Australia’s Jason Day claimed a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Masters, but all the headlines were about two players at the opposite ends of the age spectrum on a dramatic day at Augusta National.
In the last group out, Day carded a 68 to finish six under par, one shot clear of compatriot Marc Leishman and 53-year-old former champion Fred Couples.
And by failing to birdie the 18th, Day ensured Chinese teenager Guan Tianlang made the cut on four-over under the 10-shot rule, despite the 14-year-old earlier being penalised a shot for slow play.
Argentina’s Angel Cabrera, the 2009 champion, was two off the lead alongside American duo Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker after storming home in 31 with five birdies in his last six holes, while English trio David Lynn, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose were another stroke back on three under.
Jason Dufner, KJ Choi, Adam Scott and Tiger Woods were also three under, 14-time major winner Woods dropping two shots in the last four holes by three-putting the 18th after seeing his pitch to the 15th hit the pin and bounce back into the water.
Guan, the youngest player in Masters history, added a 75 to his opening 73 to finish four over par, but only after being controversially handed a one-shot penalty for slow play.
The rules state that players will be told when they are out of position on the course, then advised they are being put on the clock and if they subsequently receive two “bad times”, are liable to be penalised.Big boys’ rules read Courier golf writer Steve Scott’s take on golf’s slow-play problemGuan was warned on the 10th, started being timed on the 12th and then took too long over his second shot to the 13th and approach to the 17th.
Speaking to ESPN, Guan said: “I respect the decision. This is what they can do. I think they should do it with respect to everybody.”
But Ryder Cup-winning captain Colin Montgomerie accused tournament officials of picking on the easiest target by handing out the penalty.
It is 17 years since a player was given a stroke penalty for slow play in a regular PGA Tour event three years before Guan was even born.
Montgomerie, commentating for Sky Sports, said: “It surprises me it’s been done to the weakest and easiest target out here and I must admit common sense did not prevail in that action.”
David Duval said officials had to tackle the problem, but added: “It’s a shame it’s coming to light again involving the kid. I do wish it had happened to one of the known slower players.”
England’s Lee Westwood added: “He will not do it again. He is from a country just learning the game, in his first pro event and it does seem a bit harsh. He has probably learnt to play slow from watching us on TV, so why should we be surprised.”
And Martin Kaymer’s caddie Craig Connelly wrote on Twitter: “Turned on TV to find that young Guan was hit with 1 shot penalty… Horrific! We continually play in over 5hrs… Bigger culprits out here!”
Couples, who claimed his only Green Jacket in 1992, also shared the lead with Dufner at the same stage last year but shot 75 on Saturday and eventually finished 12th.
“I would like to have another run,” Couples said. “Last year both Jason and I struggled right off the bat and we really were a non-factor on Saturday and that was not really much fun.
“Hopefully tomorrow will be a little different and I will play well and have a shot at Sunday. That’s my goal, but it is hard. I’m not going to kid you. I’m really tired.
“Am I good enough to play four good rounds in a row on a course like this? It didn’t happen last year. I did tee off Thursday with the idea of playing well, and now it’s Friday afternoon late. I’m surprised, but I’m not going to freak out over it.”
Earlier in the day, Lynn added a 73 to his opening 68 in his third career major, while Westwood and Rose both returned 71s.
Rory McIlroy had an eagle on the eighth and birdie on the 18th in his round of 70 to lie two under, the same score as two-time winner Bernhard Langer after the 55-year-old completed a second consecutive 71.
Overnight joint-leader Sergio Garcia was 10 shots worse than his opening 66 to also finish two under, while American Dustin Johnson was the only player to reach seven under after 13 holes of his round, only to play the last five holes in six over par.
Sandy Lyle celebrated the 25th anniversary of his Masters victory by making his first cut at Augusta since 2009, adding a 72 to his opening 73 to comfortably qualify for the final two rounds on one over par.
Paul Lawrie will also play the weekend after adding a fine two-under-par 70 to his opening 76, but fellow Scot Martin Laird missed the cut.
Defending champion Bubba Watson scraped into the weekend on four over after a 73, but Ian Poulter crashed out on seven over.