Thursday at the 2011 Masters golf tournament featured beautiful weather and playing conditions, which led to a lot of red numbers. Entering Friday, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Spain's Alvaro Quiros share the tournament lead after posting scores of 7-under par, 65, at Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, GA.
Tiger Woods shot 1-under par, 71, and sits six-shots behind McIlroy-Quiros in a tie for 24th, while Phil Mickelson, the defending champion, shot a stroke better than Woods carding a 2-under par, 70, placing in tie for 14th. Other fan favorite feature: Fred Couples (1-under, T24), Stewart Cink (1-under, T24), England's Lee Westwood (even-par, T37th), Bubba Watson (1-over par, T49), the world's No. 1 player is Martin Kaymer (6-over, T93).
Experts have said that scores should not be as low in the next three rounds because the weather will continue to be great, which will help the fairways and greens to firm up.
So far, one of the major storylines to develop is the the play of Quiros' group, which includes big-hitters like Venezula's Jhonattan Vegas (even-par, T31) and USA's Gary Woodland (3-under par, T7), who Tiger Woods said on Tuesday could carry the ball 340-yards. If you get a chance check these guys out!
Here's Friday's Masters golf tournament TV schedule:
- Coverage of Amen Corner at Masters.com (10:45 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
- Coverage of holes No. 15/16 at Masters.com (11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
- Coverage of featured Groups 1/2 at Masters.com (12-7:30 p.m.)
- Masters' live radio coverage (2 p.m.)
- ESPN live coverage (3-7:30 p.m.)
Here's a brief look at the Masters golf tournament tee times:
Batting leadoff will be the group of South Africa's Charl Schwartzel (-3) , Australia's Stuart Appleby (+3) and USA's Charley Hoffman (+2), who will all tee off at 7:45 a.m. Quiros' tee time is at 10:41 p.m., McIlroy starts at 12:42 p.m, Mickelson begins at 10:30 a.m., and Woods resumes play at 1:48 p.m.
(For complete Masters' Round two pairings-tee times click here.)
For more information on the Masters Golf Tournament 2011 check out SB Nation's golf blog Waggle Room; or SB Nation Atlanta's Masters Storystream; and SB Nation's pro golf hub.