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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 9, 2016)
SPORTS Saturday, April 9, 2016 East Oregonian Page 3B Spieth hangs on to Masters lead, but just barely By DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press AUGUSTA, Ga. — Jordan Spieth set a Masters record on Friday by leading the tournament for the sixth straight round. He sure didn’t seem to be in a mood to celebrate. 6SLHWK OHG E\ DV PDQ\ DV ¿YH shots after a fast start, and then, just OLNHHYHU\RQHHOVHRQWKLVZLFNHGO\ ZLQG\ GD\ KH KDG WR KDQJ RQ IRU dear life. Spieth holed a 15-foot par SXWWRQWKHWKKROHIRUDRYHU WKDWJDYHKLPDRQHVKRWOHDGRYHU Rory McIlroy. “I’m still in the lead. I couldn’t ask for much better than leading,” Spieth said. “I’m a bit disappointed ULJKWQRZIUHVKRIIWKHURXQG7ZR RYHU RQ WKH ODVW WKUHH KROHV ZLOO OHDYH\RXWKDWZD\´ 0F,OUR\ ZKR QHHGV D JUHHQ jacket to complete the Grand Slam, played the last six holes in 3 under IRUDWRPDWFKWKHORZURXQGRI WKH GD\ &RQGLWLRQV ZHUH VR EUXWDO WKDW LW ZDV WKH ¿UVW WLPH VLQFH WKH WKLUG URXQG LQ WKDW QR RQH EURNH ³,NQRZ,¶PLQDJRRGSRVLWLRQ JRLQJ LQWR WKH ZHHNHQG´ 0F,OUR\ VDLG³$QG,¶PKDSS\ZLWKWKDW´ The prospects of Spieth and 0F,OUR\ LQ WKH ¿QDO JURXS DW DQ\ major, much less the Masters, is tantalizing. Both of them realize that this is far from the duel. With PRUH ZLQG H[SHFWHG RQ 6DWXUGD\ LWIHHOVPRUHOLNHHYHU\RQHDJDLQVW $XJXVWD 1DWLRQDO $QG ULJKW QRZ WKHRGGVDUHZLWKWKHJROIFRXUVH 7KHZD\6SLHWKFDPHEDFNWRWKH ¿HOGWKH0DVWHUVLVZLGHRSHQ +H ZDV DW XQGHU WKH AP Photo/Matt Slocum Jordan Spieth walks along the 15th fairway during the second round of the Masters golf tournament Friday, April 8, 2016, in Augusta, Ga. highest 36-hole lead since that IULJLGZLQG\0DVWHUVLQ 'DQQ\/HHERJH\HGKLVODVWWZR KROHV IRU D DQG ZDV WZR VKRWV EHKLQG DORQJ ZLWK 6FRWW 3LHUF\ 7KH RQO\ RWKHU SOD\HUV ZKR UHPDLQHG XQGHU SDU ZHUH +LGHNL 0DWVX\DPD %UDQGW 6QHGHNHU DQG6RUHQ.MHOGVHQ Dustin Johnson birdied all WKHSDUVIRUDDQGZDVLQWKH JURXS DW HYHQ SDU WKDW LQFOXGHG U.S. Amateur champion Bryson 'H&KDPEHDXZKRIHOWWKHVWLQJRI $XJXVWDRQWKH¿QDOKROH'H&KDP- EHDXZDVSOD\LQJWKHEHVWURXQGRI the day at 3 under and just one shot out of the lead. But he hooked his tee shot into the trees and had to return to the tee, hooked the next RQHDQGPDGHWULSOHERJH\IRUD 6WLOOLQWKHPL[ZDV-DVRQ'D\ ZKRVSXWWHUHGDORQJWRDEXWZDV RQO\¿YHVKRWVEHKLQG “It almost feels like a U.S. Open ZKHUH \RX QHHG WR VXUYLYH´ 'D\ said. “And I’m trying my best to VXUYLYHULJKWQRZ´ 6SLHWK¿QLVKHGDURXQGRYHUSDU