Bubba Watson of the US tees off on the fourth hole during the third round of the 78th Masters Golf Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2014 in Augusta, Georgia. PHOTO: AFP
Bubba Watson was the man to catch on Saturday for the 50 other golfers who made it through to Masters weekend at Augusta National.
The 35-year-old champion from two years ago blasted clear of the field with a five-in-a-row, back nine birdie blast that briefly raised the roof on what was otherwise a relatively sedate day.
By the time the dust had settled, Watson was leading by three at seven-under-par 137 after rounds of 69 and 68, making him the only man in the field capable of creating Masters history by firing four rounds in the 60s.
Closest to him is quiet Australian John Senden, who is at four under, with veteran Dane Thomas Bjorn, unheralded Swede Jonas Blixt, rising US star Jordan Spieth and, most menacingly, defending champion Adam Scott a further shot back.
Watson, who endured a year in the golfing wilderness after his emotional Masters win in 2012, said he had got himself back to the basics and was “being a kid again and just rejoicing.”
Spieth exudes all the confidence of youth, saying there is no reason he cannot become the youngest-ever winner of the Masters on Sunday.
“Right now we’re 36 holes in, so I think I’m still far from contention,” said Spieth.
A total of 17 players were grouped within six strokes of Watson in a leaderboard dominated by Americans, but still with an international flavour.
This year, for the first time since 1994, there was no Tiger Woods and no Phil Mickelson on the weekend at the Masters.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2014.
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