Magic just a memory as 'disappointed' Watson slips back into pack

One day after his stellar opening 67, Tom Watson struggled to a second-round 75. His magic touch was sadly absent on Friday, said Watson, who nonetheless remains in the thick of things at the halfway point.

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- That 18-month-old hip in that 60-year-old body was a little sore, but nothing a few aspirin couldn't take care of on Friday night.

His psyche, now that is a different story.

Tom Watson walked away on that surgically-replaced left hip "disappointed" Friday after shooting a 74 in the second round of the 74th Masters Tournament. He was still defying logic at 3 under and tied for ninth, but he now trails Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter by five strokes.

A little more than 24 hours earlier, though, the two-time Masters champ was conjuring up memories of the magic of Turnberry as he put the finishing touches on a 67 that left him trailing by just one.

"It was a struggle today," Watson said, shaking his head. "I didn't chip the ball well and hit a couple of poor iron shots, and that was the difference between yesterday and today.  Yesterday I chipped the ball beautifully, got the ball right up by the hole. 

"Today the touch wasn't there, and that's what killed me today." 

Nautically attired on Friday in a striped blue-and-white shirt, navy sweater and white trousers, Watson admitted he probably got more out of his bogey-free round of 5 under than "basically I should have." Unfortunately, Friday's round was the exact opposite.

"It kind of evened out the last two days," said Watson, who nonetheless created some excitement when he hit driver off the deck on both front-nine par 5s but at the same time ended up leaving his third shot in the bunker at No. 18.

The wind was up Friday and the pins at Augusta National were tucked in treacherous places. The scoring average was 74.512 -- more than a stroke higher than in the first round -- and Watson expects more of the same on Saturday.  

"Well, I'm happy that I'm still there, but ... 5 under is a better position going into the weekend than 3 under," Watson said. "I've got to do some 100 percent playing the last two rounds to have a chance, and that's what I'm here to do."

Watson was greeted by cheers at every hole and a standing ovation as he walked up to the 18th green. The patrons clearly relate to his bid to once again turn back the clock and why not -- "They're all my age," he said, flashing that gap-toothed grin of his.

Make no mistake: Watson isn't going to be out there on Saturday for old-time's sake. This is a man who firmly believes he can win -- particularly after reaching a playoff at last year's Open Championship -- so he won't be content with anything less.

"I have thoughts of playing my butt off and not making the same mistakes as I did today, the same attitude today I had 37 years ago when I first played here," Watson said.

As Watson was talking with reporters behind the 18th green, several groups finished, including the one in which Bill Haas was playing. Haas, playing in his first Masters, is 2 under, and his father, Jay, stood nearby, beaming with pride.

As pleased as he was with his son's performance, though, the elder Haas, a two-time winner of the Charles Schwab Cup on the Champions Tour, couldn't help being impressed by what Watson has done through 36 holes.

"He's extremely competitive," the 56-year-old Haas said. "He hits the ball very, very well. He knows the course, and he gets fired up for this. I don't think he gets fired up for much anymore except for major tournaments. And he always seems to play well.

"... He's a Hall of Famer so it's pretty hard to deny him. The ball doesn't know how old you are or anything like. That's the good part about this game. No defense out there. SO he's doing it and it's pretty neat."

watson wants to keep doing what he's doing and have a chance on the back nine Sunday. He's driving the ball well, and the putter, normally Watson's bugaboo, has been relatively cooperative. If his iron play improves, who knows what can happen? 

"I'd like to have a chance to win, let's put it that way," Watson said. "I put myself in the first round with a chance to win and didn't put myself out of the tournament. Right here I'm getting a little further away from that chance to win, but I still have a chance. ...  

"And that's the key; do I have a chance to win at age 60 to win the Masters?"

Plenty of people hope he does.