DW$XJXVWD IRU WKH ¿UVW WLPH LQ KLV three Masters appearances. Coming RII KLV ZLUHWRZLUH YLFWRU\ ODVW \HDUWKDWSDUVDYHIURPWKHEXQNHU RQ WKH WK DOORZHG KLP WR VHW D UHFRUGIRUPRVWFRQVHFXWLYHURXQGV LQ WKH OHDG $UQROG 3DOPHU ZDV atop the leaderboard for six straight URXQGVLQDQGWKHRSHQLQJWZR rounds in 1961, though he shared in WKRVHODVWWZRURXQGV (YHQVRLWZDVKDUGWRJHWSDVW Spieth’s mistakes — a four-putt double bogey on No. 5, a three-putt bogey on No. 16. Frustration began WR VHW LQ RQ WKH WK ZKHQ 6SLHWK SRVHG RYHU KLV DSSURDFK XQWLO LW FDPHXSVKRUWRIWKHJUHHQ³+RZLV WKDWLQWRWKHZLQG"´KHVDLGEHIRUH WXUQLQJDQGKDYLQJDVWHUQFRQYHU- VDWLRQZLWKKLPVHOI 0F,OUR\ ZDV DV PDQ\ DV HLJKW VKRWVEHKLQGDQGQHYHUORVWVLJKWRI WKH GLI¿FXOW FRQGLWLRQV +H SLFNHG XSELUGLHVRQWKHWZRSDUVRQWKH EDFNDQGKROHGDIRRWELUGLHSXWW RQWKHWKEHIRUH¿QLVKLQJZLWKD SDUVDYHRXWRIWKHWUHHV ³,ZDVDWXQGHUDQG\RX¿QLVK DW7KDW¶VNLQGRIWRXJK´6SLHWK said. “I felt like I played better than RYHUIURPWKHIRXUWKKROHRQ´ The gusts topped out at 30 mph on Friday, and it’s not expected to JHWHDVLHU7KURZLQWKHSUHVVXUHRQ Spieth to become only the fourth EDFNWREDFNZLQQHUDWWKH0DVWHUV DQG D EXUGHQ RQ 0F,OUR\ WR ¿QLVK off the Grand Slam, and this could EHWKHDWHUDWLWV¿QHVW ³7RPRUURZLVJRLQJWREHPRUH GLI¿FXOW WKDQ WRGD\´ 6SLHWK VDLG ³(YHQ SDU LV RQH KHFN RI D VFRUH WRPRUURZ´ He said anyone breaking par 6DWXUGD\FRXOGPRYHLQWRWKHOHDG from as far back as 25th place. Spieth’s par on the last hole not only kept him in the lead, it VHQW 3KLO 0LFNHOVRQ KRPH IRU WKH ZHHNHQG EHFDXVH RI WKH VKRW rule. Mickelson shot a career-high DQG ¿QLVKHG DW RYHU WR PLVV the cut. Tom Watson missed the cut E\ WZR VKRWV LQ KLV ¿QDO 0DVWHUV DSSHDUDQFH ZDONLQJ XS WKH WK IDLUZD\ WR D VWDQGLQJ RYDWLRQ DQG ZDUP DSSODXVH +H SDUUHG KLV ODVW IRXU KROHV IRU D DQG VDLG ODWHU ³,¶PJODG,GRQ¶WKDYHWRSOD\WKDW 18th hole anymore.” 6SLHWK 0F,OUR\ DQG HYHU\RQH HOVHKDYHWZRPRUHGD\VWRHQGXUH WRVHHZKRFODLPVWKHJUHHQMDFNHW Last cut is deepest: Watson bids adieu Former champion plays last round at the Masters By EDDIE PELLS Associated Press AP Photo/Chris Carlson Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, holds up his ball after saving par on the first hole during the second round of the Masters golf tournament Friday, April 8, 2016, in Augusta, Ga. McIlroy roars back into contention By DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press AUGUSTA, Ga. — 5RU\0F,OUR\NQRZVEHWWHU WKDQ PRVW KRZ TXLFNO\ fortunes can change in the Masters. +H ZDV HLJKW VKRWV behind Friday and headed to the scariest par 3 at