Mize can't find magic in his putter again as he posts 76
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Larry Mize doesn't sound like a 50-year-old man content just to make the 36-hole Masters Tournament cut.
At 1-under-par, Mize sits eight shots behind co-leaders Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry. If not for a 4-over-par 76 on Friday, Mize would be in serious contention.
"I dug myself a little bit of a hole today, but you never know," he said. "I'm going to try to come back strong on the weekend."
With what he called a "pretty solid" performance through two rounds, Mize made his first Masters cut in three years and second since 2000. His 36-hole total is his best since 1994, when he finished in third place.
"I love to play here anyway, no matter what," the Augusta native said. "To play all four days is great. I'm pleased. I'm a little disappointed I didn't play a little better today, but I'm very pleased I'll be here for the weekend."
After posting an opening 67, Mize arrived in the dark for the first pairing of the second round. The 1987 Masters champion shook off an early mistake that could have torpedoed his round. He drove his first tee ball left of the fairway against a tree, a shot that led to double bogey.
"I just told myself I got a bad break," Mize said. "I couldn't worry about it. And I came back the next two holes."
Mize rebounded with birdies at Nos. 2 and 3 to get back to even-par. Those were his lone birdies for the day.
After needing just 24 putts in the first round, Mize needed 32 Friday. His three-putt at No. 15 cost him a birdie opportunity.
"I just didn't putt as well as I did yesterday," he said, "and it turns into a 76."
Mize's short game hurt him at Amen Corner. He three-putted from just off the 11th green for bogey. He followed with another bogey at the par-3 12th after failing to get up and down. He then dropped another shot at No. 14.
"The conditions were tougher today," Mize said. "The wind made it tough coming in. There were some tougher pins out there. It was a tougher day today. I made it a little tougher than I needed to."
Mize said he has two more rounds to make amends.
"It was a little bit of a grind, but I got through it,'' he said. ''We'll get 'em on the weekend."
Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.
| 2nd Round | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Tot |
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Rnd | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 37 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 39 | 76 |
| Tot | -3 | -4 | -5 | -4 | -4 | -4 | -4 | -4 | -4 | -4 | -4 | -3 | -2 | -2 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| 1st Round | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Tot |
| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Rnd | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 34 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 33 | 67 |
| Tot | 0 | -1 | -2 | -1 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -4 | -5 | -5 | -5 | -5 | -5 | -5 | -5 |
