Garcia ups his lead to three after five holes

He has caught loads of flack because of this, but it has also resulted in the unintended effect of his game being misunderstood by golf fans.

KEY STATISTIC: This is the fourth time Garcia has played in the final group at a major, and the first since the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie.

There’s the fan favorite.

And there’s the underdog. Hoffman opened with a 65 and had the biggest Masters lead after a first round in 62 years.

American William McGirt, who started in the opening group, shot 73 Friday to stand third on 142. Fred Couples and Phil Mickelson are among those at 1 under. He was tied with Garcia, Fowler and Pieters after 36 holes.

Reigning Olympic champion Justin Rose was at one-under with 13 holes remaining. They were both dressed in light-colored trousers and a blue sweater. “They were already starting to get that way”. Garcia was given the penalty strokes.

“I think the actual putts you are going to have are going to be more challenging, because the greens are going to be a foot faster and they’re going to get a bit crusty around some of the hole locations”, Spieth said. “It can’t hurt. I like to just kind of pace myself and do my thing”. Aaron went on to claim his only green jacket.

Or the 2008 PGA Championship that Garcia led through 69 holes and the wind kicked up, knocking his ball down into the water. But he birdied 15 and 17. He had only two under-par rounds on 13 Saturdays and was a cumulative 38-over. “He listens to music that makes me realize I’m getting a little old”. “So things are happening at the moment. Hopefully, I can go ahead and keep it up on the big leaderboards”.

Pieters made an eagle on the par-5 13th on his way to a 68. Friday, he was a little more consistent. Garcia is a longtime star but still seeking his first major championship.

He picked up birdies on Nos. He holed out a bunker shot from 35 feet at the second hole for eagle.

The four at the top are at 4-under-par 140, the same score that topped the leaderboard a year ago. “And winning it – I’m sure it’s incredible”.

Pieters has modest goals for the next two days.

“I thought it was flawless”, he said of his approach shot.

“Even if you’re not playing that well, if your head is in the right place you’ll always have a chance. especially around this place”.

No biggie. Garcia was only 19 and already nearly won his first major.

Fowler foreshadowed the weekend in rather deliberate terms. “It’s a lot of fun to see your name on the leaderboard at Augusta”. He played his first 21 holes here without a bogey and shot 69 on Friday.

He went 29 straight holes without a bogey until a three-putt from below the ridge on the par-3 16th. He was able to par the ninth.

“After making that birdie it calmed me down”, he said. It looked to be short of climbing back to the green, but Fowler had played it perfectly and the ball glided to eight feet from the cup.

“But I’m going out there with no pressure tomorrow, playing really well tee to green, feeling good on the greens”. Didn’t scramble that well.

Stewart Hagestad, the USC grad from Newport Beach, is at 3-over and became the first Mid-Amateur champ to make the cut since the Masters began inviting those winners in 1989. “I’m just happy to be in a position to win”. Indeed, as Mickelson was posting a double bogey-6 on No. 3 and three bogeys on holes 6, 8, and 9, Spieth was going on a birdie run on those same holes to pull away from Phil and, at 3-under at the time, into contention for his second green jacket. Pieters, a Masters rookie, and Fowler teed off first, then Hoffman and Garcia followed. “[If] we can put the cherry on top, that would be even better”.

There are 15 players within five shots of the lead, 31 within seven shots.