What to Expect on Day 2 of the Masters in 2020

what-to-expect-on-day-2-of-the-masters-in-2020.jpg

The rain shower on Thursday morning at Augusta National sufficiently clouded the plans for the Masters in 2020. But after a nearly three-hour delay that thwarted Bryson DeChambeau & # 39; s strategy for domination – rebounding from a double bogey on the 13th hole of par 5 to shoot a two-under-par 70 – the game turned. resumed with 27 of the 48 players who had finished their rounds by breaking par for the day. Among them was reigning champion, Tiger Woods, who registered a four-under-68 on Day 1 and finished three strokes behind the leader, Englishman Paul Casey.

Friday in Augusta should provide more clarity: with no rain forecast, the club's notoriously rippling greens should play faster and cause some separation in the logjam from the standings.

Augusta National's decision this year to introduce a stiffer cut looked like a stroke of genius after electrical storms swept the area on Thursday. The delay pretty much guaranteed the 96-man field wouldn't complete the second round by sunset at 5:25 PM. and that it could not be canceled until Saturday morning.

After the 2019 tournament produced the largest weekend field – 65 – in Masters history, club officials decided to remove the rule that had secured a weekend berth for every player within 10 strokes of the 36 holes leader.

The number of qualifiers this weekend will be the lowest 50, including a tie.

Fred S. Ridley, the president of Augusta National, said on Wednesday that officials were arguing the change because the more forgiving 10-stroke rule had allowed players to continue on Saturday and Sunday, even if they would don't seriously fight for a green jacket.

"For the past few years I think we only had two players who were in the fight who only made the cut because of the 10-shot rule," said Ridley. "Although it certainly can happen," he added. add to it, "It just isn't like that."

Alan Blinder contributed to this report.