Augusta, Georgia, United States: He may not have survived the cut at Augusta National, but Jasper Stubbs produced a trio of memorable shots in the second round of the 88th edition of the Masters Tournament that will live long in his memory.
Although there were seven bogeys in a four-over 76, it was the three birdies that the Australian amateur will remember with glee.
Winner of the 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC), Stubbs produced brilliant approach shots to set up birdie putts from seven feet at the first and 14th holes.
Perhaps his finest shot of the week, though, came at the par-three 16th where he struck a sweet mid-iron tee shot to within five feet of the treacherously placed pin to the right of the green.
Reflecting on his time at Augusta National, Stubbs said: “It’s been an amazing week. It’s a pretty special place … but obviously the tournament was a bit tough itself with this wind.
“I’m still really happy with my week. It’s something I’ll remember forever, for sure.”
With a two-day total of 12-over 156, Stubbs missed the cut by six shots. Six-over is the highest 36-hole cut relative to par on the PGA Tour since the 2020 US Open (+6) and the highest at the Masters since 2017 (+6).
Heading into Saturday’s third round, only 14 players are in red figures, signifying a sub-par score. Among them are three former AAC participants – Australians Cam Davis and Cameron Smith and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox.
Davis is equal fifth with a 36-hole score of three-under 141 (69-72) – just three strokes off the pace being jointly set by the American trio of Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Max Homa.
“I had a couple of stumbles, but I felt like I battled well and made some nice putts to keep the momentum,” said Davis, who started his second round as others were completing their first.
At one-under 143, Smith and Fox and also both within striking distance of the leaders.
“I’m pretty proud of the way I hung in there, it was tough,” said Smith, winner of the Open Championship at St Andrews in 2022.
Playing in the final flight of the day, Smith was among those who had to contend with the worst of the windy conditions.
Especially notable were brilliant up-and-downs to save par at the 16th and 17th that helped him to an even-par 72.
Tiger Woods, meanwhile, made Masters history by breaking a tie with Gary Player and Fred Couples when he extended his streak of consecutive made cuts at Augusta National to 24 after carding a 72 to sit on one-over.
The 82-time PGA Tour winner and five-time Masters champion is not prepared to only think of making cuts in whatever limited appearances that he makes these days following spells with various injuries and surgeries. He said: “I’m here. I have a chance to win the golf tournament.”
