The cut fell at +3 this year and a few very notable players failed to better that mark:
Rory McIlory will have to wait another year to attempt to win the career grand slam.
Matt Kuchar has been solid for years at the Masters despite not winning, but this year he missed the cut.
Another player who has historically been a factor deep into the weekend at Augusta National is Jason Day, until this week.
Former champions who missed the cut include Dustin Johnson, Danny Willett, Mike Weir, Sergio Garcia, Zach Johnson, Ian Woosnam, Sandy Lyle, Fred Couples, Vijay Singh, Larry Mize, Bernard Langer.
Bruce Koepka was visibly struggling to read putts and walk following a recent knee surgery.
Lee Westwood has been one of the hottest golfers on the planet recently, but couldn’t carry that momentum into Augusta.
PGA TOUR
RBC Heritage
Harbour Town Golf Links
Hilton Head, S.C.
Thursday, April 17: Golf Channel 3-6 p.m.
Friday, April 18: Golf Channel 3-6 p.m.
Saturday, April 19: Golf Channel 1:00-2:30 p.m.; CBS 3-6 p.m.
Sunday, April 20: Golf Channel 1:00-2:30 p.m.; CBS 3-6 p.m.
Notables in the field: Jordan Spieth, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk, Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell, Brandt Snedeker, Jach Johnson, Tom Watson.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Greater Gwinnett Championship
TPC Sugarloaf
Duluth, Ga.
Friday, April 18: Golf Channel 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 19: Golf Channel 3-6 p.m.
Sunday, April 20: Golf Channel 3-6 p.m.
Champions Tour debut of Miguel Angel Jimenez!
EUROPEAN TOUR
Maybank Malaysian Open
Kuala Lumpur G&CC
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Thursday, April 17: Golf Channel 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Friday, April 18: Golf Channel 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 19: Golf Channel 6:30-10:30 a.m.
Sunday, April 20: Golf Channel 6:30-10:30 a.m.
Notables in the field: Lee Westwood, Nicholas Colsaerts.
LPGA TOUR
LPGA LOTTE Championship
Ko Olina Golf Club
Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii
Wednesday, April 16: Golf Channel 6:30-10:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 17: Golf Channel 6:30-10:30 p.m.
Friday, April 18: Golf Channel 6:30-10:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 19: Golf Channel 6:30-10:30 p.m.
Below is a table containing the most recently updated top 50 golfers in the world rankings following the conclusion of the 2013 FedEx Cup. Tiger Woods remains at #1. Notable movements over the last while are Henrik Stenson moving up to #4 while former world #1 Rory McIlory drops to #6.
| Rank |
Player / Country |
Points |
Events |
| 1 |
Tiger Woods, USA |
13.22 |
42 |
| 2 |
Adam Scott, AUS |
9.25 |
41 |
| 3 |
Phil Mickelson, USA |
8.52 |
49 |
| 4 |
Henrik Stenson, SWE |
8.23 |
52 |
| 5 |
Justin Rose, ENG |
7.78 |
52 |
| 6 |
Rory McIlroy, NIR |
7.50 |
48 |
| 7 |
Steve Stricker, USA |
6.88 |
40 |
| 8 |
Matt Kuchar, USA |
6.64 |
52 |
| 9 |
Brandt Snedeker, USA |
6.27 |
52 |
| 10 |
Jason Dufner, USA |
6.08 |
52 |
| 11 |
Graeme McDowell, NIR |
5.52 |
52 |
| 12 |
Zach Johnson, USA |
5.52 |
52 |
| 13 |
Jim Furyk, USA |
5.21 |
50 |
| 14 |
Keegan Bradley, USA |
5.11 |
52 |
| 15 |
Luke Donald, ENG |
5.10 |
51 |
| 16 |
Jason Day, AUS |
4.91 |
45 |
| 17 |
Sergio Garcia, ESP |
4.65 |
