AUGUSTA, Ga. – Jordan Spieth was frustrated Friday when Masters officials put his group on the clock ahead of the toughest stretch at Augusta National.
Spieth, Paul Casey and Bryson DeChambeau were told on the 11th hole – the toughest in the second round – that they were being timed for being out of position. Spieth hit his approach some 75 feet from the hole and was heard saying to his caddie, “I’m being … timed. I want to take my time, wait out the gusts.”
He two-putted for par, escaped with a par from the bunker short of the 12th green and the group was back in position a short time later.
Under pace-of-place guidelines, a player is warned if he goes over his allotted time while on the clock, and the second violation is a one-shot penalty.
Spieth chose his words carefully when asked if it was fair for his group to be put on the clock.
“I wouldn’t say it was unfair,” he said. “I would say that … have fun getting put on the clock at 11 of Augusta, and then play 11 and 12 rushing with gusting wind. It’s not fun. It’s not fun at all.”
He said the group also was put on the clock at the 17th.
Spieth had a 2-over 74 and had a one-shot lead over Rory McIlroy.
Guan Tianlang, the 14-year-old amateur from China, was given two bad times in 2013 and assessed a penalty shot in the second round. He still made the cut.