ swing path. With this swing information in place, Woods took six extra swipes.

By 9:50, the vary was filling. Erik van Rooyen strolled previous Woods. So did Cameron Younger and Augusta Nationwide member and PGA Tour dealmaker Jimmy Dunne, resplendent in his inexperienced jacket. However Woods had little time for apply not to mention small discuss. Six spots down from Woods, one in every of his enjoying companions, Homa, was now getting unfastened.

Woods took a one minute break earlier than resuming with a mid-iron. Two swings. Then a fairway wooden. Two extra swings. Then off got here his fabled tiger head cowl. Driver. 4 swings. Bennett was now grazing on a fried hen sandwich.

At 9:58 — 20 minutes from go-time — Woods took one last swing, this time with a wedge. Two minutes later, he had exited the vary and was at the back of a golf cart, McNamara to his proper, Bennett driving shotgun. Subsequent cease: the apply inexperienced by the primary tee.

By the point this reporter caught up with Woods, he was rapping uphill 40-footers throughout the center of the inexperienced. A mass of patrons swarmed across the placing floor and adjoining first tee, looking forward to a glimpse of the five-time inexperienced jacket winner. Woods’ lengthy putts had been adopted by a few shorter makes an attempt earlier than which he raised his ball to his eye then let it drop to the inexperienced, an train designed to assist him get his eyes squarely over the ball. At 10:13, Woods, Homa and Day strolled onto the tee. ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt was among the many throng of patrons, craning his neck for a view. So, too, was the previous NBA star-turned-college golfer J.R. Smith.

Woods took 4 apply swings along with his driver, paused, then took seven extra. He bent over and stretched his again, then took 5 extra rehearsal swings. Keep unfastened. Keep unfastened. Keep unfastened.

At 10:17, a green-coated official barked: “Fore, please. Now driving…Tiger Woods.”

Woods took 5 extra apply swings.

After which it was time.

Smack. Liftoff.

A slight tug however nothing to sweat. Woods’ ball discovered the left aspect of the green. His second spherical was formally underway.

Alan Bastable

Golf.com Editor

As GOLF.com’s government editor, Bastable is answerable for the editorial route and voice of one of many sport’s most revered and extremely trafficked information and repair websites. He wears many hats — enhancing, writing, ideating, creating, daydreaming of someday breaking 80 — and feels privileged to work with such an insanely gifted and hardworking group of writers, editors and producers. Earlier than grabbing the reins at GOLF.com, he was the options editor at GOLF Journal. A graduate of the College of Richmond and the Columbia College of Journalism, he lives in New Jersey along with his spouse and foursome of children.

14H AGO

*:not(style){overflow:hidden;position:absolute;top:0px;right:0px;bottom:0px;left:0px;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:100%;height:100%;}.css-g2vo12>img,.css-g2vo12>video{object-fit:cover;}.css-g2vo12::before{height:0px;content:””;display:block;padding-bottom:66.66666666666666%;}@media screen and (min-width: 768px){.css-g2vo12::before{padding-bottom:56.25%;}}]]>

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 12: Tiger Woods of america reacts on the eighth inexperienced through the second spherical of the 2024 Masters Event at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership on April 12, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photograph by Andrew Redington/Getty Pictures)

We’re getting late within the day on the second spherical of the 2024 Masters at Augusta Nationwide and on account of inclement climate on Thursday morning, the beginning of the primary spherical bought pushed again by 2 ½ hours. Bryson DeChambeau opened the day within the lead at 7 below, however has severe challengers in Max Homa, Nicolai Højgaard, Scottie Scheffler and extra.

And the place will the cutline find yourself?

The climate is gorgeous at Augusta immediately, with the solar shining and the inexperienced hues popping.

Right here is our Friday picture gallery.

Recap: All of the motion from Day 1 of the Masters

Wyndham Clark had likelihood on 18, however missed the lower

It got here right down to the final gap for Wyndham Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open winner who mentioned after Thursday’s opening spherical that he was comfortable along with his place behind then-leader Bryson DeChambeau as a result of, “We’ve bought 54 holes. In LIV Golf they solely play 54, so I like my probabilities.”

Clark made bogeys on Nos. 14, 15 and 17 to fall outdoors the lower line by a single stroke at 7 over. He missed a birdie putt on 18 that may have snuck him below the mark.

Clark, who was a middle-of-the-pack participant for his first 5 years on the PGA Tour, has improved a lot up to now 12 months that his title was being thrown round as a attainable winner in his Masters debut. Solely three gamers have finished that, the final being Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

New gnome caddie decoration out there this 12 months

The Masters Christmas decoration caddie backyard gnome.

Six years after the favored debut of the bearded marvel — and three years after the mini gnome was launched — the Masters Event golf store has added a 3rd sibling to the favored gnome: The Gnome Caddie Decoration.

“I can’t wait so as to add it to my assortment,” mentioned Tabb Hinson, who attended Thursday’s spherical as a Junior Patron.

Packaged in the identical field as its bigger brothers, the 2024 Caddie Decoration is outfitted in the identical white jumpsuit because the mini gnome.

It prices $25 and was not offered throughout observe spherical days. They’re restricted to 1 per patron.

Jon Rahm three-putts from 7 ft, was at risk of lacking lower in title protection

Due to an unsightly double on No. 14 defending champ Jon Rahm is in actual hazard of lacking the lower.

Rahm flew the inexperienced on the par 4, then chipped to seven ft with a chance to avoid wasting par. He hammered his putt nicely previous the cup, nevertheless, and got here up nicely brief on a 15-footer coming again up the hill.

