For all intents and purposes, we are now looking at a one-man tournament. McIlroy has a three-shot lead on the field and a six-shot lead on everyone who is still on the course. At this point, he doesn't even need to birdie any more par 4s or par 3s. If he birdies 13 and 15 (two relatively easy par 5's), pars everything else, and then shoots 70 on Saturday and Sunday, he will finish at 16 under par and he will be the 2011 Masters champion -- probably by at least three shots.
1. R. McIlroy (NIR): -10 (29 holes)
2. K.J. Choi (KOR): -7 (36)
T3. G. Ogilvy (AUS): -6 (36)
T3. A. Quiros (ESP): -6 (36)
T5. Y.E. Yang (KOR): -5 (36)
T5. R. Barnes: -5 (36)
T5. F. Couples: -5 (36)
Right after I typed this, McIlroy bogeyed the 12th hole -- his first bogey of the tournament -- to fall back to 9 under. But I think he'll make that up on 13.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, watching Tiger play golf is like watching Muhammad Ali fight Larry Holmes -- it's just too depressing for words. Occasionally he hits a good shot here and there, but he is nothing more than a pale shadow of his former self. He can't putt, he can't get up and down the way he used to, he can't put more than two or three drives in a row in the fairway. It's really, really sad. At this point, I almost wish he would just retire.
ReplyDeleteBut in considering how far Tiger has fallen, it is important to remember how great he used to be. When he could still play golf, he pretty much never lost tournaments where he had a three-shot lead in the second round -- as McIlroy did a few minutes ago. Woods was always smart enough to know when he needed to hit the gas and when he could just put it in cruise control. Does McIlroy have the same judgment? McIlroy has this tournament in the bag -- unless he screws it up. If he realizes that -- and if he can adapt his game accordingly -- he will show himself as a worthy successor to Tiger, and he will likely dominate golf for the next ten years.
ReplyDeleteAs I expected, McIlroy hits a great drive on 13, and then blasts his second shot to the green, setting up a very makeable eagle putt. He's just on a different level from everyone else right now.
ReplyDeleteTo put things in perspective, McIlroy's putt for eagle on 13 is going to be shorter than Fowler's putt for birdie on the same hole.
ReplyDeleteThis is excellent.
ReplyDeleteMcIlroy misses the eagle putt on 13, but taps in for birdie to regain his three-shot lead.
ReplyDeleteMcIlroy's drive on the par-4 fourteenth goes right down the middle of the fairway.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to predict right now that Rickie Fowler will never win a major tournament as long as he keeps wearing these goofy outfits. It's not that the outfit itself is a jinx -- it's that turning up in these ridiculous clothes symbolizes a fundamental lack of seriousness and ambition that will make it impossible for you to hold up under the pressure of a major tournament.
ReplyDeleteFor that matter, based on what I've seen so far, it could be a very long time before another American wins the Masters. We just don't have any championship-caliber players under the age of 35.
ReplyDeleteIt's good, really, that Fowler is playing with McIlroy. Fowler needs to understand that he will have to significantly upgrade his game if he plans to contend with McIlroy going forward.
ReplyDeleteMcIlroy lofts his second shot onto the 14th green to set up another birdie putt.
ReplyDeleteMcIlroy misses the birdie putt, but taps in for par. On to the par-5 15th.
ReplyDeleteFowler had a seven-foot putt for birdie on 14, but of course he ran it well past. He remains six shots behind McIlroy.
ReplyDeleteMcIlroy splits the 15th fairway with another solid drive.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, Tiger has birdied 8, 9, and 10 to move to three under par. He is now only two shots away from tying for Low American.
ReplyDeleteTiger's run of good play ends with a wild drive into the crowd on 11.
ReplyDeleteMcIlroy's second shot on 15 runs slightly through the green, and he will be about 60 feet away for eagle.
ReplyDeleteI'm stepping away for awhile. Be back soon.
ReplyDelete