AUGUSTA, Ga. – It was between a 9-iron and a “chippy 8-iron.”
Francesco Molinari wasn’t the first player to be fooled by the swirling winds at Augusta National’s 12th hole and have his title chances at the Masters washed away by Rae’s Creek, but the company he keeps probably didn’t help in the heat of the moment.
Clinging to a two-stroke lead through 11 holes following a scrappy first nine Molinari was concerned his 9-iron at the 155-yard 12th hole could get caught by a gust.
“It was probably a 9u2011iron yardage but I didn't want the wind to gust and to get the ball too much and I just didn't hit it hard enough,” Molinari explained.