Augusta National in tree-shaking ZLQG $OO WKDW PDWWHUHG ZDVSLFNLQJWKHULJKWFOXE KRSLQJ IRU WKH ULJKW ZLQG DQG JHWWLQJ LW VRPHZKHUH on the 12th green. He did just that, made his par and began an important climb back into contention. With birdies on the par 5s and a bonus birdie from DIRRWSXWWRQWKHSDU WK 0F,OUR\ UHFRYHUHG IRU D XQGHU WKDW OHIW him one shot behind Jordan 6SLHWKDQGLQWKH¿QDOJURXS JRLQJLQWRWKHZHHNHQG “The most comfortable thing for me on this golf FRXUVHLVNQRZLQJWKDWHYHQ LI\RXDUH¿YHRUVL[VKRWV back, things can change TXLWH TXLFNO\´ 0F,OUR\ VDLG ³,¶YH EHHQ RQ WKH RSSRVLWHHQGRIWKDWZKHUH WKLQJVFDQVWDUWWRJHWDZD\ from you.” A green jacket is all that keeps McIlroy from the career Grand Slam. +H ORRNHG WR KDYH WKDW ZUDSSHG XS ¿YH \HDUV DJR ZKHQ KH WRRN D IRXUVKRW OHDG LQWR WKH ¿QDO URXQG RQO\WRFORVHZLWKDQDQG ¿QLVKVKRWVEHKLQG 0F,OUR\ LV D ORQJ ZD\ from redemption. The Masters doesn’t really get VWDUWHGXQWLOWKHZHHNHQG But it’s clearly on his mind. “I sort of feel that $XJXVWD RZHV PH VRPH- WKLQJ DQG , KDYH FRPH ZLWKWKDWDWWLWXGH´0F,OUR\ VDLG WR ,ULVK UDGLR QHWZRUN 57(³,KDYHFRPHKHUHWR get something that I should KDYHKDGDORQJWLPHDJR´ Those birdies on the par 5s — a good chip from behind the 13th green, a ZRRG RQWR WKH JUHHQ IRU D WZRSXWW RQ WKH WK ² ZHUH MXVW ZKDW KH QHHGHG And the putt on the 16th to the toughest pin signaled that his fortunes indeed ZHUHFKDQJLQJ “I started it ... maybe 6 feet left of the hole and just got it up there really, really high,” McIlroy said. “And EDVLFDOO\ OHW JUDYLW\ DQG ZLQGWDNHLWWKHUHVWRIWKH ZD\ , ZDV MXVW ORRNLQJ WR WZRSXWWWU\WRJHWLWZLWKLQ 2 or 3 feet of the hole. And LW ZDV D ERQXV ZKHQ LW dropped.” On Thursday, McIlroy ZDV XQGHU SDU DQG FKDO- OHQJLQJ IRU WKH OHDG ZKHQ KH ERJH\HG WZR RI WKH last three to fall four shots EDFN+HZDVXQGHUDJDLQ RQ )ULGD\ ZKHQ KH PDGH GRXEOH ERJH\ RQ 1R hit a poor pitch that didn’t reach the green on No. 5 DQG ZDV EDFN WR HYHQ SDU IRUWKHWRXUQDPHQWZKHQKH missed a 5-foot par putt on the 11th. +H ZDV GHWHUPLQHG WR ¿QLVK EHWWHU LQ WKH VHFRQG round, and he did. ³, SUREDEO\ ZRXOG KDYH WDNHQ WKUHH SDUV WR ¿QLVK DQG , ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ happy,” he said. $ORQJZLWKWKHXQOLNHO\ birdie on the 16th, he had to get out of the trees right RI WKH WK IDLUZD\ DQG then pitched to 6 feet and VDYHG SDU +LV FDGGLH NHSW UHPLQGLQJKLPWKDWSDUZDV D JRRG VFRUH LQ ZLQG OLNH WKLV 1RW RQO\ ZDV D VFRUH XQGHUSDUJRRGLWZDVUDUH on this day. McIlroy said after SRVWLQJ D XQGHU WKDW LW GLGQ¶W PDWWHU ZKDW WKH leaders