Augusta [US], April 9 (ANI): Korea’s KH Lee brilliantly carded the joint low rating of the day with a 5-under 67 on Friday to make the weekend rounds of the weather-hit Masters Tournament and was joined by countrymen Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim.
The yr’s opening main was disrupted by inclement climate twice within the afternoon earlier than play was suspended for the day, however nicely earlier than American Brooks Koepka signed for a bogey-free 67 and 12-under 132 whole, tied for third lowest within the event historical past, to grab the clubhouse lead at Augusta National.
World No. 3 Jon Rahm of Spain was sitting on 9-under by means of 9 holes of his second spherical earlier than being referred to as off the golf course whereas novice Sam Bennett delivered a second straight 68 to take a seat in solo third on 8-under.
Legend Tiger Woods, a five-time Masters champion and 82-time PGA TOUR winner, was additionally battling for a record-equalling twenty third successive minimize at Augusta National the place he’s presently on the projected minimize line at 2-over with seven holes to play.
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy crashed out as his hopes of finishing a profession Grand Slam ended with a dismal 77.
A yr after lacking the minimize in his maiden Masters look, Lee, who’s a two-time PGA TOUR winner, hit seven birdies, together with 4 over his closing 10 holes for a share of 18th place on 3-under and shall be fired up with the information {that a} low spherical on Saturday would propel him into rivalry.
Masters rookie Tom Kim additionally confirmed his mettle by preventing again from three dropped pictures on the flip as he stormed residence with three birdies over his final six holes for a hard-fought 72, including to his opening 70 for tied twenty second place on 2-under whereas four-time PGA TOUR winner, Si Woo Kim additionally carded a 72 to take a seat in a share of forty fourth place.
A fourth Korean within the elite 88-man area, Sungjae Im was amongst these affected by the climate disruptions and can return Saturday morning with 10 holes to finish. He was degree par by means of eight holes on Friday, and 1-under for the event, as he seeks a 3rd top-10 from 4 begins at Augusta National.
The Asian problem can even flip to 2021 Masters winner, Hideki Matsuyama as he was cruising on 3-under for the event when play was suspended. The 31-year-old Japanese star birdied the 2 par-5s on his outward 9, leaving himself in place to inch nearer to the clubhouse chief.
Defending Masters champion and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler surprisingly endured a tough day with a 75 as he slipped out of rivalry on 1-under.
Competing within the first Masters courtesy of his triumph within the U.S. Amateur final yr, Bennett, 23, is profiting from the chance to problem the world’s finest golfers. With 5 birdies towards a lone bogey on Friday, the slender American is now dreaming of a fairy-tale end.
“Everybody coming into the week was, yeah, hope you get Low Am,” mentioned Bennett, whose opening 68 on Thursday was the bottom rating by an novice within the first spherical since Ken Venturi in 1956. “I just wanted to put two good rounds up. I knew my golf was good enough to compete out here. I found myself in a situation that now I’ve got a golf tournament that I can go out and win.”As he prepares for the weekend, Bennett shall be impressed by his late father’s sage recommendation – “Don’t want to do something” which phrases are tattooed on his left arm. “I see it every time I’m gripping the club, it’s right there, “Don’t wait to do one thing.” You know, I thrive on it. I use it for some motivation. I know how happy he would be seeing me out here at Augusta National doing what I’m doing. I’ve used it to just stay focused and really be locked into that one shot,” he mentioned. (ANI)