AUGUSTA, Ga. – Ten facts about the Masters going into the weekend at Augusta National Golf Club:
1. GUAN-MANIA
Most 14-year-old boys at Augusta National on Saturday are watching the tournament behind the ropes. Guan Tianlang of China will be playing. Despite a one-shot penalty for slow play, the teen sensation became the youngest player to make the cut in a PGA Tour event.
2. DAY IN THE LIFE
Jason Day is atop the leaderboard in a major for the first time, playing in the final group of the third round with a one-shot lead. Day was a runner-up two years ago. He had to withdraw after the first round last year because of an ankle injury.
3. TRACKING TIGER
Tiger Woods hit a perfect shot and made bogey. His lob wedge from 87 yards on the 15th hole hit the pin and bounced back off the green and into the water, instead of setting up a short birdie putt that would have given him the lead. He still was only three shots behind. Woods has only had the 36-hole lead once at the Masters.
4. LEGENDS OF THE GAME
It's not unusual to see 53-year-old Fred Couples around the lead at the Masters. He was tied for the 36-hole lead last year. Now he has company. Couples was one shot out of the lead, and 55-year-old Bernhard Langer was only four shots behind.
5. AUGUSTA CHARGE
The Masters is famous for big comebacks on Sunday, but it's important not to fall too far behind on Saturday. Art Wall in 1959 is the only Masters champion to start the final round outside of the top 10.
6. DEFENDING CHAMP
How the fortunes have changed for Bubba Watson in one year. He was the last man standing when he hit that wild shot out of the trees to win the Masters in a playoff. A year later, he barely made the cut and will be the first to tee off Saturday — with a club member to keep his score.
7. ASIA PACIFIC AMATEUR
Augusta National is proud of its role in helping to create the Asia Pacific Amateur. Winners get a spot in the Masters, and they have acquitted themselves well. This is the third straight year the winner has made the cut in the Masters — Guan Tianlang this year, Hideki Matsuyama the last two years.
8. INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
Guan Tianlang was part of another record at the Masters, and it had nothing to do with his age. He was among 34 international players who made the cut, the most ever.
9. BACK NINE BLUES
Tiger Woods is only three shots behind going into the weekend at Augusta National. And he has made only one birdie on the back in two days.
10. MASTERS DEBUT
No one has won the Masters in his debut since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979. Six Augusta National rookies made the cut this year. David Lynn of England was the only one who goes into the weekend within three shots of the lead.
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