Bernd Wiesberger was relishing heading into the weekend in contention at the 2021 Masters Tournament after firing his first sub 70 round at the 22nd attempt at Augusta National.
The Austrian had never missed the cut in his previous five appearances but had also never broken the top 20 as he learned the nuances of the unique challenge that lies at the end of Magnolia Lane.
After opening with a creditable 74 in treacherous conditions on Thursday, Wiesberger made seven birdies with a single bogey on day two in a 66 that left him in an excellent position to challenge for a first Major Championship over the weekend.
“I got into some good positions to attack some of the flags but the greens definitely played a touch softer," he said. "I putted beautifully the first nine or 10 holes and I’m really glad to get my lowest career round in the Masters.
@BWiesberger's career low round at Augusta 👏#themasters
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 9, 2021
“I’m really looking forward to the weekend. I feel so much more comfortable on the greens this week and when I have more freedom on the greens it eases the pressure on my approach game.
"I've been playing really solid golf yesterday and today, obviously. Just today I kept the mistakes off the card."
Another man at four under after a 66 was Tony Finau, who carded an eagle and six birdies with two bogeys.
The American is not only looking for a first Major but a first European Tour win after two seconds, a third and ten other top tens in 37 events.
A victory cannot be far away for the 2018 Ryder Cup star and he admits the near misses are keeping him keen.
"It keeps me hungry, it keeps me humble, and I definitely know that I definitely need a big win," he said.
"I've had a good career up to this point. I've had a lot of close calls and I do think I've had a really successful career but not quite a winning career, and I think that comes from winning a big one.
"For me, I think that will give me a lot of confidence. I feel like I carry a lot of confidence in these big events because I have competed at a high level in a lot of them. But I think missing that W keeps me humble and hungry and hopefully I can notch that off this week. "
