Kids ruling the Masters

Half of the tournament remains to be played, but this is developing into some Masters already!

With a 21-year-old leading at the halfway stage, followed closely by a 23-year-old, you'd think it's changing of guards time at Augusta National. But as they say: it ain't over till it's over.

Lurking right behind the ‘kids' is the man they are all trying to emulate — Tiger Woods. I thought his six-under par 66 was a fantastic round and just goes to show how big a role experience plays when you are playing a golf course like the Augusta National.

Also, tied for the third place is Korea's K.J. Choi, and he is another player whose name doesn't surprise me on top of the leaderboard. K.J. loves Augusta National and has always done well here following that magical second shot for an eagle two on the par-4 11th hole - easily the toughest hole on the course - a few years ago.

Big question

So, the big question over the weekend would be how McIlroy and Day hold out against the golf course and Augusta veterans. I am not too sure about Day — I mean the Aussie is a fantastic talent, but this is only his first outing at the Masters. Shooting a 64 on Friday is an amazing effort, but will he be able to string together a 70, playing in pressure-cooker like situation on the Sunday [today]? We will have to wait and see. But McIlroy may just be the man to leave Augusta with the Green Jacket this year. Looking at how he has played the course over the first two days — a superb mix of caution and aggression — and the fact that he is a wise head on a 21-year-old shoulder, I think he is a good candidate. He has played the tournament twice and knows what kind of dangers lurk and, more importantly, I think he has learnt a lot from his experience last year at the Open Championship — when he followed a 63 with an 80 and let go of a superb opportunity to win his first Major.

Woods and Lee Westwood are not too far behind, and I am not going to rule out someone like Phil Mickelson still. Two rounds of 66 is all Mickelson needs to contend this evening, and he is more than capable of shooting those numbers.

The problem with Augusta National is that while you can expect to make a birdie on almost each hole, the slightest of mistakes can very easily lead to a double bogey. Even at this stage, it is too early to make any prediction. As they say at in Augusta: The Masters begins on the back nine on Sunday!

Jeev Milkha Singh is a three-time champion on the European Tour