Koepka torched the par-5 holes for an eagle and 3 birdies in a bogey-free excursion. His very good shotmaking adopted a gap 65, his lowest Masters spherical, and left him on 12-under 132 for 36 holes, 3 strokes in entrance.
“It was really solid. Didn’t really do too much wrong,” Koepka mentioned. “You’ve got to make birdies on these par 5s, take advantage of them, and did a good job of that.”
After profitable remaining week’s LIV Golf match in Orlando, Koepka may just produce the PGA Tour’s nightmare situation of a victory on one among golfing’s biggest phases through a participant from the breakaway circuit.
Third-ranked Jon Rahm, the 2021 US Open winner, used to be 2nd at 9-under after creating a seven-foot birdie putt on the par-5 8th and a 12-footer for birdie on the 9th.
The Spaniard, then again, used to be amongst 39 avid gamers not able to finish the second one spherical as play used to be stopped till Saturday after 3 bushes have been toppled through gusty winds close to the seventeenth tee.
Augusta National mentioned there have been no accidents however spectators have been evacuated and avid gamers have been got rid of from the direction.
“The safety and well-being of everyone attending the Masters tournament will always be the club’s top priority,” a observation from Augusta National mentioned. “We will continue to closely monitor the weather today and through the tournament.”
Koepka, the 2017 and 2018 US Open champion and 2018 and 2019 PGA Championship winner, completed neatly sooner than the storms.
“The biggest advantage I had was my tee time,” Koepka mentioned.
US Amateur champion Sam Bennett fired a 68 to face 3rd on 136. The 23-year-old Texan, might be the primary beginner in a Masters remaining pairing in 65 years and used to be assured he may just defeat Koepka.
“I know that my good golf is good enough,” Bennett mentioned.
Two-time primary winner Collin Morikawa used to be fourth on 6-under 138 after a 2nd 69 and Norway’s ninth-rated Viktor Hovland used to be additionally at 6-under thru 10 holes.
Australia’s Jason Day and Americans Sam Burns and Spieth, a three-time primary winner, have been on 139.
“The advantage we have, those of us chasing, is that it’s going to be incredibly difficult conditions,” Spieth mentioned. “It means a few under goes a long way.”
Koepka birdied the par-5 2nd to clutch the solo lead, then curled in a tough 10-foot par putt on the 3rd.
The 32-year-old American eagled the par-5 8th after an excellent manner, making him the quickest Masters participant to 10-under since Jordan Spieth on his option to a 2015 victory.
Koepka cleared Rae’s Creek in two on the prolonged par-5 thirteenth on a tap-in birdie and notched any other at 15.
“It was a clinic for 36 holes,” mentioned Koepka’s taking part in spouse Gary Woodland. “It was impressive to see.”
Koepka is amongst 18 qualifiers from the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League at Augusta National, the place communicate of the PGA-LIV cut up has been put aside through avid gamers so they may be able to focal point on profitable the golf green jacket.
“I don’t know if this is the place for healing those wounds,” mentioned two-time Masters winner Jose Maria Olazabal.
The PGA Tour banned avid gamers who jumped to the upstart sequence for checklist $25 million handbags and 54-hole occasions and a court docket struggle is ready for early 2024, however LIV avid gamers can compete in majors.
World quantity two Rory McIlroy, who wishes a Masters victory to finish a profession Grand Slam, fired a 77 to face on 149, 3 strokes over the projected reduce line.
Top-ranked protecting champion Scottie Scheffler struggled to a 75 to face on 143, 11 off the lead.
Tiger Woods, a 15-time primary winner and five-time Masters champion, used to be degree par thru 11 holes and at the projected 2-over cutline general.
Woods, 47, has overlooked the reduce most effective as soon as in 24 prior Masters begins, as an beginner in 1996, a 12 months sooner than his record-shattering first primary triumph at Augusta.