The Arizona State product was 6 over with 5 holes to play however responded like a real champ with birdies on 15 and 16. He completed the day at 5 over, which needs to be ok to barely make the lower.

Scheffler finds water on No. 13, drops out of solo lead

Scottie Scheffler discovered the creek along with his second shot on the par 5 thirteenth gap, and regardless that he made a pleasant restoration from an ungainly lie on his fourth shot, the Texan nonetheless made bogey on the outlet and fell again right into a three-way tie with Max Homa and Bryson DeChambeau at 6 over.

It’s getting tight as a complete of 16 gamers are inside 5 pictures of the lead.

Jose Maria Olazabal makes essential mistake, however makes lower

It’s been 30 years since Jose Maria Olazabal captured the Inexperienced Jacket, edging Tom Lehman by two strokes. Regardless of a wayward shot on the par 3 twelfth gap, the Spaniard appears to have reached the weekend on the 2024 Masters.

Olazabal’s tee shot got here up simply brief and rolled again into the pond in entrance of the twelfth inexperienced and he took a triple bogey that pushed his rating to six over for the event.

Santiago de la Fuente greets Jose María Olazabal after their spherical on the 18th inexperienced in the course of the second spherical of the Masters Event at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership. Obligatory Credit score: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Community

“Yeah, I paid dearly, I’ve to say. Sure, only a pity. I performed actually good golf immediately. It was only a disgrace that I put a nasty swing on 12. So simple as that. It value me dearly. I made a triple there,” the 58-year-old mentioned. “I can say I’m pleased with the best way I performed immediately and the best way I dealt with myself on the golf course.”

When the lower dipped to three over it seemed like Olazabal can be on the surface wanting in, however when winds picked up and the quantity rose, Olazabal, who’s making his thirty fifth look within the occasion, appeared to get new life.

Minimize has moved to five over as winds howl

Because the solar is beginning to dip, the lower on the 2024 Masters has moved to five over as windy circumstances and agency greens have made for tough scoring circumstances.

Gamers who’re at present on the fallacious facet of the road embrace Adam Scott (6 over, completed), Viktor Hovland 6 over by 10), and Tom Kim (6 over, completed).

Amongst these battling to remain on the correct facet is Jon Rahm, who’s at present at 4 over after making bogeys on Nos. 3, 6 and 11.

Irrespective of who wins at Augusta, Jay Monahan loses

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan appears on throughout Day 4 of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Membership in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photograph by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photos)

Our Eamon Lynch opined in regards to the state of golf, the influence of the Masters and the truth that PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan comes out of this week a loser below any circumstance.

From the column:

If the Masters is a scores hit, then will probably be offered as proof that the majors are wholesome whereas common PGA Tour golf is wilting, that the sport solely thrives when the perfect gamers are collectively. Cue elevated strain to finalize a cope with the Saudis to finish the division and restore normalcy. The particulars of an settlement have been agonizingly sluggish to materialize and are a good distance from concluding and delivering on it isn’t solely inside Monahan’s present. However will probably be his burden to shoulder.

Alternatively, if the Masters is a dud in comparison with the norm, then it fuels fears that golf is inexorably declining, that the discord has pushed followers away and never even the perfect gamers on the best stage can draw them again. Guess in whose path fingers shall be wagged in that state of affairs?

This week is a no-win for Monahan.

Patrick Reed on Augusta: ‘Simply completely will destroy you’

Patrick Reed tees off on No. 16 in the course of the completion of the primary spherical of the 2024 Masters Event. (Photograph: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Community)

When play was stalled on Thursday, Patrick Reed was in nice place, however a stretch of 4 over par on the ultimate three holes of his first spherical modified all that. He’s nonetheless in competition, for positive, however a second-round 74 means he’ll should get sizzling on the weekend to win a second Inexperienced Jacket.

The circumstances on Friday made it tough for gamers and Reed thinks his dedication was the important thing to survival.

“It’s a type of belongings you simply should imagine in what you’re doing. Even in the event you’re fallacious on the wind or membership or no matter, it’s a must to have full confidence in it, and I really feel like that’s one thing that (caddie) Kess (Karain) and I’ve made positive we did all day immediately is that it doesn’t matter what we have been doing, whether or not it was what we have been hitting off the tee, what shot we have been hitting, simply full commit, and in the event you’re going to go down, go down swinging. I believe that’s the most important factor.

“It’s very straightforward to get guidey when it will get windy like this, particularly round a golf course like this,” mentioned Reed, who received the 2018 Masters. “And when that occurs, Augusta Nationwide simply completely will destroy you.”

Will Fred {Couples} be again in 2025? After which some, he mentioned

Fred {Couples} putts throughout a observe spherical for the Masters Event golf event at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership. Obligatory Credit score: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Community

Fred {Couples} adopted his opening-round 80 with a 76 on Friday, however don’t suppose you’ve seen the final of the veteran at Augusta Nationwide. His again is in dangerous form, however the 64-year-old rapidly shut down any speak about this being his final journey to the Masters.

“I’m planning on being wholesome and making the lower and telling Fred (Ridley) I’m coming again the subsequent 12 months, too,” {Couples} mentioned. “This was actually ugly. Yesterday there have been a number of instances I ought to haven’t performed, however I believed I may assist these guys that I used to be taking part in with a little bit bit regardless that they’re out-driving me by 50 yards with the wind, so I didn’t need to stop.”

{Couples} actually had a number of spotlight moments, together with a 57-foot birdie putt that dropped on the thirteenth gap. He added a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 17.

