Scottie Scheffler gets a break from an azalea, gets away a

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP)– Even the azaleas at Augusta National seem to love Scottie Scheffler. The magnolia trees weren’t so friendly, though.The two-time Masters champ’s title defense took some unusual detours into the flora surrounding Augusta National’s ryegrass fairways and bentgrass greens Friday, and if he intends to win a third green coat Sunday, he’ll need to rally from another unknown area– three shots outside the lead.Advertisement Scheffler led by 5 shots at the middle in 2022 and won by 3. In 2015, he was tied for the lead after the second round and won by 4– part of a nine-win season that included a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.This time, he’s at 5-under 139 and tied for fifth through 36 holes. Justin Rose was 8 under, with Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy likewise ahead of the defending champ.Over his very first 24 holes of this Masters, Scheffler played the sort of golf that makes even McIlroy jealous– bogey-and drama-free. Then he started to wobble, with 3 bogeys in a five-hole stretch.And for a couple of seconds, it looked like he ‘d made a mess of the par-3 12th. His method cruised well beyond the front left hole area and landed on an upslope covered by flowering azaleas– but the bushes

spat out the ball, leaving a workable chip.Advertisement From there, Scheffler’s elite brief game took control of. He broke in for an unlikely birdie that got him back under par for the day.” When you’re playing for the wind to be into and it turns around and goes directly down, I indicate, it’s extremely difficult, “Scheffler said.”I was lucky to see the ball come out of the bushes there and had the ability to take advantage of the break.”The excitement wasn’t over as the wind started gusting and temperatures cooled over his final six holes. He birdied Nos. 14 and 17 however had a three-putt bogey on the par-3 16th. On the 18th, he sent his drive left, where it settled under a magnolia, and Scheffler dealt with the ball from his knees before asking for a guidelines authorities and sitting down in the pine straw. He eventually punched out to the fairway, sent his

third shot over the green and got up and down for bogey.Advertisement” It’s quite difficult and you get winds like that. You’ve actually got to handle your expectations, handle yourself around the course,”he said.”Sometimes I did a great task of that. Other times today, possibly not so great.”No fan favorite when he won his first Masters, Scheffler has actually grown in the

customers’esteem given that. During his nearly 2 years as the world’s top-ranked player, he has let his guard down a bit, revealing more of his dry, sarcastic sense of humor. But primarily, fans admire his incredible shot-making. On Friday afternoon, even as McIlroy and DeChambeau moved up the leaderboard ahead of him, viewers crowded the tee boxes and admired Scheffler’s perfectly struck approaches to the par-3 fourth and 6th holes, the second of those leading to birdie.He’s seeking to become the first to win back-to-back Masters since Tiger Woods in 2002 and the 2nd ever to win 3 of 4. Jack Nicklaus did it in 1963, ’65 and’ 66. Ad Eight players have won three or more green jackets: Nicklaus has six, Woods has five, and Phil Mickelson, Nick Faldo, Gary Gamer, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead and Jimmy Demaret have three each.

At 28, Scheffler would likewise end up being the only player under 30 with three significant titles.This is Scheffler’s first Masters as a father, with 11-month-old Bennett having joined him for Wednesday’s Par 3 Contest

, wearing a white caddie jumpsuit.He still has a possibility for another unforgettable moment with his child at the 18th hole Sunday. ___ AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf