ESPN.com - Golf Online - Masters 2000 - Hole of the day: No. 12

By David Kraft
ESPN Golf Online
Friday, April 7

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- As nasty as the 12th hole was in the first round, it was equally nice in the second.

12 At A Glance
Avg.	3.065
Rank	9
Eagles	0
Birdies	14
Pars	63
Bogeys	12
D-bogeys	4
Others	0

The swirling winds that haunted players in The Masters on Thursday were mostly absent Friday, despite predictions of 25 mph gusts. That made Amen Corner -- and the 155-yard par-3 12th hole in particular -- a much easier proposition for all concerned.

"The wind hasn't even begun to blow," said Bob Estes, who was in the third group of the day. "It is supposed to blow 25 mph if The Weather Channel knows what it is talking about."

It didn't. And the results were predictable.

What was the second-hardest hole in the first round was the ninth-hardest in the second. While there were 10 double-bogeys and three others -- including Tiger Woods' triple-bogey -- in the first round there were 14 birdies and only four double-bogeys in the second. And nobody took six.

The leaders emerged unscathed. David Duval picked up a birdie -- putting him under par for the first time all week. Jeff Sluman got into red numbers for the first time with a birdie at the 12th. Loren Roberts birdied the hole to get to 2-under, where he finished the day.

Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, Tom Lehman, Steve Jones, Retief Goosen and Bernhard Langer all parred it. The pin was directly behind the yawning bunker, but far enough back to give enough space to thread the ball in.

"I think the pin placements are a little easier today and the greens are a little softer," said Singh.

Without the wind, No. 12 was defenseless. And the pros took advantage.

"There was some occasional wind, but not anywhere near as strong or as consistent as it was (Thursday)," said Mickelson. "I think that's why we saw so many scores in the 60s."

And why No. 12 wasn't the factor it was in the first round.


		News Money Entertainment Kids Family	Search for on