There have been some uneven moments, nevertheless as he posted six bogeys.

“It was actually, I don’t need to say no enjoyable as a result of it’s Augusta, however swinging was a chore,” {Couples} mentioned.

Right here’s extra from David Westin of the Augusta Chronicle.

A Tiger Woods-Phil Mickelson pairing on Saturday? It’s attainable

Each Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson look to be safely contained in the cutline with only a few holes to play on Friday, however the two have occupied the identical of the leaderboard for many of the final 24 hours.

As of three:15 p.m, each Woods and Mickelson are at 1 over. Would Masters organizers pair them collectively on Saturday, for the third spherical of motion? Looks as if an ideal concept.

The pair have solely been paired collectively twice within the Masters, each instances within the remaining spherical of play, as soon as in 2001 and once more in 2009.

Keep tuned. (And comply with our Adam Woodard on the Tiger Tracker to see the place he’s sitting.)

The place is the cutline? Proper now it’s projected at 3 over

The cutline retains shifting at Augusta Nationwide, however as of two:14 ET, the quantity is 3 over.

To make the lower after the primary 36 holes of the Masters, a participant should be within the high 50 locations on the leaderboard, together with ties. Beforehand, anybody inside 10 strokes of the lead additionally made the lower, however that rule was scrapped for the 2020 Masters, which was pushed again to November because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amongst these on the fallacious facet as of proper now? Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott and Gary Woodland, to call a number of.

Greatest Beginner: Neal Shipley nonetheless in lead, however now tied

4 amateurs made their Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership debut Thursday, and the fifth within the area was making his third begin on the Masters. Amateurs are an enormous a part of the Masters custom, and the 5 within the area every had totally different paths they took in the course of the first spherical.

Every of the amateurs concluded their first spherical of play, nevertheless, nobody is making a run like Sam Bennett did final 12 months. The competitors for the Silver Cup stays huge open.

Neal Shipley plans out his second shot from the timber on No. 2 in the course of the first spherical of the Masters Event. Obligatory Credit score: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Community

Neal Shipley seemed to be working away with issues when he bought to three below after the third gap of his second spherical, however he gave strokes away constantly the remainder of the day and completed at 3 below.

As for 1:30 ET, Christo Lamprecht can also be 3 over.

One other quadruple bogey, this time from Bubba Watson

The 2-time Masters champion was teetering across the cutline on Friday earlier than a quadruple bogey on the eleventh gap. He hit his second shot within the water earlier than hitting his fourth shot skinny and previous the outlet.

After chipping again onto the inexperienced, he 3-putted from there for an 8. He dropped from 4-over, one shot again of the cutline, to 8-over and in a tie for eightieth.

Right here’s extra on the epic meltdown.

Greg Norman noticed at Augusta; wanted secondary market tickets

Greg Norman was at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership on Wednesday and had this to say to the Washington Put up: “I’m right here as a result of we’ve got 13 gamers that received 10 Masters between them. So I’m right here simply to help them, do the perfect I can to point out them, ‘Hey, you already know, the boss is right here rooting for you.’”

So how did he get in? Per his son, he had to purchase a ticket on the secondary market:

What’s within the merch tent?

Masters 2024 merchandise.

The road to get into the Masters Golf Store will be intimidating.

Our Adam Schupak braved it on Tuesday afternoon and a patron who was in shouting distance behind me summed up the sentiment of many Masters patrons: “I don’t know if I’ll ever be again so I higher go now.”

I hope that man loaded up on quarter zips, ball caps and divot instruments with the enduring Masters brand to final a lifetime. It took about 25 minutes to weave by the stanchions and enter the enormous mall of merchandise.

Listed below are extra photographs from what we collected.

Max Homa having his greatest Masters thus far

Homa is taking part in his fifth Masters and he’s having by far his most success at Augusta Nationwide.

Right here’s how his first 4 journeys across the course went:

• 2023 T-43
• 2022 T-48
• 2021 MC
• 2020 MC

This week? How about tied for the lead within the second spherical.

Homa is 7 below total, with birdies on No. 2 and No. 4, the second coming off a protracted putt on the 240-yard par 3.

Nicolai Hojgaard would love some extra relaxation

After an excellent 67 in his opening spherical of play, Nicolai Højgaard stumbled a bit on the entrance of his second spherical, posting bogeys on each Nos. 5 and 6 to slide to three below for the event.

And whereas he was in a groove by the primary spherical, the native of Denmark may have used a little bit extra shuteye between rounds. He’s making his first look within the event.

“I’d desire to have a little bit extra sleep. That’s a part of it. You’ve bought to adapt,” he mentioned on Friday. “That’s a part of it. I can’t complain. I prefer it. I just like the grind. In order that’s a part of it.”

Jordan Spieth’s collapse isn’t the primary one

Jordan Spieth and his caddie Michael Greller after Spieth did not win a second straight Masters title, in 2016. (Getty Photos)

With a quadruple bogey on the fifteenth gap, Jordan Spieth primarily ended his probabilities of making the lower on the 2024 Masters. He adopted with a bogey on 17 and one other on the opening gap of the second spherical.

After all, this isn’t the best Masters meltdown for the Texan. He blew a five-shot lead on the again 9 Sunday of the 2016 Masters.

On the time, Spieth talked about how he bought phrases of recommendation from different athletes on the best way to bounce again from his Masters collapse (though he wouldn’t disclose who these athletes have been).

