Watch @bubbawatson hit his second shot close and make eagle on No. 2 in the final round. #themasters https://t.co/ImDPupa1rt
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 12, 2015 Bubba Watson’s near albatross shows exactly how Tiger Woods must play 2nd hole
For Tiger, Rory and Phil, who are all trying to cut down different sizable deficits, this is exactly how they must attack early.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
If any of the chasers want to catch Jordan Spieth, they’re going to have to attack the par-5s at Augusta. On the second nine, we’ve seen plenty of eagles at the 13th (the easiest scoring hole on the course) and the 15th. But because these guys are so far behind Spieth, the two front-nine par-5s are more important to at least give themselves a chance at a meaningful second nine run.
As Bubba Watson demonstrated here, that pin at the No. 2 is definitely gettable and in its usual spot that accepts balls funneling from left to right. This is almost exactly how Louis Oosthuizen holed that albatross three years ago. That was just the fourth albatross in the history of the Masters, so the chasers can't really count on that.
But if you’re Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy, there’s almost no hope of getting back in it unless you record at least a birdie here. And given where the pin is located, an eagle is definitely what they will be gunning for Sunday afternoon. That would cut the deficit by two likely before Spieth even teed off.
We’ll know early, specifically at this hole, if a historic comeback is possible.
Here’s Paul Casey making almost the exact same play just a few groups after Bubba. It’s out there for the chasers.
UPDATE: Both Tiger and Rory came away with disappointing pars. That missed chance, combined with birdies at the 1st by both Spieth and Justin Rose, likely ends their chances at an historic comeback.
Tiger got on the green in two, but didn’t catch the funnel all the way back to the pin. He three-putted for a par that had to feel like a bogey.
See More:
