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Olazabal set for another Masters challenge
Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal
was well placed on Friday to challenge for his third Masters title
at the weekend after shooting a four-under-par 68.
After two rounds, the 1994
and 1999 champion was tied for ninth on 138, four strokes behind
leader Chris DiMarco and relishing the prospect of the more demanding
challenges ahead as the sun dries out the greens.
"The tougher the golf course
plays it will select more of the players who can win the tournament,
that's for sure," he said. "Both years I won here there were tough
weather conditions and the golf course was playing really hard and
firm.
"But you still have to
play the game. You still have to play the shots and hit them well
and put them in the right positions."
Olazabal was even par for
the day after the first nine holes after two bogeys cancelled out
a brace of birdies. He shot four birdies in the back nine, including
three in a row at the 13th, 14th and 15th with nine, four and three
foot putts respectively.
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Olazabal
on the 18th green. Allsport.
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He backed away on the 18th
tee because of some crowd noise but recovered his composure sufficiently
to have a birdie chance denied when the ball caught the lip on the
left hand side.
Olazabal said he was happier
with his driving this season.
"I have been working at
it," he said. "It has not been great. I truly believe that I am
on the right path to improve that area of my game. I am still uncomfortable
with many of the changes I am working on but hopefully it will pay
off.
"I'm not going to pretend
to hit 300 yards off the tee but if I strike the ball the way I
want I'm not all that bothered about distance."
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