The Masters – R2

Molinari in the Major mix at The Masters

April 11-14
Augusta National GC, Augusta, Georgia
$11,000,000
Live leaderboard
Round 1, Round 3, Round 4

Molinari in the Major mix at The Masters, © Getty Images

Francesco Molinari and Louis Oosthuizen are part of a five-man group of Major Champions sharing the lead heading into the weekend at the Masters Tournament.

“Really happy the way I played and the way we managed the strategy with my caddie,” said Molinari. “But, obviously still a long, long way to go, so let’s see what we’ll be able to do on the weekend.”

Reigning Open Champion Molinari became the first Italian to lead after any round at Augusta National Golf Club, setting the target at seven under par with his round of 67 early in the day, and 2010 Claret Jug winner Oosthuizen went one better to join him at the summit.

“I feel a massive difference when I’m on the greens or around the greens compared to my previous times here. It’s still pretty uncomfortable when you’re standing over some putts or some chips because the margins are so small that you can be as good as you want, but you still know there’s not a lot of room to miss.

“But definitely it’s been a part of my game that has improved a lot in the last 12 months, and this is a course that puts a lot of stress on the short game and the putting in general. I’m happy that so far I’ve done better than in the past, and hopefully I can keep doing the same.”

Also in the illustrious group at the top of the leaderboard are 2015 US PGA Champion Jason Day, 2013 Green Jacket winner Adam Scott and reigning U.S. Open and US PGA Champion Brooks Koepka, making it a record breaking five-way tie after 36 holes.


Molinari has grown accustomed to making history over the past year, becoming the first Italian Major Champion at Carnoustie Golf Links last summer and the first European to win five points out of five at The Ryder Cup, as well as claiming his first Rolex Series victory at the BMW PGA Championship on the way to winning the Race to Dubai, and taking his first two titles on American soil on the US PGA Tour.

Justin Harding continued his dream Masters debut, with the South African sitting one shot back on six under par, alongside three Americans in Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele and four-time Masters winner Tiger Woods, who generated huge excitement among the Augusta crowd with his round of 68.

“I’ve played nicely, I really have,” said Harding. “Yesterday I thought I had a better control of my golf game. I thought today I was a bit loose, especially with the driver. Normally I’m better than that, I don’t hit as many left as I did today. But it was again a matter of trying to put it back in the right place and giving yourself a good up‑and‑down chance. 

“It still gives me the giggles just being here. I’m trying to enjoy it the best I can. I obviously want to be able to execute my shots, regardless. But I’ve got a couple of friends out here, family is out watching, as well. We’re just having a nice time and enjoying the birdies. Hope for sunshine and a good weekend.”

England’s Ian Poulter and Jon Rahm of Spain are in a share of tenth place at five under par.

“I was pressing on the odd occasion, missed a couple of greens, got myself a little out of position on a couple of tee shots and missed a couple of greens. But I haven’t done a lot wrong,” said Poulter.

“I feel comfortable, I feel I’m hitting it well, I like the golf course, I know a lot about the course for certain pins. I’m just trying to be smart and not take myself out of the tournament, which I’ve done in the past.”


Pos.
Player
To Par
R1
R2
Total
T1
Francesco Molinari
-7
70
67
137
T1
Jason Day
-7
70
67
137
T1
Brooks Koepka
-7
66
71
137
T1
Adam Scott
-7
69
68
137
T1
Louis Oosthuizen
-7
71
66
137
T6
Dustin Johnson
-6
68
70
138
T6
Justin Harding
-6
69
69
138
T6
Xander Schauffele
-6
73
65
138
T6
Tiger Woods
-6
70
68
138
T10
Ian Poulter
-5
68
71
139
T10
Jon Rahm
-5
69
70
139
T12
Patton Kizzire
-4
70
70
140
T12
Matt Kuchar
-4
71
69
140
T12
Phil Mickelson
-4
67
73
140
T12
Charles Howell III
-4
73
67
140
T16
Kiradech Aphibarnrat
-3
69
72
141
T16
Bryson DeChambeau
-3
66
75
141
T16
Justin Thomas
-3
73
68
141
T16
Corey Conners
-3
70
71
141
T16
Tony Finau
-3
71
70
141
T16
Gary Woodland
-3
70
71
141
T16
Rickie Fowler
-3
70
71
141
T23
Thorbjorn Olesen
-2
71
71
142
T23
Kevin Kisner
-2
69
73
142
T23
J.B. Holmes
-2
70
72
142
T23
Lucas Bjerregaard
-2
70
72
142
T23
Charley Hoffman
-2
71
71
142
T23
Tommy Fleetwood
-2
71
71
142
T29
Bernhard Langer
-1
71
72
143
T29
Rafa Cabrera Bello
-1
73
70
143
T29
Jordan Spieth
-1
75
68
143
T29
Kevin Tway
-1
72
71
143
T29
Viktor Hovland (a)
-1
72
71
143
T29
Patrick Reed
-1
73
70
143
T29
Webb Simpson
-1
72
71
143
T36
Jimmy Walker
E
72
72
144
T36
Kevin Na
E
71
73
144
T36
Alvaro Ortiz (a)
E
73
71
144
T36
Keegan Bradley
E
76
68
144
T36
Bubba Watson
E
72
72
144
T36
Si Woo Kim
E
72
72
144
T36
Kyle Stanley
E
72
72
144
T36
Marc Leishman
E
72
72
144
T36
Rory McIlroy
E
73
71
144
T36
Cameron Smith
E
70
74
144
T46
Matthew Fitzpatrick
1
78
67
145
T46
Satoshi Kodaira
1
75
70
145
T46
Andrew Landry
1
72
73
145
T46
Hideki Matsuyama
1
75
70
145
T50
Trevor Immelman
2
74
72
146
T50
Tyrrell Hatton
2
73
73
146
T50
Patrick Cantlay
2
73
73
146
T50
Keith Mitchell
2
72
74
146
T50
Aaron Wise
2
75
71
146
T50
Henrik Stenson
2
74
72
146
T50
Haotong Li
2
72
74
146
T57
Devon Bling (a)
3
74
73
147
T57
Martin Kaymer
3
73
74
147
T57
Alex Noren
3
75
72
147
T57
Billy Horschel
3
72
75
147
T57
Zach Johnson
3
74
73
147
T57
Takumi Kanaya (a)
3
73
74
147
T57
Branden Grace
3
72
75
147
T57
Emiliano Grillo
3
72
75
147
T57
Eddie Pepperell
3
74
73
147
CUT
Sandy Lyle
4
73
75
148
CUT
Stewart Cink
4
76
72
148
CUT
Justin Rose
4
75
73
148
CUT
Kevin O’Connell (a)
4
77
71
148
CUT
Mike Weir
4
72
76
148
CUT
Danny Willett
4
75
73
148
CUT
Sergio Garcia
4
73
75
148
CUT
Adam Long
5
75
74
149
CUT
Brandt Snedeker
5
75
74
149
CUT
Fred Couples
5
78
71
149
CUT
Charl Schwartzel
5
77
72
149
CUT
Shugo Imahira
6
76
74
150
CUT
Larry Mize
7
77
74
151
CUT
Shane Lowry
7
78
73
151
CUT
Matt Wallace
8
75
77
152
CUT
Jovan Rebula (a)
8
73
79
152
CUT
Michael Kim
10
76
78
154
CUT
Paul Casey
10
81
73
154
CUT
Vijay Singh
12
80
76
156
CUT
Ian Woosnam
12
80
76
156
CUT
Jose Maria Olazabal
13
78
79
157
CUT
Angel Cabrera
13
82
75
157
Updated: October 6, 2022