Augusta, GA (AHN) — Trevor Immelman shot his second straight 4-under 68 to grab a one-shot lead after the second round of the Masters at Augusta National on Friday as Tiger Woods again struggled with a 1-under 71 and is seven shots behind the leader.
Immelman, who only four months ago had surgery to remove a benign tumor from his diaphragm, holds a one-shot lead over Brandt Snedeker and a three-shot lead over Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter and Steve Flesch.
Immelman has never held the lead heading into the weekend at any major, and since his surgery on Dec. 18 he has not finished among the top 40 in seven tournaments.
Woods, who rallied from six shots back over the final two rounds to win in 2005, will have to jump a dozen golfers if he is to make the second greatest comeback in Masters history. He’s never won any of his 13 majors when trailing after 54 holes.
Mickelson, who has won twice here in the last four years, shot a bogey-free 68 to put himself in position for his third green jacket while Flesch shot a 67 to have the best score of the week so far. The group behind Mickelson at 4-under includes Stephen Ames and Paul Casey with former Masters champ Mike Weir at 3-under.
Joining Woods at 1-under are Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh.
Only 45 players survived the cut at 3-over 147 and the conditions probably will only get tougher with thunderstorms predicted for Saturday with a cold front behind it.
Fred Couples shot a 72, missing a birdie putt on 18 to miss the cut by one shot. He remains in a tie with Gary Player by surviving a record 23 consecutive cuts at Augusta.

allheadlinenews.com