“I acquired notes instantly following that night time just about saying, ‘This occurs all over the place. Little question, you’ll be again. Don’t draw on it. It occurs to everybody in all sports activities on totally different ranges,’ ” Spieth mentioned.

He additionally mentioned he’s acquired form phrases from individuals round Dallas.

“I’ve bought women on the grocery shops placing their hand on me and going, ‘Actually praying for you. How are you doing?’ ” Spieth mentioned. “I’m like, ‘My canine didn’t die. I’ll be OK. I’ll survive. It occurs.’ ”

First spherical formally accomplished

All of the gamers have formally accomplished the primary spherical of play on the Masters. Nicolai Højgaard is the bottom participant within the course as of 10:15 a.m., as he’s at present at 5 below, however Max Homa is about to tee off.

Listed below are the tee instances, once more.

Pin placements for Friday

Right here’s a peek on the pins for the second spherical of motion. You’ll see some good pictures on the par-3 sixth and on the closing 18th, the place the pins are positioned on the base of slopes that may pull the ball again towards the outlet.

A extra western wind would have an effect on the east-west holes. Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 15 can be into the wind, as may the second pictures into 13; Nos. 7, 9, 14 and 17 would have the wind on the gamers’ again.

With the wind out of the north, Nos. 2, 5, 10 and 11 will usually be downwind, with Nos. 8, 13 and 18 into the wind.

Based mostly on early returns, the wind will restrict gamers’ probabilities to go for the inexperienced in two on No. 15. We’ve already had three double bogeys this morning: Tyrrell Hatton, Adam Scott and Sam Burns.

Peter Malnati struggled to 82, retains diary for Golfweek

Peter Malnati and caddie Chad Antus look on from the fourth tee field in the course of the first spherical of the Masters Event. Obligatory Credit score: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports activities

Peter Malnati certified for his first Masters by profitable the Valspar Championship final month. The 36-year-old veteran hadn’t received in almost 9 years on the PGA Tour. He’s sharing a first-person account of his expertise each day solely at Golfweek.com.

In his opening spherical, Malnati struggled to an 82. Right here’s a few of what he mentioned in immediately’s entry.

So, positively not the Masters debut spherical that I used to be in search of, however like I mentioned at first, a number of gratitude for this primary expertise. I believe this can serve me nicely. I don’t suppose this shall be my final Masters. And this one’s not over but both. I’m going to exit on Friday and check out as I do each spherical to have a extremely good plan on the primary shot and I’ll attempt to go execute all of them in addition to I can and simply repeat that all through the spherical. Simpler mentioned than finished as a result of the forecast is for blustery circumstances and I do know it’s going be robust within the wind. I’m going to provide it my all and exit and have an ideal day and construct some constructive momentum. Hopefully it’ll be sufficient to earn me a weekend tee time right here however both means I’m going to have a constructive day and construct some constructive momentum, some good mojo, coming from my first Masters look.

Augusta climate replace for Friday; Woodland predicts ‘excellent’ weekend

The circumstances at Augusta Nationwide needs to be a lot improved for each the gamers and patrons because the Masters strikes into second-round play Friday.

After a wet begin, the showers and thunderstorms that blanketed Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership on Thursday are anticipated to provide approach to sunshine because the course will get an opportunity to dry out a little bit. After all, the abrupt climate adjustments are nothing new for this time of 12 months in Georgia.

Golfers who started play within the morning in Thursday’s opening spherical will tee off later within the day on Friday, whereas the gamers with later tee instances to start out the event will get an earlier begin in Spherical 2.

Right here’s the most recent forecast for Friday’s second spherical on the Masters.

The AccuWeather forecast for Augusta, Georgia, requires principally sunny skies and fewer humid circumstances Friday, with just about no likelihood of precipitation and a excessive round 73 levels.

How does that translate to the weekend? Gary Woodland says it’ll be optimum.

“I believe it’ll be proper the place all of us need it. All of us need it agency and quick. This golf course, like I mentioned, going into (Thursday), it was nearly as good as I’d ever seen it, and I believe by this weekend it’ll be excellent,” Woodland mentioned.

Max Homa within the hunt

If you play with Tiger Woods, you get greater crowds, however much less consideration, if that makes any sense. Max Homa has thrived on the power across the Woods group, and he dropped the day’s first birdie on the No, 16 to maneuver to five below par. The California native sits simply two pictures behind chief Bryson DeChambeau.

What gap has historically been the hardest?

Rory McIlroy hits from the No. 11 fairway throughout a observe spherical for the 2024 Masters Event golf event at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership. Obligatory Credit score: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports activities

The par-4 eleventh has traditionally been the hardest gap in relation to par, taking part in to a 4.303 common.

Generally known as White Dogwood, it was solely the third-most tough gap in 2023, and the outlet has seen some adjustments lately.

For instance:

1950: Masters tees relocated. Pond left of inexperienced constructed. Inexperienced reshaped.
1953: Two small bunkers added at rear of inexperienced.
1990: Inexperienced rebuilt on account of flood harm.
1999: Inexperienced, pond and bunker advanced adjusted.
2002: Masters tees moved again 30-35 yards and moved 5 yards to golfer’s proper. Portion of fairway touchdown space recontoured.
2004: Pine timber (36) added to the correct of the green.
2006: Masters tees moved again 10-15 yards. Bushes added to the correct facet of the green and fairway shifted to the left.
2008: A number of timber eliminated on proper facet of fairway and fairway widened.
2022: Masters tees moved again 15 yards and to the golfer’s left. Fairway recontoured and several other timber eliminated on proper facet.

