Masters 2008: Halfway Point - Immelman Leading

April 12, 2008 by Pete Teevens

AUGUSTA, Ga. - While most of the spectators at Augusta expected to see Tiger Woods leading the way at the halfway point of the Masters, they’ll have to settle for something out of a movie script.

Trever Immelman leads the way at 8-under par, while Woods is seven shots back at 1-under par. In what has the makings of a Hollywood movie Immelman just 4 months ago was in a hospital in South Africa recovering from a benign tumor that doctors removed from his diaphragm.

Immelman has shot 68 on back-to-back days earning him the lead. Perhaps the biggest factor in his great play has been his tee time. Immelman has started early on both days while the wind wasn’t as much of a factor as it was later in the day.

Woods wasn’t as fortunate as his late tee time left him looking merely average. It wasn’t until late in his round that the wind started to die off and Wood was only able to finish at 1-under.

Woods still figures to be a factor but would have to make a comeback that would rank as the second biggest comeback at Augusta National. While it would be hard to find many who would claim Woods is out of race, others appear more likely to catch Immelman.

Brandt Snedeker is just one shot back at 7-under. Snedeker, the 2007 PGA Tour rookie of the year, had an impressive round on Friday making 5 birdies and just one boogie for a 4-under par day. Two of the five birdies came on the 17th and 18th holes moving Snedeker into second from a four way tie for third at 5-under.

Steve Flesch, Phil Mickelson, and Ian Poulter are all three shots back heading into the final two rounds.

The cut was at 3-over 147, leaving just 45 of the starting field of 93 players for the final two days. Saturday’s forecast is predicting thunderstorms so difficult conditions could result in big swings on the leader board.

Regardless of what the weather brings, Immelman will have to deal with a late tee time and possibly stronger winds as he will be paired with the leaders in Saturday’s round.

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