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AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Earlier this week, English friends Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter played 9 holes together at Augusta National with a bit of income on the line.
Westwood done discerning work of Poulter, violence him 4 and 2 and happily receiving a little spending income off his friend. Told early Friday dusk that Poulter had referred to his loss during an interview, Westwood burst that informed toothy laugh of his.
"He would recollect that," Westwood said. "Every bruise is a restrained to him."
The stakes will be opposite currently when Westwood and Poulter, two-thirds of the new British advance nearby the tip of the universe golf rankings, are interconnected together as co-leaders of the Masters entering the third turn at Augusta National.
They proceed the day scored equally at 8-under-par 136, median home in the years initial vital championship. But their common lead is expel in shadows thrown by the players rught afar at the behind of them.
Acting as if he were never afar from golf, Tiger Woods is between five players scored equally for third, fasten Phil Mickelson, K.J. Choi, Ricky Barnes and Anthony Kim.
Asked if he likes his on all sides after dual rounds, Woodswho has posted rounds of 68-70paused briefly, smiled and said, "Yeah, I do."
If Friday lacked Thursdays thrills, it was since it had a workmanlike feel to it. With balmy skies, a cool zephyr and a pick up of sinful hole locations, Augusta National took behind most of what it surrendered Thursday.
Only sixteen players pennyless standard in the second round, half as most as in the initial round.
Poulters 4-under standard 68 equaled the days most appropriate turn (Chad Campbell had the other), and Westwoods 69 was the usually alternative measure underneath 70. Little consternation they wound up atop the leaderboard.
Its not as if they dont have the certification to be there.
Westwood is fourth in the universe rankings and has 3 top-three finishes in vital championships over the past 3 years. Poulter is ranked seventh and prisoner the World Golf Championship-Accenture Match Play Championship progressing this year.
Throw in Englishman Paul Casey, who longed for the cut, and England has only one fewer players between the worlds tip 10 than the United States.
"We"re not at the tip of the universe rankings by mistake," Westwood said.
Westwood led by 3 briefly, his day jump-started by an eagle from eighteen inches at the par-5 second. But only after he reached 10 underneath standard with a birdie at the 13th, Westwood gave dual strokes behind with a stand in spook at the 14th. It proposed with a bending tee shot and unraveled from there.
He responded with a birdie at the 15th, but a forsaken shot at the 18th cost him the undisguised lead.
"I"ve never led the Masters prior to at the median theatre and I"m heading it, so the probably about as great as I"ve played," Westwood said. "I"m some-more gratified with the coherence I"m showing. When you investigate each aspect of my game, theres one at 10 and one piece at four. The bad things is 61/2, 7, and the great things is 10."
For Poulter, his share of the lead is an additional bit of validation for a player whose adorned fashions overshadowed his opening progressing in his career. Over the past dual years, Poulter has emerged as a player estimable of his rankings.
He has reined in his romantic glow whilst polishing his game. Poulter likes the big stage, as his fool around in the Ryder Cup and British Opens have shown in new years.
"Its Friday, so I dont wish to get carried away," Poulter said. "Certainly, it was a great feeling. I played well, obviously, and if you"re going to do that around this course, you"re going to put yourself in great position."
Poulter wore a dark pinkish and soft yellow garb Friday, and he has already selected his habit for Sunday, only in box he needs to fit it with a immature jacket.
"Pink tartan [trousers] and a white shirt," Poulter said. "Something that will strife nicely."
rgreenjr@charlotteobserver.com or 704-358-5118| _______________________ |
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