by Tiger’s record breaking performance was the main story of the second round, but there was a lot to take away from Friday.
BRYSON HOLDS SERVE
By Will Knights
If you were to create a day in which Bryson DeChambeau could thrive, Friday was not it. The high speed, high-ball flight #Crusher is not built to thrive in high winds. He’s much better suited for the dome-like conditions of Chris Como’s living room, where he tries to reach 200-mph ball speed. And yet DeChambeau more than held his own, shooting a 73 to earn a spot in the final group on Saturday.
During every tournament, a golfer goes through a period without their best stuff. Bryson did that on the back nine on Friday, but he managed to steady the ship. Whether it was his ballooned wedge into the first, his birdie on No. 13 from the 14th crosswalk, or his rocket over the green on the 16th, Bryson worked his way out of trouble and kept his stress to a minimum. That’s not to say that he won’t have another difficult stretch, but with calmer conditions coming this weekend, Bryson should be able to play his own game over the final 36 holes. If it’s anything like what we saw on Thursday, he is absolutely capable of winning his second major.
A CHANCE TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE
By Joseph LaMagna
To date, Max Homa’s track record in major championships has been underwhelming, to put it kindly. Entering this week’s Masters, Max Homa had never finished better than T-10 through 17 major championship starts. He made the cut in just eight of those tournaments and had only finished better than 40th in two appearances, the 2023 Open Championship and the 2022 PGA Championship.
Despite the lack of major championship success, you could still make the case that at 33 years of age, Max Homa has an accomplished career. Highlighted by an impressive victory at the 2021 Genesis Invitational, Homa has won six times on the PGA Tour and once on the DP World Tour. Five of those wins have come since the start of 2021. At the same time, though, can you really be considered an elite professional golfer when you have such a poor track record in major championships?
This week, Max has the opportunity to change the narrative around his ability to compete in a major. Through two rounds, Max has fired scores of 67-71 to grab a share of the 36-hole lead. Co-leading through two rounds of a major championship is foreign territory for Homa. He’s never even been within six shots of the 36-hole lead in a major.
When asked in his presser what he is hoping to learn about himself this weekend, Homa emphasized that as long as he sticks to his process, he can live with the result. He went on to say he hopes to continue displaying some moxie and discipline. “I feel like I showed it the last couple days, especially yesterday the first few holes playing with Tiger…So I know I have that one in me. I’d like to see if I have the mental discipline for a whole week.”
To be clear, every player teeing it up this week would dramatically change their legacy with a win. But Max Homa probably has as much to gain this week as any player in the field. A weak display from Homa in the spotlight of playing in the final group on a major championship Saturday would further the narrative that he doesn’t show up for major championships. But a win? A win would earn Homa the designation of Masters champion. There are few better narratives than that.
SENT PACKING
Some big names failed to beat José María Olazábal over the first 36 holes. Here are a few players who won’t be around for the weekend at Augusta National:
Viktor Hovland – Hovi’s low-energy 2024 continues with an MC at The Masters. He played the par 5s in five-over on Friday, though he would have been four-over if he hadn’t swiped frustratedly at this tap-in for bogey on the 15th hole. Disappointing stuff from last year’s FedEx Cup champ.
Wyndham Clark – The 2023 U.S. Open champion—and a trendy pick going into this week—seemed to struggle in the blustery winds on Friday, playing his last 27 holes in 10-over.
Justin Thomas – Justin Thomas walked up to the 15th tee today at even par. He wasn’t in contention, exactly, but he wasn’t completely out of it. Four holes later, he was +7 and outside the cutline.
Jordan Spieth – Highlighted by a second career quadruple bogey on the 15th hole at Augusta National, the Jordan Spieth Experience™ proved too much for even Jordan Spieth. It’s his second MC at The Masters in the last three years.
Brian Harman – The Champion Golfer of the Year got off to a good start on Thursday, posting a two-under 34 on his front nine. Unfortunately, his back nine wasn’t quite as good. He made two bogeys, three doubles, and a triple to record a first-round 81.
Dustin Johnson – One birdie in 36 holes isn’t going to get it done, especially when you add in 10 bogeys and two doubles.
OTHER FRIDAY NOTES
Scottie Scheffler missed a two-foot putt and hit a shot in the water on the 13th. Still, he found a way to grind out a round of 72 and tie for the 36-hole lead.
Bryson DeChambeau seemed quite relaxed in tricky conditions today. In the third fairway, while waiting for the group ahead (which included LIV compatriot Charl Schwartzel) to clear off the fourth tee, Bryson urged them on with an exaggerated wave that put us in mind of Apolo Ohno.
Bryson also had a bit of a run-in with a post on the 13th hole as he directed traffic and worked his way down the 14th hole corridor. See our photo of the day below.
Zach Johnson appeared to have some choice words—two choice words, to be specific—for a group of patrons at Amen Corner who facetiously cheered his triple bogey on the 12th hole. When questioned about the incident afterwards, the 2023 Ryder Cup captain offered this explanation: “If I’ve said anything, which I’m not going to deny, especially if it’s on camera, one, I apologize, and two, it was fully directed towards myself entirely because I can’t hear anything behind me. Does that make sense?” Persuasive!
Tyrrell Hatton was characteristically steamed after a Friday 74, this time angry about pace of play issues with the group in front. That group: Patrick Reed, Kurt Kitayama, and Sungjae Im. Given the evidence he cited and the general lack of hastiness on display all afternoon from multiple groups, Tyrrell may have a point.
More Masters coverage from the Fried Egg Golf team:
The Greatest Play-Caller in Golf
Takeaways From Fred Ridley’s Masters Press Conference
The Art Behind Augusta’s Roars: Focal points in Alister MacKenzie’s routings
The 8th hole at the Masters reveals the limitations of sorting golf courses into buckets
