Masters Round 2: Rain, Storms Favorable for Early Friday Tee Times

The 2013 Masters Tournament will likely avoid any significant weather delays, but thunderstorms are currently on course to strike heavily Thursday evening at Augusta National.

What's that mean to golfers with early morning tee times in the Second Round?

Great potential for low scoring on soft greens, ahead of afternoon tee times. 

Let's take a look at five golfers that could capitalize Friday morning at Augusta National and set themselves up quite nicely for a weekend run at a green jacket.

Steve Stricker (8:55 A.M. ET)

Playing in group six, Steve Stricker tees off at 8:55 a.m. ET in the Second Round.

With heavy rains and thunderstorms set to soften greens at the Masters ahead of Friday morning, the PGA Tour's No. 2 scoring leader has the potential to post a very low number heading into the weekend.

The major area in which he's struggled this year is driving distance, currently ranked No. 170 on the PGA Tour. However, driving distance will become a neutralizer among competitors on Friday with wet fairways.

In 12 Second Round outings at Augusta National, Stricker has broken 70 (two rounds of 69) only twice.

Friday morning, look for Stricker to have his lowest Second Round ever at the Masters.

If that happens, the weekend should set up very nice for the world's No. 8 golfer.

Bo Van Pelt (9:28 A.M. ET)

Bo Van Pelt is probably the best player receiving the least amount of coverage heading into the Masters.

From a statistical standpoint, nothing really jumps out about Van Pelt's play this season.

However, the American has two top-17 finishes at the Masters in the past two years.

Teeing off at 9:28 a.m. ET on Friday, Van Pelt should benefit from an ideal scoring opportunity following heavy rains headed to Augusta, Ga., on Monday night.

He may only have one career win on the PGA Tour, but he's got 48 top-10 finishes in his career.

If he makes the most of soft greens early in the Second Round, Van Pelt could have a shot this weekend.

Adam Scott (9:39 A.M. ET)

As much as any professional golfer right now, Adam Scott is set to breakthrough at a major.

Having finished the past two years at Augusta National with top-eight finishes, the world's No. 7-ranked golfer is another player that could really benefit from an early morning tee time on Friday.

Scott tees of at 9:39 a.m. ET in the Second Round with Angel Cabrera and Sergio Garcia.

The golfer's biggest trouble area in 2013 has been reaching greens in regulation outside of 125 yards.

However, that task should become much easier at the Masters with softer-than-usual greens Friday.

Scott already ranks at the PGA Tour's No. 7 scoring average leader (69.67), so posting a low number in the Second Round could give him the edge he needs to close on Sunday afternoon.

Dustin Johnson (9:50 A.M. ET)

Having finished in a tie for fourth place at the recent Shell Houston Open, Dustin Johnson is playing well heading into the year's first major championship.

The young American has shot rounds of 68, 72 and 70 in his past three Fridays at the Masters. On the heels of downpours expected at Augusta National overnight on Monday, his Second Round successes should continue in 2013.

As good as Johnson has been in round two at the Masters, he currently ranks No. 144 in Third Round scoring average on the PGA Tour this season.

If the long-ball hitter can keep it in the fairway when he tees off at 9:50 a.m. ET on Friday, he could set himself up well heading into the weekend at the Masters.

Hunter Mahan (10:12 A.M. ET)

Hunter Mahan has played pretty well at the Masters over his young career, having made cuts in four of his six appearances at Augusta National. 

Specifically, Mahan has notched three top-12 finishes in the past four Masters.

When he takes to the course at 10:12 a.m. ET on Friday, the PGA Tour's leader in greens in regulation from 75-100 yards should be able to land some shots close to the pins. 

If Mahan can get a hot hand putting on a wet course Friday, he'd have reason to believe he could don the green jacket on Sunday afternoon.

Why?

The American has posted Third Round scores of 68 in each of his last two Saturdays at the Masters.

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