Scottie Scheffler Leads Masters As Weekend Play Begins
Scottie Scheffler Leads Masters As Weekend Play Begins...
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler holds a two-shot lead at the 2026 Masters Tournament after Friday's second round at Augusta National. The 29-year-old Texan carded a 5-under 67 to reach 9-under for the tournament, distancing himself from a packed leaderboard that includes Rory McIlroy and defending champion Jon Rahm.
The Masters dominates sports conversations this weekend as the first major championship of the golf season reaches its critical phase. Scheffler's strong start comes after his recent victory at The Players Championship, fueling speculation about another dominant performance.
Tiger Woods made the cut at even par, continuing his remarkable comeback at age 50. The five-time Masters champion drew massive galleries despite struggling with his putting during Friday's round. Woods sits nine shots behind Scheffler heading into Saturday's moving day.
Second-round play was suspended briefly Friday afternoon due to thunderstorms, causing a 45-minute delay that compressed the afternoon wave's schedule. Tournament officials expect ideal scoring conditions for Saturday, with sunny skies and mild temperatures forecast for Augusta.
Scheffler will tee off in Saturday's final pairing at 2:50 PM ET alongside McIlroy, who seeks his first green jacket to complete the career Grand Slam. CBS will broadcast weekend coverage beginning at 3 PM ET Saturday, with ESPN+ offering featured group streaming all day.
The leaderboard features 11 players within five shots of the lead, setting up what could be one of the most competitive Masters weekends in recent years. Scheffler's consistent ball-striking has been the story so far, as he's hit 83% of greens in regulation through two rounds.
Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley announced Friday that the club raised $18 million for charity through this year's tournament, including significant contributions to local education initiatives. The Masters continues through Sunday, when the winner will receive golf's most coveted prize.