50 |
| 18 |
Lee Westwood, ENG |
4.62 |
52 |
| 19 |
Charl Schwartzel, RSA |
4.51 |
52 |
| 20 |
Ian Poulter, ENG |
4.47 |
48 |
| 21 |
Jordan Spieth, USA |
4.37 |
40 |
| 22 |
Ernie Els, RSA |
4.31 |
52 |
| 23 |
Dustin Johnson, USA |
4.26 |
48 |
| 24 |
Webb Simpson, USA |
4.18 |
52 |
| 25 |
Hunter Mahan, USA |
4.09 |
52 |
| 26 |
Bubba Watson, USA |
4.06 |
47 |
| 27 |
Nick Watney, USA |
3.99 |
52 |
| 28 |
Louis Oosthuizen, RSA |
3.99 |
52 |
| 29 |
Bill Haas, USA |
3.96 |
52 |
| 30 |
Hideki Matsuyama, JPN |
3.63 |
40 |
| 31 |
Matteo Manassero, ITA |
3.10 |
52 |
| 32 |
Graham Delaet, CAN |
3.01 |
50 |
| 33 |
Rickie Fowler, USA |
2.98 |
50 |
| 34 |
Billy Horschel, USA |
2.91 |
52 |
| 35 |
Jonas Blixt, SWE |
2.91 |
52 |
| 36 |
Branden Grace, RSA |
2.90 |
52 |
| 37 |
Kevin Streelman, USA |
2.90 |
52 |
| 38 |
Richard Sterne, RSA |
2.85 |
44 |
| 39 |
Peter Hanson, SWE |
2.84 |
52 |
| 40 |
Scott Piercy, USA |
2.80 |
52 |
| 41 |
Bo Van Pelt, USA |
2.78 |
52 |
| 42 |
Martin Kaymer, GER |
2.77 |
52 |
| 43 |
Jamie Donaldson, WAL |
2.66 |
48 |
| 44 |
Ryan Moore, USA |
2.62 |
48 |
| 45 |
Miguel A Jimenez, ESP |
2.59 |
48 |
| 46 |
Thomas Bjorn, DEN |
2.58 |
50 |
| 47 |
Francesco Molinari, ITA |
2.56 |
52 |
| 48 |
Boo Weekley, USA |
2.47 |
52 |
| 49 |
Thorbjorn Olesen, DEN |
2.46 |
52 |
| 50 |
D.A. Points, USA |
2.40 |
52 |
7:35PM ET
Once again, quite a while ago Fred Couples finished with a 67 today at is tied for 1st at -5 with Jason Dufner.
Thankfully Tiger Woods is finished for the day. A up-and-down par on 18 gave him a round of 75, his 2nd worst round at the Masters. In the post round interview Tiger said, “I didn’t quite have it today with my swing.” Tiger finishes the day tied for 40th at +3.
Tiger’s playing partner Miguel Angel Jimenez finished where he started the day, -3. Jimenez is tied for 8th.
World #1 Luke Donald finished the day at +4, tied for 47th with nine other players.
Nick Watney finished up the day at -2, T11.
7:00PM ET
Tiger Woods hit a really poor 2nd shot on 15 and beaned someone in the gallery right of the green. Following the bad 2nd shot the microphones picked up a “Goddamn it.” He ended up making a good recovery par after trying to flop the 3rd shot but ending up in the bunker.
Then the temper showed itself on 16 tee. Tiger blocked his tee shot right of the par-3 green into the bunker. He let go of his club then turned around and kicked the club a good 10-15 feet. At that point Nick Faldo commented, “We can officially say Tiger has lost his game, and his mind.” The ball was plugged and Tiger was lucky the bunker shot didn’t end up in the water left of the green. Bogey. On 17 tee he’s at +3. More bad swings could make missing the cut a possibility.
Jimenez knocked his 2nd shot in the water on 15 and made bogey. Through 16 he’s at -3.
6:00PM ET
Not too many players left on the course right now.
Tiger Woods is not having his best day. He is showing frustration. Having started at even par Tiger is +2 for the tournament through 13. 52% of fairways hit so far.
Jason Day has withdrawn. I hear it is an ankle injury but not sure yet.
Miguel Angel Jimenez is playing very well, and in Tiger’s pairing. He is -4 total through the 13th hole. He can knock a big crowd of people out of the tournament with the 10 shot rule if he can make a couple of birdies coming in to finish at -6.
