Masters Leaderboard: Lee Westwood Drops Back; Fred Couples In The Lead

Tiger Woods has fallen back to even-par Friday at the 2012 Masters, hitting bogey on No. 6 to negate what had been a solid start. He teed off past the hole into the crowd, and went 1-over as he worked his way back to the green. He is now tied with the likes of Ian Poulter and Zach Johnson in 24th at even overall and five shots off the leaders.

Woods has now bogeyed both par-3s he has faced today. He hit even on all four of Augusta’s par-3s on Thursday. He made par on the par-4 No. 7 hole to follow up his bogey and now faces a par 5 on No. 8.

Phil Mickelson is off to a much better start on Day 2 than he was during the opening round of the 2012 Masters. Through nine holes he is shooting 1-under, after going 1-over midway through the course Thursday. He began the day at 2-over overall, and has since moved up 22 spots on the leaderboard into a tie for 33rd.

Lefty got off to a good start Friday. He made par off the first tee after hitting bogey Thursday. From there, he birdied on holes No. 3 and No. 4 to shoot 2-under before stepping onto the fifth tee. He hit bogey there, however, then proceeded to par four straight holes.

Friday’s action continues to heat up in Augusta as more and more players continue to get underway in the second round of the 2012 Masters. Lee Westwood has shot an even par through his first five holes and retains his 5-under to remain atop the leaderboard, but there are threats on all sides.

Westwood’s most present threat is from Ben Crane and Jason Dufner, who are both at 4-under and tied for second place. Dufner would have overtaken the lead by this time, had he not double-bogeyed on the third hole. He has three birdies through his first six holes. Crane, meanwhile, has just one birdie through eight, but is staying consistent with no bogeys.

The hunt is on for the green jacket as the 2012 Masters enters its second day on Friday. The field is wide open as the second round in Augusta opens with Lee Westwood atop the leaderboard. Before Westwood even tees off, however, he has plenty of golfers gunning for his spot.

Ben Crane entered the day in a tie for third place, but has already climbed into a tie for second with Peter Hanson. Crane hit a birdie on the second hole to bring his score to 4-under, just one stroke behind Westwood’s 5-under. Crane has only finished his first two holes of play in the second round, but he’s setting himself up nicely for a potentially big day.