How the Master’s was won

Charlie CorbettCharlie Corbett
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How the Master’s was won

We will look at how the 2016 US Masters was won last weekend by Danny Willet.

On day one, Jordan Spieth was out early and got the birdies on the board and was the overnight leader after a sublime bogey-free 66 to blow everyone out of the water.

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World number one Jason Day had one of the most remarkable rounds of the tournament. He was out in a five-under 31, but after a back nine meltdown and bogeys on 10, 15, 17 and a triple-bogey on 16, he returned in a five-over 41 to sit six behind Spieth.

Rory McIlroy was looking to complete the career grand slam at Augusta. He got off to a steady start of a two-under 70. Shane Lowry shared second place after a four-under round 68. Englishmen Justin Rose, Paul Casey and Ian Poulter all shot a 69.

Danny Willet also got off to a steady start as he shot a two-under 70 on a very difficult day at the Masters.

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Rickie Fowler was the surprise of the day as he carded an unbelievable round of 80. Also the very sad scenes on the first green where Ernie Els seven putted, six of them putts were within three foot.

McIlroy was one of only five players to shoot an under par round as he went out early on Friday to try and close the gap between him and Spieth. He could only manage a one-under 71 though.

The Northern Irishman waited nervously for Spieth to finish his round as he could pull even further clear. But after back-to-back bogeys on 16 and 17, the Texan could only card a two-over par round of 74 which left him one shot ahead of McIlroy heading into the weekend.

Day was only playing his way out of the championship in the second round as he could only shoot a one-over round of 73.

Willet seemed to struggle on day two as he could only card a two-over in a round filled with three bogeys and one birdie.

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Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, and Shane Lowry dropped away as they struggled in the harsh conditions of Augusta.

Debutant Andy Sullivan, 2007 champion Zach Johnson, Jason Dufner, Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Graeme McDowell and Charl Schwartzel all failed to make the cut.

Lee Westwood was smiling after day three as he managed to get himself back to one-over for the tournament after a round of 71.

Spieth shot an over-par round for the second day in a row as he shot a one-over par 73 to bunch the pack up again. Speith started the day perfectly with a birdie at the first. He then birdied the third but a double-bogeyed on the fifth hole to get him back to level for the day. The American managed to birdie the eighth but gave the shot straight back at the ninth.

The 22-year-old started to struggle in the conditions as he dropped another shot at the 10th hole. Spieth’s group was then put on the clock for slow play on 11 but Spieth managed to par the next four before birdieing the 15th. The man from Texas then bogeyed 16 and 17 to card a two-over 74 on a tough day at Augusta National.

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McIlroy shot his way out of the championship on day three as he carded a five over 77.

The Northern Irishman’s woes started at the third when he carded a bogey five and then again at the seventh.

Things didn’t get better on the back nine when his snap-hooked tee shot on 10 finished by a tree which aided in his bogey five.

The Northern Irishman’s tee shot on the next wasn’t any better as his pulled shot which finished by another tree. He managed to punch the ball out but it ran all the way into the water as the 26-year-old would card a double bogey six.

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But Willet was the best placed European with an outside chance on Sunday after shooting a level par round of 72. Willet started the day with a bogey at the first and fourth before carding back-to-back birdies on six and seven to finish level par on the front nine.

The Englishman battled the conditions well and birdied the very difficult 12th hole, but gave that shot straight back a hole later.

Willet then birdied 14 before again bogeying another par five, this time in the form of the 15th.

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Bernhard Langer was the surprise of the day as the German battled the conditions to card a two-under 70, but it could have been so much more.

One of the rounds of the day on Sunday was shot by Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick who secured his card for next year’s Master’s championship by shooting a five-under-par and finishing in a tie for seventh.

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Dustin Johnson confirmed another top-five finish in a major by carding a one-under on Sunday but had he brought his short game, yet again, he could of come away victorious.

It was a thrilling final few hours out on the course, Spieth made four birdies on the trot on holes six, seven, eight and nine which meant he headed in the back nine with a five shot lead.

Willet and Westwood were moving along nicely as they were two-under for the front nine.

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Spieth made an unforced error of sticking his ball in the bunker on 10 and failed to get up and down. He then pushed his tee shot into the trees on 11 and could only chip out sideways and failed again to make par.

Spieth then made an unbelievable quadruple-bogey by sticking two balls in the water at the 12th to put him back to one-under for the tournament.

While all this mayhem was going on, Willet carded a birdie four and the 15th, while Westwood chipped in for eagle. They both looked at the scoreboard on the 16th to show they were the leaders. Willet then knocked his shot to eight foot and made the putt while Westwood made a three-putt bogey.

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Spieth responded well by birdieing the 13th and 15th but a missed a birdie putt on 16 which all but ended his chances. A drop shot on 17 left him three off the pace as Willet went par, par to win his first major, and England’s first winner in 20 years.

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