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Weir pips Clarke for Masters lead
Augusta, Apr 12: Canada`s Mike Weir snatched a two-shot lead from Darren Clarke as dusk brought an early halt to the second round of the rain-delayed Masters at Augusta on Friday.
Augusta, Apr 12: Canada's Mike Weir snatched a two-shot lead from Darren Clarke as dusk brought an early halt to the second round of the rain-delayed Masters at Augusta on Friday.
Left-handed Weir - who has never finished in the top 10 of a major - moved to six under through 12 holes to overhaul long-time leader Clarke as the hooter brought play to an end.
"I would have loved to have finished my round," said Weir.
"I was in a nice flow in my game early on and was hitting my targets.
"I drove the ball very well today and my putter was very good. I made a number of putts inside of eight feet to save par."
Clarke fired a stunning first-round 66 to lead by three earlier on Friday but slipped back to four under after 10 holes of his second round as Weir made up ground with five birdies.
World number four Phil Mickelson was two shots adrift, with US amateur champion Ricky Barnes another shot further back.
Defending champion Tiger Woods carded a disappointing four-over 76 in his first round but clawed his way back to two over after 10 holes before the close of play. Former Open champion Paul Lawrie was well placed at level par in a quartet which included past Masters winner Vijay Singh, former USPGA holder David Toms and Brad Faxon.
Three-time Masters winner Nick Faldo was at one over in a logjam of players alongside fellow Englishman Justin Rose, playing at Augusta for the first time, and double champion Jose Maria Olazabal.
Spain's Sergio Garcia was two over after dropping five shots in 11 holes of his second round following an earlier 69 which had left him in second, three behind Clarke.
"I was in a nice flow in my game early on and was hitting my targets.
"I drove the ball very well today and my putter was very good. I made a number of putts inside of eight feet to save par."
Clarke fired a stunning first-round 66 to lead by three earlier on Friday but slipped back to four under after 10 holes of his second round as Weir made up ground with five birdies.
World number four Phil Mickelson was two shots adrift, with US amateur champion Ricky Barnes another shot further back.
Defending champion Tiger Woods carded a disappointing four-over 76 in his first round but clawed his way back to two over after 10 holes before the close of play. Former Open champion Paul Lawrie was well placed at level par in a quartet which included past Masters winner Vijay Singh, former USPGA holder David Toms and Brad Faxon.
Three-time Masters winner Nick Faldo was at one over in a logjam of players alongside fellow Englishman Justin Rose, playing at Augusta for the first time, and double champion Jose Maria Olazabal.
Spain's Sergio Garcia was two over after dropping five shots in 11 holes of his second round following an earlier 69 which had left him in second, three behind Clarke.
Ireland's Padraig Harrrington lurched to six over, former champion Bernhard Langer was nine over and Colin Montgomerie's tournament was effectively over at 10-over-par.
Six-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus and three-time winner Gary Player found the going tough and both slumped to 15 over, with Arnold Palmer, the winner of four Green Jackets, at 21 over.
The curtailment of Friday's action, after heavy rain washed out Thursday's first round, means 76 players will complete their second rounds on Saturday morning.
Bureau Report