Watson misses cut at Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Like Freddie Couples, Tom Watson knows all about turning back the clock.

He just couldn’t do it again Friday at the Masters.

Less than three years after thrilling old guys everywhere by making a run at his sixth British Open title at 59, Watson had a chance to hang around with the kids for the weekend at Augusta National. He wasn’t in the lead like Couples, but was on the cutline with two holes to play.

He bogeyed both 17 and 18 and finished at 7-over 151. The cut was 5 over, and the 63 players who made it were the most since 1992.

“It’s disappointing,” said Watson, 61. “It’s very disappointing because I knew what I had to do and I didn’t do it.”

Watson said a bad drive did him in on 17, and he found mud off the tee on 18.

Asked if he took any consolation for playing so well when most guys his age were essentially done after the front nine the first day, Watson said, “I’d feel a lot better if I made the cut.”

Among the others who suddenly found themselves with a free weekend were former champions Mike Weir, Jose Maria Olazabal and Larry Mize, all of whom joined Watson at 7 over.

Bernhard Langer, who has two green jackets, finished 8 over. Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa, who got a special exemption to the Masters, is headed home early after finishing at 9-over 153.

Amateur show

Hideki Matsuyama is raising expectations for amateurs.

Matsuyama, who won low amateur honors after tying for 27th last year, became the first amateur in 30 years to make a second straight cut at the Masters. Jim Holtgrieve did it in 1981 and 1982.

Matsuyama also posted the best score of the five amateurs in the field, a 1-over 145.

“I did make the cut last year, so it was maybe a little bit more nerves this year, kind of not knowing if I was going to make the cut,” Matsuyama said through an interpreter. “So maybe a little bit more nerves this year.”

Fellow amateurs Kelly Kraft and Patrick Cantlay also made the cut.

Viewership grows

The first round of the Masters was a ratings hit.

ESPN’s live telecast of the first round Thursday averaged 2.6 million viewers, according to fast nationals from the Nielsen Co., a 4 percent increase from last year. The 2.3 household rating was up 10 percent from last year.