Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter lifted the tantalising awaiting of a initial English leader of the Masters contest in fourteen years after glorious performances in the second spin at Augusta National last night.
The Ryder Cup team-mates share the lead on eight underneath par, after particular rounds of 69 and 68, and will set off in each others association currently fervent to push on. Both are unfortunate to obey Nick Faldo, who won the last of his three immature jackets in 1996. If they see over their shoulders, however, they will see Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim, between a organisation of five lying dual shots behind.
Much has been done of the English fortuitous in these tools and the voices grew louder as the day unfolded. Poulter was in excellent fettle from the off and so was Westwood, who picked up an eagle at the 2nd hole and reached the spin in 32 over a march callous up from the day before. At one point Westwood reached ten underneath par, but a stand in spook at the wickedly formidable 14th and another forsaken shot at the 18th meant that he was forced to share the lead instead of explain it outright.
I messed up once on 14, but paid the consequences, pronounced Westwood, who led during the last spin here eleven years ago prior to descending tainted of Amen Corner. Other than that I am happy with the approach the day went.
Related LinksThe List: the tip ten Masters shotsPoulter overwhelmed by messages from the greatsWoods resumes use in meaningful styleThis was Poulters second unbroken spin of 68. It enclosed five birdies and could have been reduce had he taken a integrate some-more of the chances he created.
He arrived here as the Accenture World Match Play hold up and has brought that form with him to one of the toughest tests of golf there is. He has ironed out the kinks in his diversion that used to spin great rounds in to bad ones and his certainty knows no bounds. His pushing has got longer, his iron fool around crisper and his chipping and putting has left from unequivocally great to excellent. And now, at 34, he has the strength of mind to cope with the majority intense of pressure.
With 3 68s in his past 4 rounds at the Masters, Poulter has left at the behind of the days when he struggled to mangle standard here. I have learnt the golf march over the last 6 years and feel unequivocally gentle attack certain shots now, he said. You have to be assertive to your targets and you cannot let this march dominate you as well majority since youll behind afar from the shots you should be receiving on.
At No 7 in the universe (Westwood is No Four) and with a big win to his name already this season, Poulter had been oral of as one of the pre-tournament favourites. And, as someone who would never select to fly underneath the radar, that suits him only fine.
I similar to that since the going to put a bit of vigour on me, he said. Its going to have me concentration and here you have to concentration on each shot.
You cant let your mind ramble in any way, figure or form, differently this golf course will penalize you badly.
There was a time when associate pros would cackle at his some-more blow up claims. When I reach my potential, it will be only me and Tiger, Poulter was quoted in a magazine. But he took the flak, got down to a little critical work in the US, where he lives, and has incited himself in to a player who can brew it with the best.
Now, though, when the Me and Tiger theme comes up, he is happy to brush it aside. Well if I win this week, Ill probably go No 2, that would be lovely, he said. So I theory the a work in progress. Im operative towards that.
Woods, who has returned after five months away, astounded everyone by the quality of his fool around in a initial spin of 68. His putting was not as pointy as he would have liked, however, and the early indications yesterday were that rustiness was going to hold him back. A spin of 70 was not a bad return.
A wild opening expostulate did not prophesy well but he managed to keep the outrageous galleries preoccupied by throwing in the peculiar impulse of luminosity to liven up the ordinary. One such was a soaring shot out of, and over, trees to the 17th green. It is only the sort of shot he enjoys personification and it is what the galleries compensate their income to see.
Asked how it felt to be personification again, and personification comparatively well, Woods was almost effusive: It feels good, unequivocally good, he said. I customarily put myself in row majority of the time, majority years here, and this year Im right there. Weve got 36 some-more holes and Im certain they are not going to have it easy for us. They done it easy on the initial day for us and currently was certainly majority some-more difficult.
Leaderboard after dual rounds
United States unless stated; * denotes pledge
136: I Poulter (GB) 68, 68; L Westwood (GB) 67, 69.138: T Woods 68, 70; K. J. Choi (S Kor) 67, 71; R Barnes 68, 70; A Kim 68, 70, P Mickelson 67, 71.141: S Kjeldsen (Den) 70, 71; F Couples 66, 75; T Watson 67, 74, Yang Yong Eun (S Kor) 67, 74.142: T Immelman (SA) 69, 73; W Haas 72, 70, H Mahan 71, 71.143: S OHair 72, 71; K Perry 72, 71; M Kuchar 70, 73; D Johnson 71, 72; R Karlsson (Swe) 71, 72; M Weir (Can) 71, 72; F Molinari (It) 70, 74.144: N Watney 68, 76; Z Johnson 70, 74; S García (Sp) 74, 70; A Scott (Aus) 69, 75; D Toms 69, 75; S Marino 71, 73; E Els (SA) 71, 73.145: R Moore 72, 73; C Schwartzel (SA) 69, 76; R Goosen (SA) 74, 71; H Slocum 72, 73.146: B Crane 71, 75; S Flesch 75, 71; C Villegas (Col) 74, 72; S Stricker 73, 73; J Kelly 72, 74; S Verplank 73, 73; G Ogilvy (Aus) 74, 72.147: J Dufner 75, 72; M Á Jimnez (Sp) 72, 75; L Glover 76, 71; Y Ikeda (Japan) 70, 77; N Green (Aus) 72, 75; *M Manassero (It) 71, 76; C Campbell 79, 68, Á Cabrera (Arg) 73, 74, R Allenby (Aus) 72, 75.
Missed cut: 148: L Mize 76, 72; B Curtis 73, 75; J Senden (Aus) 71, 77; T Clark (SA) 75, 73; R Ishikawa (Japan) 72, 76.
149: R Palmer 72, 77; S Hansen (Den) 74, 75; P Harrington (Ire) 74, 75; J Merrick 72, 77; B Langer (Ger) 71, 78; G McDowell (N Ire) 75, 74; M OMeara 75, 74; *N Smith 74, 75; L Donald (GB) 74, 75; M Kaymer (Ger) 76, 73.150: S Dyson (GB) 77, 73; K Na 74, 76; J Leonard 75, 75; E Molinari (It) 75, 75; *B Benjamin 73, 77; Á Quirós (Sp) 75, 75.151: J Rollins 75, 76; R McIlroy (N Ire) 74, 77; D Duval 76, 75; B Gay 74, 77; M Leishman (Aus) 72, 79; O Wilson (GB) 78, 73; T Hamilton 74, 77.152: S Katayama (Japan) 75, 77; S Cink 76, 76; L Oosthuizen (SA) 75, 77.153: R Fisher (GB) 77, 76; R Sabbatini (SA) 75, 78; P Casey (GB) 75, 78.154: C Wood (GB) 78, 76; V Singh (Fiji) 76, 78.155: *B Martin 75, 80; B Crenshaw 77, 78; A Lyle (GB) 69, 86; H Stenson (Swe) 80, 75; *Han Chang Won (S Kor) 79, 76, *An Byeong Hun (S Kor) 78, 77.156: J Furyk 80, 76.157: C Stadler 79, 78; A Hansen (Den) 80, 77.164: M Campbell (NZ) 83, 81; I Woosnam (GB) 81, 83.
Withdrew: T Jaidee (Thai).
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