Monte Carlo Masters: Defending Champion Scottie Scheffler Three Strokes Off Lead After Challenging Day at Augusta
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler faced a tough afternoon at Augusta National on Friday, finishing the second round with a one-under par 71, leaving him three strokes behind leader Justin Rose. The world No. 1 acknowledged that it wasn’t just the swirling winds that made the day difficult but also his own performance.
“It contributed a little bit,” Scheffler said, reflecting on the challenging conditions. Despite the obstacles, he remained optimistic about his chances heading into the weekend. “I definitely could have been a bit sharper on the back nine. Just a few too many mistakes,” he admitted.
Scheffler’s rollercoaster round featured a mix of highs and lows. His biggest break came at the par-three 12th hole, where an errant tee shot found the azalea bushes but rolled down the slope into a clear area, allowing him to chip in for a birdie. “I was fortunate to see the ball come out of the bushes there and was able to take advantage of the break,” he noted.
However, the back nine proved challenging for Scheffler, where he recorded four of his five bogeys, balancing them with three birdies. “I had a couple three-putts. I didn’t hit as many fairways. I got myself in trouble off the tee on 18,” he explained.
“The greens are extremely challenging when they’re this fast and the wind is gusty,” Scheffler added. He managed to make some key up-and-downs, including a solid recovery on the 13th and capitalizing on opportunities on the 14th.
As he heads into the third round, Scheffler is focused on refining his game. He aims to join the ranks of golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods by winning back-to-back Masters titles. After a spectacular 2024 season that included nine titles and Olympic gold, Scheffler is eager to find his form in 2025, a year that started slowly due to a hand injury sustained in a Christmas Day cooking accident.
