Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño and Sergio Garcia were looking to continue the fine Masters Tournament record of Spanish players as the second round continued at Augusta National.
Exactly 30 years since Seve Ballesteros captured his second Green Jacket, and 14 years after José María Olazábal became the last European to win the year’s first Major, Garcia and Fernandez-Castaño were looking to follow in the footsteps of their illustrious compatriots.
Both were four under par for the tournament playing the back nine, as tougher conditions prevented the sort of scoring that saw 33 players break par on the opening day.
Garcia had led overnight with Australian Marc Leishman, found himself two over through four holes, but then fought back with six straight pars to remain just two shots behind Leishman and American Dustin Johnson.
Fernandez-Castaño birdied the first from 30 feet, dropped three shots before the turn but then birdied the tenth and 15th to get back to level par for the day.
The six-time European Tour winner had sought advice from two-time Masters winner Olazábal before the tournament and said after his opening round: "I got lucky to play four rounds here last year and finally you get to know this place.
"I played a practice round with Olly and tried to absorb as much info as I could because he knows this place like his own backyard.”
