Masters resumes after overnight rain softens greens

AUGUSTA, Georgia (AFP) –

Sergio Garcia of Spain hits the ball during the first round of the 77th Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Georgia. Second-round play began Friday in the 77th Masters with Garcia and Australian Mark Leishman sharing the lead and Tiger Woods lurking close behind in familiar territory.

Second-round play began Friday in the 77th Masters with Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Australian Mark Leishman sharing the lead and Tiger Woods lurking close behind in familiar territory.

Overnight rain softened the undulating greens of Augusta National, which surrendered 45 rounds of par or better in Thursday’s opening round.

But tougher pin placements Friday at Augusta National, 11 of them within five paces of a greenside edge, figure to toughen the test for a world-class field in the year’s first major championship.

Garcia and Leishman shared the lead on six-under 66 with Dustin Johnson a stroke behind and South African Trevor Immelman, England‘s David Lynn, Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Americans Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar and Fred Couples on 68.

Marc Leishman of Australia hits a shot during the first round of the 77th Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, on April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Georgia. Second-round play began Friday in the 77th Masters with Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Leishman sharing the lead and Tiger Woods lurking close behind in familiar territory.

Garcia has a morning start alongside 2009 Masters winner Angel Cabrera and Aussie Adam Scott while Leishman goes off in the afternoon alongside US amateur T.J. Vogel and 1994 and 1999 Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain.

World number one Woods, a 14-time major winner seeking his first major title since the 2008 US Open and first Masters triumph since 2005, opened with a 70, the same score that has launched three of his four Masters triumphs.

Among those following him was girlfriend Lindsey Vonn, the reigning Olympic women’s downhill ski champion who was wearing a black brace on her surgically repaired right knee. She watched him play the first hole on Thursday.

“I can’t really walk too much, and it’s so hilly here, but I will be here every day until the end,” Vonn told the New York Times, planning to spend much of her time in the clubhouse area and following Woods on television.

Vonn said she is continuing her rehabilitation from an injury suffered at the world championships. She is working to be ready to defend her crown next February at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

Guan Tianlang of China hits a shot during the first round of the 77th Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, on April 11, 2013, in Augusta, Georgia. Second-round play began Friday in the 77th Masters with Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Australian Mark Leishman sharing the lead and Tiger Woods lurking close behind in familiar territory.

“Everything is good,” she said. “My knee is doing great.”

Woods was set to tee off in Friday’s penultimate group alongside England’s Luke Donald and fellow American Scott Piercy. Just behind them are Aussie Jason Day, Fowler and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington.

China’s 14-year-old schoolboy sensation, Guan Tianlang, opened with a 73 to stand as the low amateur and the only one with a solid chance to make the cut. He was set for a morning departure as well.

Guan became the youngest player in Masters history on Thursday but showed poise under pressure in an impressive debut round over the famed 7,435-yard course.