Thomas Pieters did not pass the cut of the Augusta Masters, golf’s first Grand Slam of the season. After a complicated first day on Thursday (79), the 30-year-old Antwerper returned a card of 80 shots on Friday, or 8 over par. The Belgian is in 85th place and has 11 strokes too many to play the last two rounds, reserved for the top-50 in the standings. American Scottie Scheffler took off in the standings.
Pieters, who owed his presence to Augusta thanks to his place in the top-50 of the world rankings, however started better than Thursday. Indeed, he was one shot under par at the start of the fifth hole thanks to a birdie at hole N.2.
The 30-year-old Belgian, five victories on the European tour, including one acquired at the end of January in Abu Dhabi, then experienced a long slump. In windy and changing conditions, he made five bogeys between holes N.5 and 11.
At hole N.13, Pieters had to hit 7 shots (+2) to complete the last part of the Amen Corner, the historic triptych where the Masters can be won but also lost. He first sent his initial swing into the azaleas, forced to start it again, before falling victim to the relief, the hallmark of the course, when entering the green.
He again made two bogeys and a birdie, ending his day in 80 shots, eight over par. Already 84th Thursday night after playing 79 (+7), Pieters ranks 85th with a total of 159 (+15). The cut has been set at +4.
Brilliant fourth in 2017 for his first participation, Pieters then missed the cut in 2018.
Author of a round in 67 shots (seven birdies, two bogeys), Scottie Scheffler soared in the standings, where he is five shots ahead of a duo formed by the South African Charl Schwartzel and the South Korean Im Sung Jae.
