Brooks Koepka sets pace at Masters with second-round 67

AUGUSTA, Ga. — After Brooks Koepka missed the cut in the Masters for the second straight year in April 2022, he took out his frustration on his courtesy car in the parking lot of Augusta National Golf Club.

«I don't even know if I should be saying this, but pretty sure I tried to break the back window with my fist,» Koepka said Friday. «I tried to put it through the back window not once, but twice. First time didn't go, so figured I'd try it again. Yeah, it was a lot of frustration last year. Super annoying.

»The ride home was pretty silent. I think just a lot of frustration. But yeah, I guess Mercedes makes a pretty good back window."

Local dealerships won't have to worry about their luxury automobiles this year.

Koepka, a four-time major champion, fired a 5-under 67 in Friday's second round to move to 12 under after 36 holes at the 87th Masters. He had a 4-shot lead over amateur Sam Bennett of Texas A&M, who finished at 8 under, when play was briefly suspended at 3:07 p.m. ET.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Koepka tied for the third-lowest 36-hole score to par in Masters history. Only Jordan Spieth (14 under in 2015) and Raymond Floyd (13 under in 1976) had better scores after the first two rounds. LIV Golf CEO and commissioner Greg Norman was also 12 under in 1996; he was the only player among the trio who failed to win.

Koepka's history of holding a lead in the majors suggests it's going to be difficult for anyone to chase him down on the weekend. He previously held the 36- or 54-hole lead in five majors and won four times — at the U.S. Open in 2017 and 2018 and the PGA Championship in 2018 and 2019. He failed to hold a second-round lead at the 2019 Masters and tied for second behind Tiger Woods.

Back then,