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April 7 (UPI) — Brooks Koepka fired a second-round 67 to take a 3-stroke lead on the sector on the 2023 Masters, which was suspended twice Friday afternoon due to rain in Augusta, Ga. The spherical will resume Saturday morning.
The horns for the primary stoppage sounded at about 3 p.m. EDT at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership. Forty gamers within the 86-player discipline completed the spherical on the time of that suspension, which lasted about 20 minutes.
The horns sounded for a second suspension lower than hour later, after robust winds blew over two big pine timber, which fell onto the course.
The Masters introduced that second-round play will resume at 8 a.m. EDT Saturday.
“I bought extremely fortunate with my tee time this week, that is for certain,” Koepka instructed ESPN. “Transferring the tee occasions up half-hour helped, as effectively It was beginning to sprinkle just a little bit. Tremendous fortunate, however typically you want just a little luck.”
Koepka, Rahm and Viktor Hovland carded matching 7-under 65s in Thursday’s first spherical and had been tied for the lead Friday morning.
Koepka began his bogey-free second spherical with a par on No. 1. He then birdied No. 2. Koepka, who made par on six of his first 9 holes, made an eagle on No. 8 for a 3-under 29 on the flip. Koepka made par on seven of his closing 9 holes. He birdied Nos. 13 and 15 to spherical out his 67.
He’s now 12-under for the match, three strokes higher than second-place Rahm. Rahm was 2-under by way of 9 holes within the second spherical and is 9-under for the match.
Sam Bennett, the reigning U.S. newbie champion, sits in third place. Bennett matched Koepka’s second-round 68. He carded the identical rating within the first spherical and is 8-under general.
Bennett carded 5 birdies and one bogey within the second spherical.
Rahm was even by way of six holes on Friday earlier than he was pressured to stroll off the course for the primary stoppage. He then made par on No. 7 and birdied Nos. 8 and 9, however was pressured to cease once more due to rain.
Rahm made par on his first seven holes of the second spherical.
Hovland was 1-over by way of the primary 10 holes of his second spherical. He’s tied with Colin Morikawa for fourth place at 6-under for the match. Morikawa fired matching 3-under 69s by way of his first 36 holes.
Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 participant within the Official World Golf Rating, struggled Friday at Augusta. He shot a 3-over 75 and is tied for twenty ninth. Scheffler was 4-under by way of his first 18 holes.
Tiger Woods was even by way of 11 holes of the second spherical. He’s 2-over for the match and tied for fiftieth. World No. 2 Rory McIlroy carded a 5-over 77 within the second spherical and is 5-over for the match. He’s tied for 61st.
The gamers with the High-50 scores and ties will advance to the third spherical.
Extra rain is predicted Saturday and Sunday in Augusta. Third spherical protection is scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday on CBS.
