Brooks Koepka is poised to strike a serious blow for LIV Golf after seizing management of the 87th Masters at Augusta Nationwide.
The previous world No.1 adopted up his opening spherical of 65 with a 67 on Friday to surge to 12 below par and a four-shot clubhouse lead as inclement climate pressured the suspension of the second spherical.
Followers have been evacuated amid lightning flashes and darkish clouds nevertheless it was all trying rosy for Koepka because the four-time main winner continued his kind resurgence with three extra birdies and an eagle three on the par-5 13th the highlights of his bogey-free spherical .
A winner of final week’s LIV Golf Worldwide, Koepka was amongst 18 gamers from Greg Norman’s Saudi-backed breakaway league to tee up on the 12 months’s first main.
The doubters predicted golf’s outcasts – together with Australia’s reigning British Open champion Cameron Smith – would lack the aggressive edge to compete with the PGA Tour stars after enjoying solely a lightweight schedule in 2023.
However whereas Smith and others have been struggling to maintain up throughout the opening two rounds, Koepka has set a cracking tempo.
His closest pursuer by means of two accomplished rounds is US beginner Sam Bennett, whose successive 68s enjoying alongside world No.1 and defending champion Scottie Scheffler left the upstart 4 strokes behind Koepka at eight below.
Jon Rahm, degree by means of seven holes on Friday earlier than play was stopped, was one additional again at seven below.
Collin Morikawa signed for a second straight 69 to be six below, with Australian Jason Day (67-72) seven pictures off the tempo.
Day had been just one behind however dropped 4 pictures in his final 4 holes in a miserable end to an in any other case positive second spherical that includes 5 birdies.
Upstaged by his beginner enjoying companion, Scheffler’s second-round 75 left him 11 pictures adrift of Koepka at one below.
At the very least Scheffler will make the minimize.
A few of golf’s greatest names, although, will not play on the weekend.
Rory McIlroy’s ninth quest to finish a fabled profession grand slam is nearly definitely over after a second-round 77 left the world No.2 at 5 over and two pictures outdoors the projected minimize line.
LIV’s former Masters champions Sergio Garcia and Bubba Watson, six and 7 over respectively throughout the stoppage, have been additionally effectively outdoors the minimize mark.
