Friday LIVE from the Masters

Golf Writer Andy Reistetter is at the Masters this week. Here are his thoughts, comments and perspectives for Friday. Look for his column every day for an upfront, personal and firsthand look at what is happening at Augusta National in the 75^th rendition of this springtime classic!

It was a Friday at the Masters that really seemed like a Saturday.

There was so much movement on the leader board that Chairman Billy Payne will have to seriously consider converting the manual scoreboards to high speed digital.

As a patron of the Masters art, this was a day to remember.

My day started at the first tee for the 7:45 grouping.

"Fore, please, Charl Schwartzel now driving."

Charley Hoffman had matching green pants, shoes and golf glove.

I am not sure if it was Masters green or the green of his sponsor Waste Management.

Probably Masters green, right?

"Fore, please, D.A. Puntz now driving."

"Excuse me, D.A. Points."

It was an honest and funny mistake and give Points credit for taking it well.

After all, he won a two-for-one Pro-Am out there on Monterey Peninsula with Bill Murray as his partner.

Who by the way no showed as Points' caddie in the Par-3 Contest on Wednesday afternoon.

Can you fire a looper almost as famous as the golden caddie of Augusta National, Carl Jackson?

Probably not.

One meets the nicest people playing on a golf course, even nicer fellow patrons standing next to you at the Masters.

I met Ron the golf professional and Chip the golf superintendent.

One says he is a "golf professional not a professional golfer."

The other describes himself as a "golf Superintendent that went into the design/build business and now manages golf course."

Somehow I think I met two friends for the rest of my life.

How about that amateur Hideki Matsuyama shooting 72-73 to make the cut on the number.

Hideki goes to university in Sendai which was the epicenter of the earthquake that triggered the devastating tsunami on March 11th in Japan.

It was a difficult decision for him, Ryo Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Fujita and Yuta Ikeda whether they should compete in the Masters or not.

Matsuyma's words were simple and eloquent.  

"The Masters, which has been my dream, is their dream as well. Doing my best here is my obligation for them."

It was a job well done by an inspiring performance by a 19-year-old whose world is turned upside down and washed away.

What an honor and inspiration it will be for the friends and folks back home when he is in the Butler Cabin late Sunday afternoon receiving the sterling silver cup.

How about that Freddie Couples?

Could it be déjà vu plus of Nicklaus triumph 25 years ago?

"All I can tell you is I'll come out tomorrow and try and shoot the best I can."

Can you pull an 86 Jack?

"You know, I mean, could I win? Of course. Am I looking forward to playing tomorrow? Yeah, you'd better believe it."

But will his back hold up?

"I'm in a great spot to come out tomorrow. I'll have no problem playing Saturday and Sunday.
Just it's very awkward to play golf when it's more painful. I've had a bad back for a long time, but the pain is not a whole lot of fun."

"Here, I would be playing even as a cripple, I love this place. I shouldn't say that; as a guy with a horrible back, I would get it around. I did it a couple of years and I just love playing here."

Gidday up my friend!

K.J. Choi has done a few gut checks and is ready for the same greatness that struck fellow countryman Y.E. Yang at the 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine.

Remember K.J. Choi is a proven winner, and this is his ninth Masters appearance. He has seven PGA Tour and eight international victories. K.J. is at seven-under-par, three strokes behind the leader.

Choi has three hybrids in his bag this week to hit the ball higher and softer landings on Augusta National's firm and fast greens with lots of slope.

Choi is not afraid to change or embrace technology if it helps him reach his goals of winning a major championship.

"Whatever is in my mind, I have to get it out. I have to try it and test it out. That's just the type of person I am."

 
"I think the worst thing you can do to yourself is wanting to do something, but not having the courage to do it. And I don't want to be the type of person that regrets not testing something out when I feel that it's right."

Look for Choi to improve on his best finish, a third in 2004, and maybe even win the 2011 Masters.

Tiger Woods shot a masterful 66 and is T3 with Choi three strokes behind the leader.

Woods charged at the end of his round birding eight of his last 11 holes.

Jason Day—tied the low round of any first-year player and set low second round by a first-year player and is one stroke behind the leader.

So who is leading the Masters at the halfway point?

Rory McIlroy.

Bottom line—McIlroy shot a bogey-free 65 on Thursday.

Jason Day shot a bogey-free 64 on Friday.

There are two young kids in the final pairing on Saturday at the Masters

With a Tiger on their tail.

Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer as well as a Research and Broadcast Assistant for the major golf broadcast companies. He spends time on all four major American golf tours—the PGA TOUR, Champions, Nationwide and LPGA Tours.

Reistetter resides in near the PGA TOUR headquarters and home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach.

A lifetime golfer, Andy enjoys volunteering at the World Golf Hall of Fame and THE PLAYERS while pursuing his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it. He can be reached through his website www.MrHickoryGolf.net or by e-mailing him at [e-mail]