did on the back nine. +H SDXVHG ZKHQ KH VDLG ³OHDGHUV´ DQG JODQFHG RYHU at the electronic leaderboard in the press center. At the WLPH 6SLHWK ZDV XQGHU WZRDKHDGRI0F,OUR\ AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tom Watson thumped his hands DJDLQVW KLV FKHVW +H ZDV thanking the thousands of IDQVZKROLQHGXSDQG deep, craned their necks and stretched onto their tiptoes WR ZDWFK RQH RI KLVWRU\¶V best play the 18th green at Augusta one last time. :DWVRQKDVNQRZQIRUD ZKLOHWKDWWKLVVFHQH²DQG the tears that accompanied LW²ZRXOGEHFRPLQJ+H WKRXJKWKHPLJKWVWDYHLWRII IRUWZRPRUHGD\V %XWWKHWZRWLPH0DVWHUV FKDPSLRQ VKRW D RYHU RQ)ULGD\WKDWOHIWKLPWZR VKRWVRIIKLVJRDOWKLVZHHN — to become, at 66, the oldest player to make the cut in tournament history. Not a tragedy, Watson insisted. “I’m a realist,” he said. “If I could still play this JROI FRXUVH , ZRXOGQ¶W EH retiring.” +H¶V QRW GRQH ZLWK FRPSHWLWLYH JROI EXW KH GLGVD\KH¶VDOOEXW¿QLVKHG teeing it up against “the young guys.” 7RKLPWKDWJDYH)ULGD\ DIWHUQRRQ¶V ZLQG\ ZDON WKURXJK WKH SLQHV DQ HYHQ JUHDWHUVHQVHRI¿QDOLW\WKDQ his last British Open, at St. $QGUHZV ODVW \HDU DQG KLV ¿QDO862SHQLQDW 3HEEOH%HDFK Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal Constitution via AP Tom Watson salutes the gallery on the 18th green during the second round of the Masters golf tournament, Friday, April 8, 2016, at Augusta National in Augusta, Ga. Watson missed the cut in his final appearance as a competitor at the event. ³,¶YH PDGH WKH GHFLVLRQ that the kids hit the ball too hard,” Watson said. “This FRXUVH UHDOO\ VKRZV WKH difference.” Yes, Watson said, hitting DGHFHQWGULYHDQGKDYLQJWR SXOORXWZRRGIRUWKHQH[W shot on No. 18 takes its toll DIWHUDZKLOH ([KLELWVRIKRZWKLVJROI course has left him behind ZHUHHYHU\ZKHUH)ULGD\ ²2Q1RKHVWRRGDW WKHKLJKSRLQWRIWKHIDLUZD\ to gauge his approach shot WKHQ ZDONHG SDFHV back to his ball. On that hole, and so many others, KH ZDV KLWWLQJ EOLQG VKRWV from huge distances into greens he could barely see. ² :DONLQJ RII WKH WK JUHHQ KH ¿VWEXPSHG ZLWK D NLG ZKR RQO\ PRPHQWV HDUOLHU VDZ :DWVRQ approaching and asked his PRP³:KR¶VWKDW"´ Nobody asked that back in the day. At one point, Watson made 21 straight cuts here. +H ¿QLVKHG LQ WKH WRS for 15 straight years starting ZLWKKLVYLFWRU\LQ He hasn’t made the cut since 2010, though. When KLV ¿QDO WZRGD\ VWD\ DW $XJXVWD ZDV RYHU KH WRRN time to reminisce. +H WDONHG DERXW ZKHQ DV D \HDUROG KH ZRQ D .DQVDV &LW\ PDWFKSOD\ WRXUQDPHQWDQGJRWWKH¿UVW glimmer that he might be