It’s day two of the Masters today and if you’ve never seen the biggest names in golf sweat, now is the time.
Tiger Woods had a lot of confidence and fan enthusiasm going for him after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational just two weeks ago. The pressure mounting after that win, and the whispers that this could be Tiger’s big comeback may have been too much pressure though, as Tiger played what could be called one of his worst Masters rounds yet. The fact that Woods was thrown a few miracles along the way on the course is the only reason why he ended the day at even par. No doubt Woods knows that he’s going to need a spectacular day today if he has a hope of winning; and he’ll just need to at least have a good one if he wants to move onto the weekend rounds.
Rory McIlroy came into the game yesterday trying to shake the ghosts of Masters past. It doesn’t seem like that long ago to anybody when he was well ahead going into the final round last year, only to see his lead evaporate in what will be known as one of the biggest chokes Augusta has ever seen. Unfortunately, this year’s not looking that different. McIlroy had a day much like Woods, starting off very shakily with a double-bogey six. Much like last year, McIlroy took it in stride and to show that patience generally pays off. He was able to do that after back-to-back birdie putts at least brought him back into the game despite continuing trouble with water on the 13th green and missing birdies and pars on the back nine.
The fact that neither star came and blew everyone else out of the water could make this one of the Masters’ most exciting year in a long time. Will it be the year for Tiger’s comeback? Will Rory McIlroy lay those ghosts to rest once and for all? Or will a dark horse emerge, and become the new Masters champion?