Golf: Tataurangi flies the flag while Perks, Campbell struggle

3.30pm

AUGUSTA, Georgia - Phil Tataurangi belied his rookie status as he battled the rain for a superb top-10 placing after the first completed day of the weather-affected Masters golf tournament.

The New Zealander, at his first Masters tournament, was in a 14-way share of ninth place after 31 holes, at one over par, when poor light halted play.

Tataurangi trailed Canadian leader Mike Weir by seven strokes after Weir birdied the 11th and 12th holes to move to six-under with six second-round holes remaining.

But Tataurangi was the only New Zealander to shine as Craig Perks and Michael Campbell were beaten by the testing conditions.

Perks was one of just 18 players in the 93-strong field to complete 36 holes today, and he added a three-over 75 to his disappointing first round 80 for an 11-over total.

Campbell's Masters was also on the verge of ending with the dubious record of a fourth missed Masters halfway cut in as many appearances.

Campbell was always in trouble after signing for a first round 78 that included a double bogey, six bogeys and two birdies. He was lying at 11-over par after 14 holes of his second round.

Tataurangi though, who played in company of Masters legend Arnold Palmer, was delighted with his effort.

"It's been a long 31 holes but I am delighted to be playing as well as I am," he said.

"I don't feel particularly tired though I'm sure it will hit me tonight but as I mentioned on Thursday, I have always prided myself on being fit and healthy when these sort of days roll around and that was the case today.

"I've hit the ball pretty well so far on a very mentally demanding golf course.

"The course is still playing long despite the sun coming out this afternoon and whilst it's still pretty soggy in parts, the greens are becoming lightning fast.

"I still haven't finished my round so it's important for me to go back out tomorrow and not let slip my good work and try and get to as close to the lead as I can going into the final two rounds."

Tataurangi ended his first Masters round with a three-over 75 with four bogeys and a solitary birdie, a first-round share of 35th place.

After nearly an hour's break for lunch and some quick practice range work, Tataurangi emerged with two early birdies to get back on track.

Tataurangi then parred his next five holes before getting back to level-par for a first time since starting his round.

He then birdied the ninth that eased the current world No 71 into the top-10 and a share of ninth place at level par.

It was less than 15 minutes later, and while still at level par after nine holes, that Tataurangi reached the dizzy heights of a share of seventh place along with former Augusta champions Nick Faldo, Vijay Singh and Fred Couples.

Tataurangi's position was then the highest for a New Zealander in seven years at Augusta since Frank Nobilo ended in fourth behind Faldo in the 1996 Masters.

Perks meanwhile is set to miss the cut for a second straight year.

Perks, 36, walked from the course very dejected to be greeted by his wife, Maureen, after a second round that included five bogeys and just two birdies.

"It was very disappointing but I have another year but hopefully I can play a bit better next year," Perks said.

"The weather made the course play very difficult this morning and it got a little nicer this afternoon but it is just a tough test of golf.

"It beat up a lot of players up this week and it's a golf course where you have to be real precise with your irons and also putt extremely well, and I just didn't play very well."

Campbell meanwhile was having no fun whatsoever.

"It was a very long day in the office and even longer when you were driving the ball poorly like I did," Campbell said.

"I just drove it so bad and it just cost me so many shots. It's just been a shocker."

Campbell managed to hit just six of 14 fairways during his first round and had found five of 11 during his uncompleted second round.

Yesterday's postponement forced officials is playing two rounds on Friday but just six groups or 18 players in the 93 competitor field, managed to complete 36 holes.

- NZPA