Finau bought a patent for his Ping putter

Tony Finau accepting a patent certificates for a compact putter from Ping’s Tony Serrano. (Ping)

Tony Finau has been identified to show his putter, a Ping PLD Anser 2D, counter-clockwise in his fingers and strike the ball with the toe-end of his putter, popping the ball onto the placing floor.

In reality, he loves the sensation pictures like that create a lot that he labored with designers and engineers at Ping to construct a prototype putter that replicates the sensations of that shot and was simply named as certainly one of three individuals on a utility patent awarded to Ping (U.S. #11,911,670 B2) for a compact putter head. Tony Serrano, Ping’s principal putter design engineer, and John A. Solheim, the corporate’s president, are additionally on the patent.

Finau was offered with a patent certificates in Ping’s PGA Tour van on Wednesday outdoors the gates of Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership.

Right here’s extra on the story.

Who would possibly miss the lower on the 2024 Masters?

With solely 89 gamers competing, the Masters has the smallest area of the 4 main championships. Even fewer make the lower, which is able to almost definitely come Friday night time, assuming they’ll catch up after Thursday’s climate delay.

The highest 50 gamers and ties make the lower at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership. It was high 50 and ties and people inside 10 pictures of the lead, however that rule was modified in 2020.

Jordan Spieth sat 2 over via 11 holes, however posted a birdie at No. 13 early Friday and has loads of golf forward of him. The 2015 Masters champ has a pair of par 5s upcoming within the morning, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see Spieth transfer up the board a bit.

Listed below are another notables flirting with the cutline at this level.

Jason Day’s garments, not scores creating buzz

Whereas Jason Day caught some warmth for his clothes decisions on the primary day of the Masters, his play was regular constant.

In the course of the opening rounds of the 2024 Masters, Day has paired with Tiger Woods and Max Homa.

Day posted a pair bogeys on the entrance throughout his opening spherical however rebounded with two birdies to get to even earlier than the solar went down.

Tee instances, Bryson DeChambeau

Chief Bryson DeChambeau goes off at 11:54 a.m. on Friday with Gary Woodland and Thorbjorn Olesen.

Right here’s a take a look at all the day’s tee instances for Friday.

Although it stretched over two days, the primary spherical of the 2024 version of the Masters is now full.

By sundown on Thursday, Bryson DeChambeau led the group of 89 golfers within the subject after firing off a superb 65-stroke first spherical by which he birdied eight of the 18 holes.

Trailing intently behind him was Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1 participant and 2022 Masters champion who rallied Thursday to birdie 4 of his remaining seven first-round holes to complete only one stroke behind DeChambeau.

REQUIRED READING:Bryson DeChambeau leads Scottie Scheffler at Masters; Tiger Woods performs 13 holes after storms delay begin

Whereas the tip of Friday’s motion might be only a midway level within the match, it’ll mark an important interval of separation, when potential one-round outliers fade additional again into the pack and practically half of the sector will get minimize, assuming the spherical will get accomplished on time.

Right here’s what it’s essential know to maintain updated with all the motion from Augusta on the second day of the Masters:

Masters leaderboard at present

With the primary spherical now full and the second spherical underway, here is a stay have a look at the Masters leaderboard:

• T-1. Scottie Scheffler, -6 (17)
• T-1. Bryson DeChambeau, -6 (F)
• T-1. Max Homa, -6 (F)
• 4. Nicolai Hojgaard, -4 (F)
• T-5. Cameron Davis, -3 (F)
• T-5. Collin Morikawa, -3 (F)
• T-7. Ludvig Aberg, -2 (F)

FULL LEADERBOARD:Second-round scoreboard from 2024 Masters

Up to date Masters tee instances

After inclement climate at Augusta Nationwide pressured Thursday’s opening spherical to be delayed by 2½ hours, the ultimate teams that teed off Thursday have been unable to finish their rounds earlier than nightfall. They’re going to resume play early Friday morning, with some golfers having to play as many as eight holes earlier than a comparatively fast turnaround later within the day with the beginning of the second spherical.

The primary group Friday is scheduled to tee off at 8 a.m. ET.

Listed below are the up to date tee instances:

Masters odds 2024

Regardless of main the match after his first spherical, DeChambeau just isn’t the betting favourite to win the Masters, in keeping with odds from BetMGM.

That honor belongs to Scheffler, who ended Thursday in second place and one stroke behind DeChambeau. Scheffler entered the match as the favourite to win whereas DeChambeau wasn’t among the many prime 10 favorites.

Odds are as of Thursday, April 11

• Scottie Scheffler (+150)
• Bryson DeChambeau (+600)
• Max Homa (+1600)
• Rory McIlroy (+1600)
• Ludvig Aberg (+2200)
• Brooks Koepka (+2500)
• Joaquin Niemann (+2800)
• Tyrrell Hatton (+2800)
• Tommy Fleetwood (+3000)

To see full odds for the Masters, click on right here

We sometimes suggest fascinating services and products. If you happen to make a purchase order by clicking one of many hyperlinks, we might earn an affiliate price. USA TODAY Community newsrooms function independently, and this doesn’t affect our protection.

It was 1991 and I used to be working at Carnegie Corridor as a private assistant. My six-month postgraduation student-loan grace interval was about to finish, so I wanted a second job ASAP.

My buddy labored at a classy Japanese restaurant known as Fujiyama-Mama on the east aspect of Columbus Avenue between 82nd and 83rd Streets. He instructed me there was a coat-checker place open. He was a mannequin, and I assumed it was a kind of eating places that solely employed beautiful individuals. However I landed the gig.

