Heading into the Masters, one of the non-Tiger story lines concerned three Englishmen, all ranked among the world’s top seven, all inspired by countryman Nick Faldo, all between ages 32 and 36, and all looking for their overdue first major.
Well, two of them are now at the top of the leader board. Ian Poulter, 34, and Lee Westwood, 36, are at 9-under par. On a day of tight pins and tough conditions and with most of the players fighting to hold their slot in relation to par, Poulter (5-under for the day) and Westwood (4-under) are distancing themselves at the top.
Poulter has had a flawless round – five birdies and no bogeys. Poulter has birdied three of the four par 5 holes at Augusta and the two tough par 3s on the back nine. Westwood is completing a blazing front nine – an eagle at No. 2 and three birdies.
It isn’t going as well for the third Englishman, Paul Casey, 32. At 5-over for the tournament, Casey is in danger of missing the cut. He has 11 holes left to get near the cut line, likely to be 2-over or 1-over.
Tiger Update: And lurking close behind is Woods. With birdies at the back nine par 5s, No. 13 and No. 15, Woods is at 6-under for the tournament, tied for third with playing partner K.J. Choi and surging Anthony Kim, who is 2-under for the day.
Woods had an opportunity to get closer on No. 16, hitting his tee shot to within seven feet, but missed the putt. He also missed a 15-foot birdie putt at No. 17.
