And we’re back.
Due to inclement weather on Thursday morning that pushed the start of the first round back by 2 ½ hours, a number of players on Thursday didn’t complete their rounds.
So first round resumed at 7:50 a.m. ET on Friday, with ESPN picking up live coverage. The second round is scheduled to begin on time at 8 a.m. ET.
Recap: All the action from Day 1 of the Masters
What hole has traditionally been the toughest?
Rory McIlroy hits from the No. 11 fairway during a practice round for the 2024 Masters Tournament golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
The par-4 11th has historically been the toughest hole in relation to par, playing to a 4.303 average.
Known as White Dogwood, it was only the third-most difficult hole in 2023, and the hole has seen some changes in recent years.
For example:
1950: Masters tees relocated. Pond left of green built. Green reshaped.
1953: Two small bunkers added at rear of green.
1990: Green rebuilt due to flood damage.
1999: Green, pond and bunker complex adjusted.
2002: Masters tees moved back 30-35 yards and moved five yards to golfer’s right. Portion of fairway landing area recontoured.
2004: Pine trees (36) added to the right of the fairway.
2006: Masters tees moved back 10-15 yards. Trees added to the right side of the fairway and fairway shifted to the left.
2008: Several trees removed on right side of fairway and fairway widened.
2022: Masters tees moved back 15 yards and to the golfer’s left. Fairway recontoured and several trees removed on right side.
Finau got a patent for his Ping putter
Tony Finau accepting a patent certificate for a compact putter from Ping’s Tony Serrano. (Ping)
Tony Finau has been known to turn his putter, a Ping PLD Anser 2D, counter-clockwise in his hands and strike the ball with the toe-end of his putter, popping the ball onto the putting surface.
In fact, he loves the feeling shots like that create so much that he worked with designers and engineers at Ping to build a prototype putter that replicates the sensations of that shot and was just named as one of three people on a utility patent awarded to Ping (U.S. #11,911,670 B2) for a compact putter head. Tony Serrano, Ping’s principal putter design engineer, and John A. Solheim, the company’s president, are also on the patent.
Finau was presented with a patent certificate in Ping’s PGA Tour van on Wednesday outside the gates of Augusta National Golf Club.
Who might miss the cut at the 2024 Masters?
With only 89 players competing, the Masters has the smallest field of the four major championships. Even fewer make the cut, which will most likely come Friday night, assuming they can catch up after Thursday’s weather delay.
The top 50 players and ties make the cut at Augusta National Golf Club. It used to be top 50 and ties and those within 10 shots of the lead, but that rule was changed in 2020.
Jordan Spieth sat 2 over thru 11 holes, but posted a birdie at No. 13 early Friday and has plenty of golf ahead of him. The 2015 Masters champ has a pair of par 5s upcoming in the morning, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see Spieth move up the board a bit.
Here are some other notables flirting with the cutline at this point.
Jason Day’s clothes, not scores creating buzz
While Jason Day caught some heat for his clothing choices on the first day of the Masters, his play was steady consistent.
There might be some discourse about Jason Day’s Malbon scripting today. @PGATOURSMartin‘s face says it all pic.twitter.com/98gbvNgiS8
— Josh Carpenter (@JoshACarpenter) April 12, 2024
During the opening rounds of the 2024 Masters, Day has paired with Tiger Woods and Max Homa.
Day posted a couple bogeys on the front during his opening round but rebounded with two birdies to get to even before the sun went down.