An thrilling factor, for 22-year-old me, was the movie star visitors on the restaurant. One among our regulars was O.J. Simpson. He was additionally the nicest movie star of all our clientele — to me, not less than. He discovered my title, requested me questions, listened to the solutions, and would circle again to topics talked about throughout earlier visits.

He instructed me he had a spot on the Higher East Aspect the place he would keep when he visited New York, particularly throughout soccer season, when he’d be on the East Coast to supply commentary throughout NFL video games. In chilly climate, he had a coat and gloves to test. Maybe it was as a result of we regularly engaged with one another not less than twice a go to (coat-checking, coat-retrieving), mixed with the truth that I used to be the one girl working within the restaurant, that Simpson was so good to me. He tipped me $5 to test his coat and gloves — fairly good immediately however very beneficiant in 1991.

At times, Simpson would are available with males, however the majority of the time, he was clearly on a date, and he positively had a sort: beautiful, tall, younger, and white — typically blonde, typically brunette.

There was one time when he got here in with a lady who, whereas nonetheless youthful, was a lot older than his typical dates. The employees whispered about Simpson being with an “older” girl. After I was downstairs within the coatroom, I heard arguing within the corridor by the loos. I glanced and noticed it was Simpson and his date. It was the one and solely time I noticed him within the restaurant with who I later discovered was Nicole Brown.

Regardless of his companion, he insisted on sitting on the sushi bar. The supervisor and the maître d’ would attempt to persuade Simpson that he’d be happier sitting within the again, in our unofficial VIP space. At first, I believed it could be as a result of he loved watching our masterful sushi chef at work. Finally, I noticed he wished, and even wanted, to be acknowledged. Many occasions, a buyer would come to retrieve a coat and excitedly present me the autograph they’d gotten from him, full with the trademark smiley face. That type of interplay together with his followers wouldn’t occur if he sat within the again.

When the information of the murders broke, I used to be nonetheless working half time at Fujiyama-Mama. I defended Simpson to my associates. “I’m associates with O.J.,” I’d say. “You don’t know him like I do. There’s no means he may do such a factor.” After the slow-speed chase, I ended defending him, however I nonetheless had hassle believing he stabbed a person to demise and almost decapitated the mom of his kids.

The telephone name got here within the weeks after the murders. One among my bosses at Fujiyama-Mama instructed me that somebody within the Los Angeles County District Legal professional’s Workplace wished to talk to me. Me? Why?!

My boss figured it out earlier than I did: It was as a result of I had checked the bloody gloves earlier than they had been bloody. They will need to have heard how incessantly he visited Fujiyama-Mama. I spoke with a person whom I understood to be both a junior prosecutor or an investigator within the DA’s workplace. He posed not less than a dozen mundane questions earlier than lastly asking the query: Had I ever checked gloves for Mr. Simpson when he visited Fujiyama-Mama?

Sure, many occasions. Then he requested if I may describe the gloves, which I did — I overlook most prospects’ glove particulars, however Simpson was well-known and tipped me $5, so I remembered his gloves properly. They had been both darkish brown or black. The person requested why I couldn’t definitively title the colour. I stated that our coat-check space was darkish.

He will need to have spoken to the proprietor of the restaurant as a result of he knew, and instructed me, that the room the place the coats had been saved was brightly lit. True. However the place the place a buyer passes the coat to the checker was dim, and the very first thing you do as a coat-checker is take the gloves and shove them in a pocket. By the point I obtained downstairs, any gloves had been out of sight, so I by no means noticed them below these unflattering fluorescent lights within the coatroom.

The person sounded disillusioned. He requested me to name him again if I remembered extra after excited about it. Was he answer-shopping? I puzzled. Who is aware of, however he did name me again a couple of week later to ask if I remembered the rest, particularly the colour of the gloves. No, I didn’t.

The reality is, I used to be about 98 p.c sure that the gloves had been darkish brown — the colour all of us discovered they certainly had been — however I wasn’t one hundred pc optimistic, and I knew I couldn’t in good conscience, and below oath, say in any other case. I’d have had no situation testifying so long as I may say I wasn’t assured in regards to the coloration — however that clearly was of no use to the prosecutors.

Normally, I’d have gotten over that 2 p.c doubt with the intention to inject myself right into a drama, however thank goodness I didn’t do it on this occasion. As my boyfriend on the time stated, had I ended up on the stand they might have “Dennis Fung’d me” — referring, after all, to the LAPD crime-scene tech publicly eviscerated by the protection staff.

I’ve instructed this story for almost three many years. I now cringe at how insane I will need to have sounded defending O.J. Simpson within the days after the murders. Looking back, I each pity and envy my youthful self, who couldn’t fairly comprehend that actors act, narcissists exhibit superficial attraction, and sociopaths lie — and even kill — with ease.

As {a magazine} author, I went on to interview a whole lot of celebrities — actors, administrators, athletes, musicians, politicians. A part of what made me good on the job, is that I used to be by no means nervous round even the largest of stars. I may nonetheless be tremendously impressed by somebody’s expertise, however I by no means once more was starstruck. Possibly that’s due to the double assassin I as soon as knew.

Officers are investigating allegations {that a} Houston surgeon was secretly altering affected person data in a authorities database to make a few of his personal sufferers ineligible for transplants at Memorial Hermann – Texas Medical Middle.

The hospital introduced final week that it’s suspending its liver-transplant program whereas federal regulators investigated irregularities pertaining to “donor acceptance standards,” the Houston Chronicle reported.

