Weekend Wake Up: Euros Lead, Teen Makes Cut, Clausen Wows, Giants Stay Perfect

Old World Masters? Though Tiger Woods is probably still the putative favorite to win The Masters, he is not the leader after 36 holes. That distinction goes to Europeans Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, who share a two-stroke lead over a pack of five players at six-under that includes Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Anthony Kim. Augusta’s played easy enough to allow a lot of talented players to stay within striking distance of the lead, and with no players clear of the field, this could be a wide open weekend that anyone could win.

Youth Movement. I think I can confidently assert that Matteo Manassero will not win The Masters. But he will make nearly everyone watching feel old. That’s because the Italian became the youngest player to make the cut at Augusta by rolling in a few long pars on the back nine Friday to come in at the cut line of three-over. Manassero adds that record to the one he owns at the British Open after finishing 12th last summer.

Jimmy: Top Ten Lock? Less ballyhooed as a college quarterback than either Tim Tebow or Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen has been assumed to be a first-round NFL Draft pick since high school. He may have given scouts and GMs more concrete reasons than ever to prove it on Friday: Clausen put on a show, completing all but two passes at his pro day and all but assuring that he will be the second field general taken on April 22.

Giants Astride MLB. Only one unbeaten remains in Major League Baseball, and the San Francisco Giants had to really work on Friday to stay perfect. First, Edgar Renteria hit a two-run homer off Braves closer Billy Wagner in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game. Then Aaron Rowand won the Giants’ home opener in the bottom of the 13th frame on a two-out infield single, diving headfirst into first base.

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