Tiger Woods could be the biggest story at the Masters.
Everyone is chasing the hottest player on the planet, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who has a 5-shot lead going into the third round at Augusta National Golf Club.
The 36-hole lead is the largest in Masters history. Five other players led by as many strokes after the first two rounds, including Harry Cooper in 1936, Herman Keiser in 1946, Jack Nicklaus in 1975, Raymond Floyd in 1976 and Jordan Spieth in 2015. Cooper won a green jacket.
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There are things to keep an eye on at Augusta National on Saturday.
The past two months have seen a rapid rise in the popularity of the young man. After failing to win in his first two seasons on the tour, Scheffler has won three times in his past five starts.
Since the Official World Golf Ranking began in 1986, no player has won his first PGA Tour event, ascended to the top of the world rankings, or won a major championship in the same year. There have been 25 different players who have reached the top of the world rankings, and the first player to do it in the same year is Scheffler.
He has never held a lead in a major championship. His previous best was a tie for second after 54 holes at the 2020 PGA Championship. He is the third world No. 1 to hold the lead at the Masters. One of them won and one of them lost.
Can he hold on to the lead?
Having the lead gives me more confidence, and my first thought was to just keep trying to build it. The goal going into the third round is to put myself in good positions and execute shots. Everything should be fine as long as I am committed to everything. The rest is up to me.
Tiger Woods is happy to have a chance going into the weekend.
In his first start in 17 months, Woods is 9 shots behind the leader. He's only 4 shots out of second place.
After bogeying four of his first five holes on Friday, Woods had to work hard to stay in the mix. He scored four times in his last 11 holes, but missed a couple of good chances.
It was a brave performance for Woods, who was seriously injured in a car accident outside Los Angeles on February 23, 2021.
Woods said that he felt good about how he fought back on Friday. Tomorrow is going to be an important day, with as tough as they predict. It will be quick, and I need to put myself there. You have a chance if you are within five or six on that back nine going into Sunday.
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Woods said that his leg held up through the first 36 holes.
He said that it worked out great. Everything has been good. My team has done a great job getting me ready. They repair my body at night after I break it.
When Woods traveled to Augusta National a week ago to test his right leg, he was accompanied by his son, Charlie. He played two nine-hole practice rounds with Woods.
On Thursday, it looked like Thomas didn't pick up much course knowledge from him. After a 76 in the first round, Thomas rebounded with a 67 in the second. Through 36 holes, he is tied for 10th at 1-under.
Thomas' streak of 18 consecutive cuts is the longest of any player on the tour and he matched the lowest score of the second round. His 9-shot improvement was the best among players in the field.
Thomas said that the opening round was the most angry he had been in a long time. I don't know. It was one of those days where I just couldn't concentrate. I was unable to get into the round. On the first round of the Masters, I couldn't get into the moment and it was sad.
Thomas said he was angry by playing fetch with his dog.
Thomas said that he played fetch with his dog for 45 minutes, and then he went to bed. All good.
South Africa's Schwartzel is tied for second at 3-under. He missed the cut in seven of nine tour starts this season.
Schwartzel took two weeks off after the bad results. My confidence grew as the two weeks went by because I was starting to hit the ball well. I just looked at old footage and it is still there.
Schwartzel said he watched highlights of himself winning the Masters and thought he could do it again. He had a simple answer when he was asked what struck him most about winning at Augusta National.
Schwartzel said to put on the green jacket at the end.
Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama is tied for second at 3 under. The champion is tied for sixth at 2 under. Danny Willett won the green jacket in 2016 and is tied for 10th.
Willett missed the cut at the Masters in four of the past five starts. He has not had a top-20 finish on the tour since March of 2021.
Willett said that they are in a nice position.
The last six players to make the Masters field were all ranked in the top 50 in the world as of March 28, and Harold Varner III was one of them. He is taking full advantage of his chance.
Varner is tied for sixth at 2 under after posting 1-under 71 in the first two rounds.
Varner won the Saudi International in February by sinking a 92-foot eagle putt on the 72nd hole. He tied for sixth at The Players.
He said that winning breeds winning. I have been there and shot some high numbers when it mattered a lot. The most important thing is just running my journey.
Some of the best advice Varner received came from Woods.
Varner said that Tiger told him the greatest thing. I think you have to do that a lot.
Varner is at the Masters with his family.
Varner saw his father for the first time. He doesn't like to be watched. I saw my mom. I want to see my child. He is probably going to throw up on me. Yeah, it is awesome.
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