The course was playing about one stroke easier than last year, but it was missing the howling, swirling winds from the first round a year ago. Not that everyone found it easier. Nick Faldo, a three-time Masters champion, showed how badly his game is suffering when he played the first 15 holes without a birdie and wound up with an 80. Faldo has not broken par at Augusta since his final-round 67 to win the 1996 Masters. Els felt about the same way when he walked off the course.
Woods knows the feeling.
His six birdies were more than anyone Thursday, but half of them were wasted on No. 8, where he took an eight. The ball caromed back and into the azaleas, from where he had to take a penalty drop. Duval was tied for the lead after four birdies on the front nine, but he was showing signs of struggling. He had to make two knee-knocking par putts on the 10th and 11th, took bogey by missing another green at No. 12 and then hooked his drive in Rae's Creek on the 13th. When the siren sounded, he had a 12-foot putt to save par.