This week, Memorial Hermann additionally suspended its kidney-transplant program. And on Thursday, the New York Occasions reported that federal well being officers are investigating a Memorial Hermann physician who’s suspected of manipulating affected person data to disclaim them liver transplants.  

The Occasions recognized the surgeon as Dr. J. Steve Bynon Jr., a nationally-regarded transplant surgeon at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Middle in Houston.

Bynon has led each the hospital’s kidney and liver transplant packages since 2011. Memorial Hermann launched a press release Friday defending the physician. Bynon didn’t return a message left at his workplace by the Houston Touchdown.

Right here’s what we all know in regards to the investigation and the way many individuals have been impacted:

What will we find out about Dr. Steve Bynon Jr.?

Dr. Bynon, 64, gained nationwide prominence as a frontrunner in liver transplant surgical procedure and served on the Membership and Skilled Requirements Committee of the United Community for Organ Sharing. The group is tasked with investigating wrongdoing within the transplant system.  

In accordance with a press release Memorial Hermann supplied to the Occasions, Bynon has each the liver and kidney transplant packages on the hospital since 2011. 

What are officers investigating at Memorial Hermann’s transplant packages? 

A criticism prompted Memorial Hermann officers to open an investigation into Dr. Bynon and the hospital’s liver transplant program. The investigation revealed “irregularities” in sufferers’ classifications on the transplant wait listing. 

Hospital officers advised the Occasions they found some sufferers’ standards for accepting donors made them successfully ineligible for a transplant. For instance, a affected person could be listed as accepting a donation from a 300-pound toddler, eliminating their possibilities of receiving a transplant, per the Occasions.

Memorial Hermann suspended each packages, citing “irregularities” in donor transplant data for the liver program.  The hospital advised the Occasions it doesn’t know the way lengthy Dr. Bynon could have been altering the database. Officers stated the irregularities solely affected liver transplant sufferers, however suspended kidney transplants as a result of Dr. Bynon ran each packages. 

What number of sufferers have been denied transplants at Memorial Hermann?

Thirty-eight sufferers remained on Memorial Hermann’s liver transplant ready listing and 346 sufferers on its kidney listing when it shut down, in response to the Occasions. 

Sufferers on Memorial Hermann’s liver transplant waitlist have died at disproportionate charges in recent times, in response to information analyzed by the New York Occasions. The Occasions discovered that 14 sufferers have been faraway from the hospital’s ready listing after turning into too sick or dying. The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients advised the Occasions that the hospital’s mortality price for transplant waitlist sufferers was abnormally excessive. 

Information reviewed by the Occasions present that as of final month, the hospital had carried out three liver transplants, whereas 5 sufferers had died or grow to be too unwell for a liver transplant. 

“We acknowledge the severity of this allegation,” the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies, which can be investigating the matter, stated in a press release. “We’re working diligently to deal with this situation with the eye it deserves.”  

How has Memorial Hermann responded to the allegations?

The hospital defended Bynon on Friday, calling him an “extraordinary” physician. Memorial Hermann stated it’s engaged on transferring its sufferers to different transplant packages. The hospital launched the next assertion Friday in regards to the present standing of the investigation and its response:

“Over the previous two weeks, now we have been actively working with all impacted sufferers, households and caregivers from the liver and the kidney transplant packages, following the troublesome determination to voluntarily inactivate each packages. Our main precedence is making certain continuity of compassionate look after sufferers who have been on the transplant program lists on the hospital.

“Every affected person is being individually contacted by a transplant care coordinator to assessment ongoing care choices, together with a seamless transition to a different transplant program, the place vital.

“We’re working with College of Texas Well being Science Middle at Houston to make the mandatory modifications that may enable for the fast reactivation of the kidney transplant program beneath a special doctor management construction.  All program transplant physicians are employed by the College of Well being Science Middle at Houston and contracted to Memorial Hermann to supply doctor providers.

“Our investigation is ongoing, and we proceed to cooperate with all regulatory authorities.”

Associated

The previous director of the Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH), Francis S. Collins, revealed his prostate most cancers analysis and detailed his resolution to go public with it in an essay revealed by The Washington Put up on Friday. 

Collins mentioned he knew his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ranges had been going up, and a rise in these can imply the presence of prostate most cancers, a typical prevalence amongst males older than 65. 

However an MRI scan from a month in the past revealed he had an increasing tumor and spiking PSA ranges. 

“New biopsies taken from the mass confirmed transformation into a way more aggressive most cancers,” Collins wrote within the essay. “Once I heard the analysis was now a 9 on a cancer-grading scale that goes solely to 10, I knew that every little thing had modified.”

Collins was the director of the NIH from 2009-21. He heads the White Home initiative to “get rid of hepatitis C” within the U.S.

Collins mentioned a PET scan decided “There was no detectable proof of most cancers exterior of the first tumor.” He mentioned he must endure a radical prostatectomy process to take away his total prostate gland later this month. 

“Whereas there aren’t any ensures, my medical doctors consider I’ve a excessive chance of being cured by the surgical procedure,” he wrote.

“I need all males to have the identical alternative that I did. Prostate most cancers continues to be the No. 2 killer of males,” Collins continued. “I need the targets of the Most cancers Moonshot to be met — to finish most cancers as we all know it. Early detection actually issues, and when mixed with energetic surveillance can establish the dangerous cancers like mine, and go away the remainder alone.” 

