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Tiger Woods was accused of not being able to be stopped by an overzealous security officer.
The four-time Masters champion, who had only recently been ranked as a major contender, managed to tie a tie to a five-match first-place finish at a captivating day at Augusta.
Woods' last defeat was not palpable, but the former world number one is in the lead position as he continues his 15th win and his first since 2008.
In front of Woods, however, is a grove of great champions – Francesco Molinari, Jason Day, Brooks Koepka, Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen.
All of this has been proven in the heat of the moment, and in 2013, Masters winner Scott Day and his two other finalists, Day and Oosthuizen, earned a solid reputation from Augusta.
Nevertheless, Woods & 68 adds to an opening of 70 for six under the spot exactly where he wants to be – again in the running for the majors after going through the "dark period" of long-term back injuries.
Uppercut
The 43-year-old second in the US PGA last year and briefly at the head of the Open on his return from spinal fusion surgery, he played in a way that reminiscent of his pomp, with fierce driving, a very tight iron game, impressive recovery shots and several key putts.
He pitched his charge with birdies on 9 and 11 and had kicked off at eight feet on the 12th minute when the mermaid suspended the game due to a thunderstorm threat.
When all clear came half an hour later, Woods missed the birdie putt and ruined another golden chance under a persistent drizzle on the 13th.
But after an erratic ride on the 14th, he pulled a superb second through the trees to find the green. As Woods walked away, the crowd closed and it was then that a marshal slipped and collided with Woods' ankle. Woods pulled back and limped, but it was not worse.
To the green, he slipped into the curved putt to send the customers in ecstasy. Another capricious run along 15 meant that he had to move away from the green, but when Woods emptied his birdie, the uppercut was a 2005 vintage when he won the last of his Green Jackets.
"It's good to do birdies," he told Sky Sports.
"I did not stop making good shots and shots, nothing was really happening, I hit two bad shots of the day and they were both in eighth place when I was in the middle. I trotted three times. "
White suit with green jacket
Italian Molinari was one of the first leaders to reach the club at seven cents. He accompanied Wood on his first visit to Augusta in 2006.
Molinari said that he was a group of nerves while he was sharing the first tee with the defending champion, but he was not playing, he was wearing the distinctive white jumpsuit of a caddy d & # 39; Augusta National, trailing the bag for his older brother Edoardo, who had qualified as an American amateur champion.
13 years later, Francesco, British Open champion last year, is racing for a green jacket instead of a white suit.
Last year, the world number 7 had a hot season and resisted the resurgence of Woods in the Open at Carnoustie to win its first major title.
Performance under pressure
The rise of Molinari, under the long-standing swing of Denis Pugh, coincided with his decision, three years ago, to work with the performance mentor Dave Alred, guru of the English rugby star Jonny Wilkinson, winner of the World Cup, and which also helped Luke Donald at The World's No.1 Golf.
"It was pretty solid, not a lot of mistakes, and when I missed the greens, I missed the good side, obviously a very good day," Molinari said.
He was first joined at the top by the former world number 1, then by co-leader of the first round, Koepka, who has won three of his last six major tournaments.
Day, champion of the US PGA in 2015, struggled to walk Thursday after suffering a new back injury while he was kissing his girl before the first round. Intensive physio sessions helped him play 67 laps on Friday as he should improve his second place finish in 2011 and third place two years later.
"Walking on this golf course was a bit difficult, but he's relaxed," Sky told Day after the second lap.
"I feel good, I can stoop and kiss my daughter a little differently."
Koepka was the only man on the field without a bogey on Thursday, but he fought early Friday with a double bogey at the second before pulling himself together to get a head shot.
"It helps to have three majors on your belt," said Koepka, who missed the Masters last year because of a wrist injury.
"It gives you confidence, I like to introduce myself to the big scenes."
World No. 2 Dustin Johnson, fellow American Xander Schauffele and South African Justin Harding were also among Woods' six players.
In golf, Saturday is known as the day of the move. The brewing of this pack will be fascinating.
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