Inside the top ten: Niemann emerges alive from a very difficult day at the Augusta Masters

Friday was an odyssey for golfers who made their way to Augusta National Golf Club. A day with a very complicated wind, which in sections reached 30 miles per hour, meant that the beacons of this Masters were not drawn and the cut was estimated at +4. In the midst of this battle, Niemann fought and emerged victorious. It was with – 1 overall and in the top marks of the tournament . The weekend will have to push to enter the fight for the most important tournament in the world of golf.

Joaco’s first nine holes were the big proof that the day was not for low scores. That the wind ruffled the ball and nothing came off the tee as expected. In the first nine holes he couldn’t get any birdies and had a five flag penalty. . Numbers in which any other place would have been downright bad, but here they had it among the best. Otherwise ask Cameron Smith, Jon Rahm or Rory Mcllroy, all big stars who struggled in the second round.

That’s why Niemann was calm. He did not fall into pressure or doubts, and perhaps he was even reassured to know that his teammate, a certain Tiger Woods, managed a start to be forgotten: four bogeys in the first five holes.

And then came “Amen Corner” and the moves came for Joaco. This place in Augusta that makes up holes 11, 12 and 13 and is sacrosanct in the world of golf. Hidden in a corner of the field, inaccessible to supporters and immersed in the local vegetation, these flags are a unique postcard for players who for a few minutes forget the masses and play alone, only with their teammates and caddies. . It was at the heart of it, that Niemann scored his first birdie of the day. A par three that the Chilean did not miss and which earned him the second best score in the general classification.

The problem is that after the applause came the pain. It was on the 13th hole, in a case where everything was ready for him to put the par and become the only pursuer for Scottie Sheffler, but where he missed incredibly with the putt . He missed a shot five feet from the hole and the bogey was recorded as his first big mistake of the day.

But if there’s a key saying in golf, it’s that “the next shot will always be the most important”. and Niemann executed it. Nonstop birdie bogey . A huge switch change, which left him in T2 and wanting more.

In the par three of 16, one of the flags which delivered the most birdies and which still signed today the first hole of one of the tournament, the Chilean tried but could not dismiss. That would have been the icing on the cake, because in later holes the options for getting birdies weren’t so clear.

In fact, the shutdown obscured some of what was done throughout the day. The 18th hole punished Talagan’s man and inflicted a double bogey on him that dropped him to 10th in the table. An emotional blow from which he must recover.

Despite this, Joaco finds himself with plenty of room for a cut that will close at +4 and place himself among the best of the tournament. A terrific balance if you think many of the best in the world have already said goodbye to the Masters for not making the cut. Bryson DeChambeu (+12), Xander Schauffele (+7), Brooks Koepka (+7) and Jordan Spieth (+6) were out after just two rounds .

Tiger for his part closes the second round with two over par and with a +1 in his overall count . Numbers that keep him alive at least in terms of golf. Today he was seen tired and affected by a body that continues to suffer from the accident.

Tomorrow, the cold Augusta should attack, which could help Joaquín’s game. Saturday will undoubtedly be the key day to see if he can put on the green jacket. You will have to step up and try to improve where you have failed. A Moving Day full of emotions is coming.