There is a group of active players still on the course at -3 which includes Matt Kuchar, Henrik Stenson and Nick Watney. They’re through holes 16, 14 and 12 respectively.
4:20PM ET
Wow. Fred Couples is in the house with a total of -5, tied for the lead with Jason Dufner. Freddy shot a 67 today, after starting with a bogey on the first hole. Turn back the clock.
There’s a five way tie for 2nd at -4 among players who have finished: Rory McIlory, Louis Oosthuizen, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson.
Phil Mickelson has really worked his way back into a good spot, three shots back of the lead. Phil shot 68 today, turning a +2 upside down and now at -2.
Tiger Woods is struggling a bit today. He started the round at even par and has made two bogeys and two birdies. Still at even after seven holes.
Luke Donald is quite a bit out of sorts. Donald made double bogey on the par-5 8th hole and is sitting at +5 after eight holes. He’s flirting with the cut.
3:20PM ET
Ouch. Lee Westwood came into the 18th hole with a one shot lead at -6. After hitting a poor approach his chip above the hole surprisingly did not come down. From there, he 3-putted for a double bogey and is now one shot behind the lead.
There’s a FOUR way tie for the lead now at -5 between Fred Couples (yes you read that right), Rory McIlory, Jason Dufner and Sergio Garcia. Dufner is finished while Couples is through 17, Garcia and McIlroy through 16.
Bubba Watson is at -4 through 16.
2:15PM ET
Jason Dufner started the day at -3 and had brought his score to -6 through 16 holes. He is alone in the lead, ahead of Lee Westwood who is still at -5.
My dark horse pick Oosthuizen is in the clubhouse at -4, sitting well.
Fred Couples is playing very well, -3 through 13 holes.
Rory McIlory got it to -4 on the front, and then made bogey on #10. He is in good position at -3.
Phil Mickelson is clawing back. He started the day at +2 and is now +1 through 12.
Sergio Garcia is putting well. He is tied for 2nd currently, at -4 through 13 holes.
Tiger Woods made birdie on his first hole today and sits at -1.
Kevin Na had the shot of the day on hole #13 when he holed out with a wedge for eagle. He finished the round at +2.
Angel Cabrera is struggling greatly. +5 through 12. Needs to make up serious ground to make the cut.
12:15PM ET
Temperatures are colder. Players are all in sweaters. The winds are kicking up a bit as well. Conditions look to be a bit tougher today so far.
Leader Lee Westwood is through seven holes, seven pars. Still at -5.
Peter Hanson is now tied for the lead at -5. He has completed five holes so far.
Jason Dufner had it to -5 but is back at -3 for the first nine.
Rory McIlory has appeared on the first page of the leaderboard. He has made birdie on #3 and #4 to climb to -3.
Phil Mickelson is on the course now. He started the round at +2 and is now +1 through four holes.
Tiger Woods has yet to tee off.
I spent some time Tuesday by the new practice green at Augusta National, by the new practice facility. There was a huge crowd there because Tiger Woods and Rory McIlory had been practicing their putting. I parked by Masters round one leader Lee Westwood and watched him and his caddie work on the stroke. Westwood has quite a setup.
Lee Westwood's putting drill setup - click to zoom
Straight Line
The first thing they did was find a putt on the practice green of about 10 feet which was dead straight. It took them a while, about 10 minutes to get the perfect spot. When they found the straight putt, they installed a string line on the line of the putt with two small spikes and a 10 foot string.
I get this. You can putt along the line and also use the line to check your putter head and stroke against it.
Arc Unit
The next thing they setup was a putting arc training unit. These units help putters with their stroke’s ark and some can be setup for straight arc or the “swinging gate” style.
Tees
Westwood put two tees in the ground outside the heel and toe of the putter. This is a common drill to force players to keep their putter head in the proper position. If the head moves inside or ouside the initial position, it will hit the tees. The tees can also provide a visual representation of a line 90 degrees perpendicular to the line. So they help the player visually make sure the putter face is square.
Towel
This is the part I’m not so sure about. Once the string, tees and arc trainer were in place, Westwood put a towel down beneath his feet. I’m assuming that since he plans on standing in the same position for a long time to groove the putting stroke, the towel is to reduce the possible damage or indentation his feet might put into the green.
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