Greenwood’s Ben Martin improves, but misses the cut at the Masters

Like many Americans, Ben Martin planned to sit on his couch Friday afternoon and watch the Masters.

Unlike most of the others, he was going to be watching the cut line very closely. Martin, the Greenwood native and former Clemson golfer, shot a second consecutive 74 Friday and left the grounds here around 1 p.m. at 4-over for the tournament.

“I’ll probably just go back home and watch the coverage. Whether I’m playing or not, it’s still Masters week and I love watching it on TV,” the 25-year-old said.

Martin wound up missing the cut by two strokes.

Martin missed the cut in his only other appearance at the Masters, which was as an amateur in 2010. His two 74s here this week are his best rounds at Augusta.

“I think I am learning, figuring out my way around here,” he said Friday. “I think that’s huge. I’m kind of making notes as I play today, which way putts break and just trying to learn as I go.”

Martin had an eagle, two birdies and eight bogeys Thursday and Friday, bogeying the par-3 sixth and par-4 11^th both days.

“I don’t think I have ever parred No. 11 in the tournament,” he said. “I think the pins were a lot tougher today than they were yesterday so it was hard to get good looks.”

Martin saved a par on the par-5 15^th despite hitting into the water on his approach shot.

“I made some good par saves coming down the stretch, which I am happy with, but it would have been nice to sneak one more birdie in there,” he said.

Gentle Ben Ben Crenshaw played his final competitive round at the Masters on Friday, shooting an 85 to finish at 32-over 176 and missing the cut. It was his 44^th consecutive Masters.

“Gentle Ben. The name says it all,” Ernie Els said. “He’s the most influential man I’ve ever known. Always got something encouraging to say to you. I played my very first Masters with Ben in 1994, and he was very encouraging then.”

Crenshaw won the Masters in 1995 and 1984 and finished in the top 10 11 times.

“A massive part of the whole thing,” Geoff Ogilvy said. “No one will forget 1995. That’s probably the most memorable win. There was not a dry eye in the house. It’s just a guy who truly gets it. I mean, I think people will come and go from the Masters and everybody loves the place, but he probably loves it more than anybody else.”

Out of the Blue When Mark O’Meara’s practice rounds with Tiger Woods ended after Tuesday, everyone figured that would be the last sighting of O’Meara this week, but the 48-year-old shot a 68 Friday to get to 3-under par and near the top of the leader board.

“I’ve been hitting the ball pretty well almost all year,” O’Meara said. “I played the practice rounds Monday and Tuesday with Tiger. Even he commented, like, ‘Wow, you’re like driving it, man, you’re a better driver of the ball than I’ve ever seen.’ Overall, I felt like I played well, and I’m happy with the round.”

Low Numbers Jim Furyk is playing in his 19^th Masters, and he seldom has seen the course so giving.

“Not taking anything away from what Jordan (Spieth) does, I love the kid and I think he’s a wonderful player and that score is phenomenal, but it’s out there,” Furyk said. “Greens are not as quick as I’ve seen them in the past, the golf course is soft. I’m stopping 6‑irons and 5‑irons on greens that I haven’t been able to do that in a long time, because it’s damp. The conditions are there.”

This story was originally published April 10, 2015 at 7:58 PM with the headline "Greenwood’s Ben Martin improves, but misses the cut at the Masters."