Golf is back in the Olympics and returned with a bang, as low scores were the order of the day in benign conditions. Can Aussie Marcus Fraser maintain his lead, or will someone jump out of the pack to challenge? Join The Roar for all the coverage of Round 2 from 8:30pm (AEST).
With the golf course’s greatest protector, the wind, absent, the Olympic field took advantage of the soft conditions.
Fraser was superb in firing a scintillating -8 (63) to sit three strokes clear on top of the leaderboard, using his precise iron and wedge play to pepper the flagstick, allowing him to convert numerous birdie chances.
The Australian leads the duo of Henrik Stenson and Graham DeLaet, who shot matching rounds of 65 (-5).
Justin Rose is a further shot back at -4 in a group of five punctuated his round with a historic hole in one on the par 3 fourth hole. Other notable players who played well and sit just outside the top ten is the threesome of Martin Kaymer, Sergio Garcia, and Matt Kuchar all shooting -2.
The biggest disappointment of the day was the play of the highly fancied Team USA, who – with the exception of Matt Kuchar – all shot over par: Patrick Reed (+1), Bubba Watson (+2), and Rickie Fowler (+4). They need to shoot well into the 60s tomorrow to keep themselves in the tournament.
Another player over par is Aussie Scott Hend, who was placed well at -3 until a dreaded quintuple bogey on the par 5 10th ruined his day, leaving him at +3.
Prediction
Stronger winds are forecast, which should make low scores harder to come by on Day 2. Fraser’s newly minted course record should be safe, as should his lead.
His greatest challenge will come from Stenson, Rose, and the underrated Rafa Cabrera Bello (-4).
Expect Fraser to get to double figures under par and maintain a two to three-shot lead, with a bunched chasing pack behind him heading into the weekend.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
Final Leaderboard after Round 2: 1. Marcus Fraser (AUS) -10 (69) 2. Thomas Pieters (BEL) -9 (66) 3. Henrik Stenson (SWE) -8 (68) T4. Gregory Bourdy (FRA) -6 (69) T4 Justin Rose (GB) -6 (69) T6. Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP) -5 (70) T6. Danny Lee (NZL) -5 (65) T6. Graham DeLaet (CAN) -5 (71) T6. Fabian Gomez (ARG) -5 (67) T10. Seamus Power (IRE) -4 (67) T10. Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) -4 (68) T10.Cheng Tsung Pan (TPE) -4 (69) T10. Alex Cejka (GER) -4 (71)
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
Well that brings us to the end of live coverage of round 2 of the Olympic Men's golf. On another good day for scoring Australia's Marcus Fraser despite some back 9 wobbles holds a 1 stroke lead at -10 over Belgium's Thomas Pieters (-9) with Henrik Stenson a further shot back at -8. The round of the day belonged to Danny Lee who birdied his final four holes to shoot -6 65 and rise up to -5 for the tournament. Thank you for following along tonight. Be sure to join us tomorrow night for live coverage of round 3.
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
Bubba birdies the 18th to complete a hat-trick of birdies. He sits at -2 after a -4 67. Kaymer parred the last to post -1. Lahiri also birdied the last but he is well out of it at +5.
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Only one group remains on course: Watson (-1), Kaymer (-1), and Lahiri (+6)
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Matt Kuchar birdies the last for a -3 total after a -1 70 today. Playing partner Danny Willett finishes with three birdies in a row to sneak into red figures at -1 after posting a 70.
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The final group is on the 18th as round 2 comes to an end.
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Watson birdies 17 and is back to -1. Weisberger finishes at -1 after a -4 67.
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Current Leaderboard 1. Marcus Fraser (AUS) -10 (69) 2. Thomas Pieters (BEL) -9 (66) 3. Henrik Stenson (SWE) -8 (68) T4. Gregory Bourdy (FRA) -6 (69) T4 Justin Rose (GB) -6 (69) T6. Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP) -5 (70) T6. Danny Lee (NZL) -5 (65) T6. Graham DeLaet (CAN) -5 (71) T6. Fabian Gomez (ARG) -5 (67) T10. Seamus Power (IRE) -4 (67) T10. Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) -4 (68) T10.Cheng Tsung Pan (TPE) -4 (69) T10. Alex Cejka (GER) -4 (71)
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Willett is back to E after birdies at 16 and 17. Watson (E) and Kaymer (-1) bounce back with birdies at 16.
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Gomez birdies the last to post -5 after a -4 67. Lingmerth's rollercoaster back nine finishes on a flat note as he bogeys the 18th to post -3 after a -1 70.
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Matt Kuchar birdies 16 to reach E par for the round, -2 for the tournament. Bernd Weisberger (AUT) is finishing strongly and is -4 on his round -1 total with the 18th to come.
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Watson and Kaymer bogey 15. They sit at +1 and E respectively.
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Roar Guru
Current Leaderboard 1. Marcus Fraser (AUS) -10 (69) 2. Thomas Pieters (BEL) -9 (66) 3. Henrik Stenson (SWE) -8 (68) T4. Gregory Bourdy (FRA) -6 (69) T4 Justin Rose (GB) -6 (69) T6. Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP) -5 (70) T6. Danny Lee (NZL) -5 (65) T6. Graham DeLaet (CAN) -5 (71) T9. Seamus Power (IRE) -4 (67) T9. Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) -4 (68) T9.Cheng Tsung Pan (TPE) -4 (69) T9. Alex Cejka (GER) -4 (71) T9. David Lingmerth (SWE) -4 (17) T9. Fabian Gomez (ARG) -4 (17)
Ryan Day
Roar Guru
Gomez does tap in for birdie, Lingmerth misses. They head to the 18th at -4.
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Gomez almost holes out on the par 3 17th a tap in will see him rise to -4. Lingmerth has a decent look at birdie also.
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Lingmerth continues his yo-yo back 9 birdieing the 16th to once again get to -4.
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Masters champion Danny Willett having a poor round he is +2 for the round and tournament.
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Watson bogeys 13 and that's back to back bogeys he has dropped back to E thru 13 holes.
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Lingmerth bogeys 15 and drops back to -3 equal with playing partner Fabian Gomez.
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American's Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar are -1, as is Martin Kaymer. Watson and Kaymer are in the last group on course and are currently playing the par 4 13th.