AUGUSTA – Chris DiMarco has been so close to slipping on the Masters Green Jacket, he must know what the texture of the fabric feels like. Now the trick is actually getting it slipped over his shoulders – with both arms through it.
When DiMarco charged to a four-shot lead through yesterday’s completion of the second round of the 69th Masters, it marked the fifth time in the 15 rounds he has played at the Masters that he has either had sole possession of a share of the lead at Augusta.
“I love this press room,” DiMarco joked after he led after the first day here.
Now, if DiMarco can finish out the next 36 holes in the same form that got him to 10-under-par through two rounds of 67.
Thomas Bjorn, the Dane whose career has been somewhat reborn of late, was four shots behind DiMarco in second place and Tiger Woods, thanks to a sparkling second-round 66, began the third round in third place, six shots behind DiMarco, who was born in Huntington, L.I., and spent the first few years of his life there.
A possible advantage for DiMarco was, because of the rain delays that forced the second round to be completed yesterday, he didn’t have to sleep on the 36-hole lead, something that so often unnerves some competitors because they have so much time to think about the possible outcomes.
“That’s the hardest thing,” said DiMarco, who led after two rounds in his first Masters in 2001, and was in front again entering the final round last year. “On Saturday, you don’t tee off until 2:30 p.m. and you have to sit around all morning. I have three kids and they’re up at 7:30, so I’m up at 7:30. It’s a big plus to be going right back out there.”
Asked if he has been looking at the leaderboard, DiMarco said, “I did. I keep telling myself, ‘We’ve only played 36. We have a lot of golf left.’ But it’s right where you want to be, have a chance on the weekend.”
Woods, after a disjointed opening-round 2-over 74, rallied yesterday and made his name very prominent on the leaderboard, serving notice to the entire field.
“It was a nice turnaround,” Woods said. “I hit the ball a little bit better. Finishing up (the first round), I really thought I was hitting it well.”
Asked if the conditions were difficult, Phil Mickelson, who entered the third round in the mix at 2-under, said, “Obviously it’s not tough out there for Chris. I need to go out there and do something in the next round. Seeing that 10-under up on the board, we have to go out and play aggressively and make birdies, because (DiMarco) is running away and we have to go try and catch him.”
Among the other chasers after the second round were Englishman David Howell, who began the third round at 3-under as well as Vijay Singh, who was also 3-under entering the third round. Joining Mickelson at 2-under were Aussie Mark Hensby and amateur Ryan Moore.
But, as the players returned to the first and 10th tees for the beginning of the third round at 3 p.m. yesterday, the tournament was DiMarco’s to win or lose.
“It’s up to me,” DiMarco said. “I have to go out, control myself, stay focused and control my nerves, just try to do what I’ve been doing.”
Leaderboard
How they stood yesterday at Augusta National at the completion of the second round:
To par Score
Chris DiMarco -10 67-67-134
Thomas Bjorn -6 71-67-138
Tiger Woods -4 74-66-140
David Howell -3 72-69-141
Vijay Singh -3 68-73-141
Phil Mickelson -2 70-72-142
Mark Hensby -2 69-73-142
Ryan Moore -2 71-71-142
Notables
Jim Furyk -1 76-67-143
Mike Weir 1 74-71-145
Retief Goosen 2 71-75-146
Ernie Els 4 75-73-148
Complete scores / P. 64
