Advertisement

Masters notes: After a great day, amateur Bryson DeChambeau falters on the last hole

Bryson DeChambeau acknowledges the fans Friday after hitting a tee shot during the second round of the Masters.

Bryson DeChambeau acknowledges the fans Friday after hitting a tee shot during the second round of the Masters.

(Harry How / Getty Images)
Share via

Bryson DeChambeau’s day at Augusta National went from impressive to bizarre in two swings Friday.

One shot off the lead of his playing partner, Jordan Spieth, as they stood on the 18th tee in the Masters, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion pulled his tee shot into the left trees. Left with an unplayable lie in a bush, DeChambeau took a penalty stroke, re-teed and it another ball left.

This time, he was up against a fence that backed a concession stand, and he was able to take a free drop — at least 45 yards to the left, where there is a wide walking corridor for spectators.

DeChambeau hit a wood to short of the green and chipped up to eventually make a triple-bogey 7 that dropped him into a tie for eighth at even par.

Advertisement

The 22-year-old who is turning pro at the tournament seemed hardly flustered.

“Not tough at all,” he said of the end. “It’s just a golf shot. People think, ‘Oh my gosh, he was nervous.’ No, I wasn’t nervous. I pulled two shots. It’s a disappointing factor. But that’s golf. You’ve got to learn from that and play your best tomorrow.”

DeChambeau, best known for his clubs all being the same length, still has a shot at becoming the first amateur champion of the Masters.

Watson says farewell

Advertisement

As the fans surrounding the 18th green cheered, Tom Watson tapped his chest and pointed at them. Before he lined up his first putt, he wiped tears from his eyes.

Then, 66 feet above the hole — a number that matched his age — he aimed his roll well left and watched as his ball crept down to within inches of the cup. With a tap-in par, Watson’s 43rd and last Masters came to an end.

Advertisement

He shot 74-78 and at eight over missed the cut by two shots.

“It was a great walk in the southern Georgia pines one more time,” Watson said.

The two-time Masters winner and eight-time major champion noted that after a good drive at 18 he needed to hit five-wood into the green.

“I’m so happy I don’t have to play 18 anymore,” he said with a laugh. “The reality is that the golf course is too big for me.”

The other Watson

The good news for Bubba Watson: He made the cut.

The bad news: He made the cut.

Watson took a second straight beating at Augusta, shooting a three-over 75 with six bogeys. He figured he was toast when he met with the media in the early afternoon. But thanks to some ugly scores, the cut moved to six over, which means the course could bludgeon him again Saturday.

“The golf course beat me this year,” the two-time Masters champion said, “so I’ve just got to improve, try to get better around this place.”

He bristled at a question about his confidence level, saying: “I was fourth in the world, and I’m still fourth in the world, so, yeah, I feel good. I don’t know if you’ve ever been fourth in the world, but you have pretty good confidence; there’s only three guys better than you in the world.”

Advertisement

They’re gone

With shots into the water at 15 and 16 to make double bogeys, Phil Mickelson scored 40 on the back nine, carded 79 and missed only his third cut in 24 Masters. “This is the worst I’ve managed myself around this golf course,” Mickelson said. “I don’t know what to say. I love this tournament so much, and I’ve been playing so well … to come in and make some of those mistakes and the doubles and stuff that I made today is very disappointing.”

Ian Woosnam, the 1991 Masters champion, said after shooting 82-81 that he would retire from the tournament. The Welshman, 58, said a persistent back problem won’t allow him to continue to walk Augusta’s hills.

World No. 5 Rickie Fowler followed an 80 with a 73 and missed the cut at nine over.

Advertisement