DEOHWRGRWKLVIRUDOLYLQJ $QG DERXW WKH SULYDWH phone calls he made to KLV PHQWRUV .DQVDV &LW\ club pro Stan Thirsk and Byron Nelson, from a cabin DIWHUKHZRQWKH¿UVWJUHHQ jacket. About his friendships ZLWK -DFN 1LFNODXV DQG $UQROG3DOPHUDQGKRZKLV DUULYDOWRWKHXSSHUHFKHORQ RI JROI LQ WKH PLGV changed that dynamic. “Before that time, Arnold ZDVP\KHUR-DFNZDVWKH YLOODLQ´:DWVRQVDLG 1RZWKH\¶UHDOOEHORYHG and Watson’s contribution FRXOG EH IHOW DV KH ZDONHG the back nine, and heard chants of “Thank You, 7RP´ DOPRVW HYHU\ZKHUH KHZHQW /HIW\OHDYHV$XJXVWDDKHDGRIZHHNHQGIRUUGWLPH By JIM LITKE Associated Press $8*867$ *D ² 3KLO 0LFN- elson rolled a 22-foot birdie putt MXVW EHORZ WKH KROH DW 1R KLV last miss on a day packed end to HQGZLWKZDVWHGRSSRUWXQLWLHV :KHQLWZDV¿QDOO\RYHU/HIW\ VLJQHGIRUDRYHU²KLVZRUVW URXQG HYHU DW WKH 0DVWHUV LQ DSSHDUDQFHV JLYLQJ 0LFNHOVRQ DV many missed cuts as green jackets. 7KHFXWZDVDWRYHUSDU 0LFNHOVRQ VKRW HYHQSDU LQ KLV opening round and looked like a ORFN WR PDNH LW LQWR WKH ZHHNHQG %XW )ULGD\ EHJDQ ZLWK D VWURQJ breeze and gusts up to 30 mph and that touched off a series of ZKDWKHFDOOHG³MXVWVWXSLGWKLQJV´ EHJLQQLQJ DW 1R 7KH PLVFXHV began piling up — a ball left in a EXQNHUVHYHUDOPLVVHGVKRUWSXWWV DQG WZR DSSURDFK VKRWV GXPSHG into the drink at Nos. 15 and 16 ² ZKLFK SURGXFHG EDFNWREDFN double bogeys. That set up a frantic VFUDPEOHRQWKHODVWWZRKROHV ³, GRQ¶W NQRZ KRZ WR H[SODLQ LW´ 0LFNHOVRQ VDLG DIWHUZDUG ³, MXVW WKUHZ DZD\ D ORW RI VKRWV I just made a lot of poor shots in WKH ZURQJ VSRW7KLV LV ZRUVW ,¶YH managed myself around this golf course.” $ \HDU DJR 0LFNHOVRQ ¿QLVKHG tied for second behind Jordan 6SLHWK $IWHU DUULYLQJ WKLV ZHHN KHVDLGWKDWZKLOHKLVH[SHFWDWLRQV KDGQ¶W FKDQJHG KH ZDV GULYLQJ WKH EDOO ZHOO DQG ³, IHHO D OLWWOH bit more relaxed heading into this HYHQWEHFDXVH,¶PQRWWU\LQJWR¿QG anything. “I feel I’ll able to put the ball in play a lot easier,” he added. “And as ,¶PGRLQJWKDWP\LURQSOD\ZKLFK I feel is the strength of my game, ZLOOEHDQDGYDQWDJH´ <HW HYHQ KLV QRUPDOO\ VWHOODU ZHGJH JDPH OHW 0LFNHOVRQ GRZQ At No. 15, he laid up and left KLPVHOI\DUGVLQDQGVRPHKRZ hit the ball just 65 yards and into the pond fronting the green. ³,MXVWWKRXJKWLWZDVVHWXSYHU\ YHU\ ZHOO´ KH VDLG ¿QDOO\ ³7KH JX\VWKDWSOD\HGZHOOJRWUHZDUGHG DQG WKH JX\V ZKR GLG GXPE VWXII like I did shot a big number. So it happens.” AP Photo/Jae C. Hong Phil Mickelson reacts after missing a putt on the 10th green during the second round of the Masters golf tournament Friday, April 8, 2016, in Augusta, Ga.
