Tour Confidential: Who could mount a charge from 5 or more shots back?
Rory McIlroy will begin the third round eight shots back at Kiawah Island.
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Check in each day of this week’s Masters for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topic in the tournament, and join the conversation by tweeting us @golf_com.
After 36 holes at Kiawah Island, Phil Mickelson and Louis Oosthuizen share the lead at five under, with a host of contenders in their wake. But beyond those under par is an even deeper crowd at even or worse who could make a run for the tournament with a great weekend. Which player five or more shots back is most likely to make a weekend charge?
Sean Zak, senior editor (@sean_zak): I think six under will be good enough to take this thing, so a lot of people are still in it. I could see Collin Morikawa making two bogeys and nine birdies from here until Sunday night. He’s done it before and it feels like he’s close to at least playing bogey-free golf for 18 holes. A round like that on Saturday changes everything.
Luke Kerr-Dineen, Game Improvement Editor (@lukekerrdineen): Two young ball-strikers — Morikawa and Zalatoris — are both enticing options, but the moment feels right for a classic Tony Finau charge into the top 10. I can see him doing at Kiawah what he did at Shinnecock: Get onto the course early, register a score, and watch the leaders struggle from the clubhouse to put him in the great position for Sunday.
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Tim Reilly, Director of Social (@LifeofTimReilly): When I look for someone to watch on Moving Day, I look at who showed signs of improvement on Day 2 and wasn’t overly erratic on Day 1. That means Shane Lowry for me. He has the major-winning pedigree and if the wind gets blowing over the weekend, his Irish roots should have him better suited to handle the conditions than much of the field.
James Colgan, assistant editor (@jamescolgan26): Morikawa is probably the right answer, but he hasn’t putted well in several months, so I’m going to go in a different direction: Viktor Hovland. He’s going after pins like his hair is on fire, which is concerning for someone playing this golf course, but could lend itself to a LOW weekend score.
Jessica Marksbury, multimedia editor: I’m sticking with Rory. He crept back up the leaderboard today, even though he finished with three straight bogeys. And despite everything, he’s only eight shots back! I could absolutely see him lighting it up and posting a number on Saturday to get us all excited.
Nick Piastowski, senior editor (@nickpia): And I’m sticking with Matthew Fitzpatrick. He made six birdies and an eagle on Friday — along with five bogeys and a double. Clean some of that up, and he’ll be in the final groups on Sunday.
Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): Will Zalatoris. He’s one over and six back but he’s a relentless golfer and often sneaks his way up the leaderboard on Saturdays and Sundays. This course makes a lot of sense for a top-tier ball-striker like him, and if he makes a couple putts early, game on.
Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): Viktor Hovland. The kid was in the mix one day one, but several mistakes on Friday sent him down the board. The birdies are there for him to mount a charge, it’ll just be a matter of if he can eliminate those big mistakes.
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