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Also going along very nicely today: Brian Campbell. The low amateur at the 2015 US Open at Chambers Bay, the 32-year-old Californian is making his Masters debut this week, reward for winning his first PGA Tour event a couple of months ago at the Mexico Open. He’s going round with a marker, Augusta National member and Jeff Knox de nos jours Michael McDermott, a player who has also made his mark in the amateur game, beating future pro JB Holmes at the 2003 US Amateur. Anyway, Campbell’s made seven birdies through 17 holes, three bogeys taking off some of the shine. But not all of it. Par up the last and he’ll be signing for a valedictory 68. He’s +1 for the Tournament.
… and to illustrate, here’s Hideki Matsuyama. The 2021 champion was very much in the hunt going into Moving Day, starting his round a mere five strokes behind the 36-hole leader Justin Rose. But the 33-year-old Japanese fell out of contention in grim style, shooting a birdie-free, seven-over 79. Today however he’s back to his blistering best, with birdies at 3, 6, 8, 9, 14 and now 15. No dropped shots yet, and he’s hauled his way back up the standings to -2. It’s not quite up there with Nick Dunlap’s 90-71, but it’s quite the turnaround nonetheless, and a fine example of the possibilities out there today.
The weather gods are smiling on Augusta National today. It’s sunny, as warm as it’s been all week, and there’s not too much in the way of wind. A light swirl here or there may cause some indecision and a little local difficulty, but nothing that should cause too much concern. There’s a score out there. Go get it.
Preamble
There really is no need for the hard sell. Not when this is on offer. Not when it could finally happen. You know. It.
Group 27, 2.30pm, Rory McIlroy 204, Bryson DeChambeau 206
Corey Conners may also have something to say about that, as might a few assorted others, but let’s not waste precious energy on idle speculation. Because we’re going to need every drop of the stuff when things get real. Because they will, they certainly will. Here are the tee times. This blog will get going at 6pm BST. Emotion guaranteed. Drama for sure. Tears of one variety or another certain. It’s on!
-12: McIlroy
-10: DeChambeau
-8: Conners
-6: Reed, Åberg
-5: Day, Scheffler, Lowry, Rose
-4: Z Johnson, Echavarria, Schauffele, Im
-3: Homa, Morikawa, Hovland