Most cancers Moonshot was launched throughout then-President Obama’s second time period, a part of the twenty first Century Cures Act that was handed in 2016. It’s an effort to curb the demise charge from most cancers and assist individuals dwelling with most cancers. President Biden has continued the efforts.

The physician-geneticist pointed to a excessive prostate most cancers survival charge — 97 p.c, per American Most cancers Society — however that it drops to 34 p.c if the most cancers spreads to “distant areas of the physique.” 

Within the essay, Collins wrote about inequities with remedies and screenings and struggles impacting Black males who’ve the next chance of affected by it. 

“Why am I going public about this most cancers that many males are uncomfortable speaking about,” Collins wrote. “As a result of I need to raise the veil and share lifesaving data, and I need all males to profit from the medical analysis to which I’ve devoted my profession and that’s now guiding my care.”

Jalen Brunson is the Knicks’ finest playmaker. He has to verify the ball will get unfold round to everybody.

Are you able to title a greater trio than the Villanova teammates at present propelling the New York Knicks to a top-three seed within the Jap Convention?

Maybe the Golden Women, the Three Stooges, or the Beastie Boys matchup with the popular culture iconography that Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart at present embody in New York sports activities lore. They’ve stolen the hearts and minds of Knicks followers and NBA followers to the purpose the place evening in and evening out, you may come throughout followers of rival groups giving in to the ability of friendship that these three use to energy themselves and the group. 

Permit me to take this love fest down only a small peg. 

I can not take credit score for this discovery that pertains to Jalen Brunson’s passing. The Knicks Wall crew usually discusses the sport as it’s ongoing and, in one of many Knicks’ most up-to-date contests, the subject of Brunson’s affinity for passing to his “Nova Boys” in comparison with his passing to different teammates on the ground, got here up. 

It’s one thing I had by no means actually observed earlier than. It’s onerous to see what’s “unhealthy” or possibly inefficient about feeding an above-league-average three-point shooter in DiVincenzo or an ideal connector in Hart. However Brunson positively has a desire in how he disperses his 6.7 assists per recreation. That may sometimes result in some fairly skewed outcomes. On the one hand, DiVincenzo has been taking pictures lights out, so it’s good to maintain feeding him the rock. Alternatively, the likes of Deuce McBride, Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Hartenstein or OG Anunoby may use the reps. That is particularly essential for 2 causes. 

Firstly, the Knicks need to get into a reasonably good rhythm offensively to match their elite protection forward of the postseason. Whereas they’ll compete with anybody defensively with Anunoby on the ground disrupting, properly, every part, they’ll oftentimes discover themselves in a droop with Jalen Brunson off the ground and on the lookout for constant scoring. 

The second, presumably extra obtrusive motive is the shortage of Julius Randle this postseason. Randle has opted to finish his season with shoulder surgical procedure after re-injuring it throughout a contact observe as part of his rehab for his dislocated shoulder. So, his drive on the rack in addition to his skill as a connector like Hart might be sorely missed. Moreover, his work in pick-and-roll actions and as an off-ball risk alongside Brunson might be one thing New York has to duplicate with others like Anunoby or with Brunson himself to search out some success in motion on offense. 

Based on NBA Stats, when filtering out for time Randle missed after his damage again in January, the highest Knicks gamers receiving passes from Brunson are DiVincenzo and Hart. DiVincenzo averages 27.6 p.c of Brunson’s passes per recreation whereas Hart sits shut by at 27.4 per recreation. 

The following closest Knick is Hartenstein, which is smart contemplating his reducing prowess and the way properly he works alongside Brunson in give-and-go actions. He receives 13.4 p.c of the guard’s passes, a charge considerably decrease than these of the Nova Boys however understandably so since he doesn’t shoot many jumpers. The place issues get fascinating in a nasty means are passes to those that could make these forms of pictures. McBride is getting 8.8 p.c of Brunson’s dimes, and Bogdanovic receives 4.3 p.c of them. Anunoby, who has been out for a bit since being traded to the Knicks, receives 2.2 p.c.

Postseason defenses are going to be powerful. They may have the ability to choose up on Brunson’s favorites on the ground, because it had been, and that may make issues sticky for an offense that might be seeking to capitalize on Brunson’s presence on the ground to make sure that a McBride-led bench can survive these non-Brunson minutes. McBride is likely one of the extra obtrusive omissions from the highest of Brunson’s most well-liked passing goal listing contemplating he has upped his taking pictures percentages throughout the board, getting so a lot better not solely in his ending skill but additionally as a three-point shooter. 

Bogdanovic was included within the Knicks’ commerce deadline transfer as a result of he’s such a postseason risk. As he lastly seems like he has discovered his footing on offense, Brunson ought to be seeking to incorporate his taking pictures extra as an efficient spreader and as somebody who, like Randle, may genuinely take stress off of Brunson by way of different groups’ protection towards him. 

That is each a non-concern and a giant one. As beforehand talked about, DiVincenzo is not any slouch offensively, so you can’t actually be upset to see him getting touches and a focus from Brunson. Hart, however, is such a superb intermediary on offense as a passer that incorporating him as a lot as doable within the absence of one other nice passer like Randle is crucial to retaining this offense chugging alongside. 

However powerful postseason basketball awaits. All of them might be guarded closely if opposing groups have completed their homework. Jalen Brunson should unfold the Villanova friendship vibes past simply these two for the complete membership to search out longevity and doubtlessly play spoiler these playoffs.

Associated Content material

»Learn: Rating First-Spherical Matchups for the Knicks 

»Learn: Miles McBride: Grasp Display screen Navigator

»Learn: Questions Requested and Answered by March Insanity