Masters 2015: Predictions, Live Stream and TV Coverage Hub for Friday
The opening round of the 2015 Masters Tournament didn't disappoint, as 21-year-old Jordan Spieth ascended to the top of the leaderboard with an eight-under 64.
Spieth led by three strokes entering Friday's second round but is just now getting his day started with a 9:57 a.m. ET tee time at Augusta National Golf Club. Television coverage on ESPN doesn't begin until 3 p.m., so viewers will have to follow players like Spieth and Tiger Woods through live streaming.
CBS Sports will have coverage, as will Masters.com in the form of two featured groups, Amen Corner and the 15th and 16th holes.
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Check out a basic overview of the primary information below along with predictions as to what the leaderboard will look like heading into the weekend.
Friday Coverage Details
Where: Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia
When: First players teed off at 7:45 a.m. ET
Watch: ESPN from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET
Live Stream: CBS Sports; Masters.com
Friday Predictions
Tiger Woods Gains Ground
Most golf conversations start and end with Woods. The four-time Masters champion is playing for the first time in competition since early February's Farmers Insurance Open, where he withdrew.
All things considered, Woods was quite sharp with his short game and overcame some loose swings to card a one-over 73. If he can keep saving strokes around the green and improve his full shots, there's a chance for him to re-enter the mix.
Overnight rains slowed Augusta's slippery putting surfaces, which caused Woods to leave a few putts short in his opening round. Most noticeable was a birdie attempt on the par-three 16th that died about one revolution from the heart of the cup.
The Associated Press' Doug Ferguson highlighted the close call in his analysis:
Woods stated afterwards that he could've been somewhere in the 60s with a few more made putts, per Golf Central:
It's hard to deny that there's truth to what Woods is saying. The 39-year-old looked as physically fit as he has in quite some time Thursday and had the trademark precise chipping to complement his peak condition.
With better pace on the greens, a twinge better feel for club selection and more accurate drives like the ones he ended Day 1 with on Nos. 17 and 18, Woods could indeed shoot in the 60s on Friday.
Prediction: Woods shoots three-under 69.
Rory McIlroy Makes a Move
Many want to compare any great young player who comes along to Woods. McIlroy has been at the center of that conversation often, and thus some have disallowed him to build his own legacy.
The 71 McIlroy shot Thursday wasn't his best effort. He missed just one fairway yet hit just 12 of 18 greens in regulation, suggesting his iron play is a touch off.
Golf Blotter's Steve Elling hinted that better golf is on the horizon for McIlroy if he brushes up that facet of his game:
Pursuing the career Grand Slam is no small deal. Between Woods' return and Spieth's surge, it's almost as though McIlroy's chase for history has become an afterthought.
John Huggan of Golf Digest reflects this mindset:
This may have been the best thing that could've happened for McIlroy, who has done a commendable job handling the tremendous expectations to date as is.
Scoring conditions may not be as favorable when McIlroy tees off on a drier Augusta layout at 1:48 p.m. Nevertheless, he'll know where Spieth and several other prominent contenders stand, which will foster a clearer course-management game plan.
Without too many distractions and Phil Mickelson's presence helping deflect some attention as well, McIlroy can go about his business Friday at ease. If his putter is hot and he can capitalize on par-fives, McIlroy could see an extremely low number in his second round.
Prediction: McIlroy shoots five-under 67.
Jordan Spieth Retains Lead
The average winning score in relation to par for a Masters champion over the past three years is a nine-under. Spieth darn near matched that number in one round, just one stroke off tying the major-championship scoring record.
A joint runner-up in 2014, the USA's next superstar golfer carried over what little (though mostly positive) experience he had at Augusta and his three recent top-two finishes into Thursday.
Can he keep it up? More often than not, one would be inclined to dismiss the notion that a 21-year-old kid could hold his own.
Spieth seems to be cut from a different cloth, though—immune to stats such as this one from Golf Central:
This young man shatters the mold, perception and expectations placed before him. Shooting in the low 70s wouldn't exactly be a step back, because it'd likely be enough to keep Spieth on top after 36 holes.
Considering he slept on the lead entering the final round last year, it's hard to envision Spieth collapsing on Friday. He did hit some loose shots, continuing a recent trend of losing the ball to the right on occasion. Until he cleans that up, those mistakes will come back to bite him at Augusta eventually.
Since he doesn't have transcendent power, the par-fives aren't as manageable to capitalize on for Spieth as they are for longer players like McIlroy and Woods.
Since Spieth shows no real signs of slowing down, forecasting a second-round 70 feels about two strokes from the floor that he could shoot: level par. Such an inference is a modest projection; a tempering of the hype.
But this writer will be pleased if Spieth goes lower, as will most who have been following his rapid rise in the game of golf.
Prediction: Spieth shoots two-under 70; leads by two.
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