Jordan Spieth completed the greatest 36-hole start in Masters history, firing a six-under par 66 at Augusta National which also matched the lowest halfway total in any major.
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The 21-year-old American stood on 14-under 130 after two rounds, his bogey-free Friday giving him a five-stroke lead over countryman Charley Hoffman that would match another Masters 36-hole record if it stands once play concludes.
Fourth-ranked Spieth broke the prior Masters 36-hole low of 13-under 131 set by Ray Floyd in 1976 and threatened the low 36-hole major total of 130.
“It’s cool,” Speith said. “Any time you can set a record here is pretty awesome. I’m really excited about how I played today.”
.@JordanSpieth is determined to add some history of his own to the archives at #themasters. http://t.co/sorYCDx6BU pic.twitter.com/A71ebF8BP2
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 11, 2015
Spieth missed a seven-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole to settle for becoming the fourth player to fire 130 at any major over the first two rounds.
The 130 mark was set by England’s Nick Faldo in the 1992 British Open at Muirfield, matched by American Brandt Snedeker in the 2002 British Open at Lytham and equaled last year by Martin Kaymer with back-to-back 65s at the US Open at Pinehurst.
The record 36-hole Masters lead of five strokes is shared by Floyd in 1976, Jack Nicklaus in 1975 and Herman Keiser in 1946.
Spieth’s domination, with 15 birdies against one bogey, evoked memories of Tiger Woods’ record-setting 1997 Masters romp for his first major title. Woods would remain the youngest Masters champion by about five months even if Spieth wins this year.
“There’s a pretty big separation right there,” Woods said. “He has played beautifully.”
Woods, a 14-time major champion who at age 39 has slid to 111th in the world rankings, fired a 69 to stand on 142 in his first event after a two-month layoff to bolster his game.
Woods has not won a Masters since 2005, has not won a major since the 2008 US Open and has not won any title since the 2013 WGC at Firestone.
World number one Rory McIlroy, the other main Masters focus with Woods when the week began, was four-over for the day and three-over for the tournament after a double bogey at nine.
Instead of battling for a third major win in a row that would complete his career Grand Slam, McIlroy was fighting simply to avoid the cut line.
Flashback: 14 yr old phenom Jordan Spieth of Dallas Jesuit high school has an ambitious goal: “Winning the Masters.” https://t.co/aoKqXWFh2Y
— Jesse Livermore (@Jesse_Livermore) April 11, 2015
Spieth, seeking his first major title after a runner-up Masters debut last year, opened with a 64 Thursday to become the youngest first-round leader in Masters history, only one stroke off the record low round in the Masters or any major.
“I’ve been feeling good about the way I’ve been striking the ball,” Spieth said. “I just need to keep my head down and set a goal for myself.”
Spieth pitched from 50 feet to inches from the cup to set up a birdie at the par-5 second, sank an 18-foot birdie putt at the fifth and birdied the par-5 eighth after finding a fairway bunker off the tee, blasting out and landing his approach three feet from the pin.
Spieth made an 18-foot birdie putt at 10 and sank eight-footers for birdie at the par-5 13th and 15th.
“Around this golf course, 14-under is very impressive,” said past Masters winner Mark O’Meara.
Hard to believe Jordan Spieth was slinging this high school golf bag four years ago. Now he’s leading @TheMasters. pic.twitter.com/0jdRyCHo8U
— Jonathan Wall (@jonathanrwall) April 10, 2015
The hottest player in golf over the past month, Spieth won his second US PGA title in March at the Valspar Championship and finished second at the Texas Open and Houston Open in the past two weeks.
Before green jacket fittings start, however, Spieth needs to close out the victory, something he could not do last year after leading Sunday on the front nine.
“It’s definitely going to play more challenging,” Spieth said. “I’m going to have to be more patient, be OK with a bogey here or there.”
Els: long way from over
Four-time major winner Ernie Els, nine back in the clubhouse, has not given up on catching Spieth as the two-time Masters runner-up refuses to give up hope for a long-sought green jacket in his 21st attempt.
“It’s very impressive,” Els said. “It’s a long, long way from being finished. A lot of work to be done still.”
Spieth is a threat to become the first wire-to-wire Masters winner since Floyd in 1976. Only Floyd, Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Craig Wood have led every round alone to win.
