Jordan Spieth on his mindset: "I've got to absolutely throw away this round. Pretend that tomorrow is a new round and everyone is tied."
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelESPN) April 9, 2016
The day's lowlight came on the 15th green, when Billy Horschel's ball, which had come to rest 13 feet from the flag for a potential eagle, blew off the dried-out green and into the greenside pond, costing him a penalty stroke and bogey.If it stays this windy…. Get ya popcorn ready and watch some chaos
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) April 9, 2016
The week has drawn multiple comparisons to 2007, when Zach Johnson won on a cold and blustery layout with a 72-hole score of 1 over, and only one player broke par on Saturday. The good news is, the weather on Sunday is expected to be cool, but otherwise close to perfect.Bit windy out there https://t.co/EvgmUZmHtT
— Today's Golfer (@TheTodaysGolfer) April 9, 2016
Great news: the forecast for tomorrow is for almost no wind. Bring the red numbers! Like, please. pic.twitter.com/naIjOCDDyQ
— Steve Elling (@EllingYelling) April 9, 2016
Feel like I've run through 18 brick walls today out there ! Hard to describe how tough Augusta is playing. #TheMasters
— Chris Wood (@Chris3Wood) April 9, 2016
On a day when players struggled to break par, Langer had six birdies and was his typically unflappable self. The Hall of Famer's resting pulse rate over the course of his four-decade career has been one heartbeat north of catatonic, and it was no different Saturday as players collapsed all around him.@garyplayer yeah but just like you….he is not human! pic.twitter.com/qsPjkcMOai
— Johnny Rodriguez (@JohnnyRodCG) April 9, 2016
Langer, a 500-to-1 longshot in Las Vegas entering the week, said that on the second hole, Day hit a 7-iron approach, while Langer was forced to rip a 3-wood. "That's a big difference to make up, but so far, so good," he said.Jason Day: "It's really, really impressive to watch what Bernhard did out there today. … I had a lot of fun playing with him."
— Mike McAllister (@PGATOUR_mikemc) April 9, 2016
Rory story takes an abrupt left turnNorthern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, seeking to complete the career Grand Slam with a win this week, picked a bad time to rediscover an old nemesis – an unpredictable hook off the tee. Within arm's reach of leader and playing partner Spieth as they began the back nine, McIlroy hooked his tee shot on No. 10 into the trees and scrambled to make a bogey. Worse, on the next tee, he repeated the swing, then yanked his ensuing recovery shot into the greenside pond to finish with a double-bogey."Bernhard Langer is on his way to the interview room".. phrases you didn't expect to hear at twenty past six on Saturday.
— Ewan Murray (@mrewanmurray) April 9, 2016
Eight back as he stood on the 17th tee, he was tossed a lifeline when Spieth mangled the last two holes, playing them in 3 over. It was the only positive McIlroy could cite afterward."To be honest with you, I would be feeling a lot worse about myself if I hadn't have just seen what Jordan did the last two holes," he said. "I sort of take a bit of heart from that, that I'm still in this golf tournament."I just need to go out there tomorrow and be aggressive. I've got nothing to lose. Today was my bad day and hopefully I can go out there and make up for the lack of birdies today and make double the amount tomorrow. "What's two times zero? Right.Meanwhile, Rory suffering the "no longer on TV" nightmare @TheMasters
— Phil Casey (@pcaseysafc) April 9, 2016
Teeing it high and letting it flyHall of Famer Lee Trevino never had much use for the folks who run Augusta National, who openly discriminated against women and minorities as a matter of policy for decades. He's never been shy about voicing his dislike for the tone of the event, and noted again this week that there's a fine line between pomp and pompous.Meanwhile, Rory suffering the "no longer on TV" nightmare @TheMasters
— Phil Casey (@pcaseysafc) April 9, 2016
Bubba gets around in a hurryBecause an uneven number of players made the 36-hole cut on Saturday morning, Bubba Watson was paired with Augusta National member Jeff Knox. Watson, who believes he suffers from ADHD and prefers to play at a fast clip, blew through the first six holes in a little over an hour.That's the good news. The bad is that Watson shot his highest round of the week with a 4-over 76 and had to watch as Knox, a very good amateur player who frequently plays with tour players as a so-called "marker" on Masters weekends, made putts like these.The twosome played in 3:35—well under the 5:20 mark of the threesomes over the first two days.Jeff Knox, Legend. #TheMasters https://t.co/EMgtkhDn8G
— Adam Fonseca (@GolfUnfiltered) April 9, 2016
Post-round beatdown sends Johnson packingChalk up another casualty for the game's armchair referees.Two-time major champion Zach Johnson was hauled into the Augusta National principal's office late Friday night when a videotape replay indicated that he had accidentally, and improperly, grounded his club in a water hazard while hitting a shot from the creek on the 13th hole.After reviewing the video, Johnson was hit with a post-round, two-shot penalty, giving him an 80 in the second round, which left him on the wrong side of the cut line. Johnson took the high road and said that while it was inadvertent and no advantage was gained, rules are rules.Jeff Knox, Legend. #TheMasters https://t.co/EMgtkhDn8G
— Adam Fonseca (@GolfUnfiltered) April 9, 2016
Unfortunate circumstances. Viewing slow video replay, the rules staff, my caddy Damon, and I ALL agreed it was HIGHLY likely I had touched
— Zach Johnson (@ZachJohnsonPGA) April 9, 2016
His brethren were quick to applaud his ability to take the news with such aplomb. Johnson won the Masters title in 2007 and is the reigning champ at the British Open.BUT, I (nor anyone for that matter) could not rest easy knowing I might have had a rules infraction. I'm thankful for the rules staff in
— Zach Johnson (@ZachJohnsonPGA) April 9, 2016
Today many around the world learned why I am honored to call @ZachJohnsonPGA my friend.
— Stewart Cink (@stewartcink) April 9, 2016