The fun really begins as the 74th Masters heads into the weekend.

What a difference 24 hours can make, especially in the game of golf where you play the same venue but not the same tee boxes or hole locations.

The Masters Competition Committee has gotten it right so far in their course set up. Thursday's hole locations were a bit more accessible, due to the threat of inclement weather during the day. That fact was reflected in the 16 rounds in the 60s posted on Day One. Friday was a different story, as only 3 players were able to post rounds in the 60s.

Current co-leaders Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood were two of the three, with Poulter notching a 4-under par 68 and Westwood putting up a 3-under par 69. The only other round in the 60s was notched by Chad Campbell, who needed the 4-under par 68 just to make the cut on the number (+3) following an opening round 79.

The expected scenario for the rest of the weekend should be a difficult set up on Saturday (known as "moving day") and more accessible hole locations on Sunday for the final-round fireworks.

FREDDIE
In talking with some folks late on Friday afternoon, I was asked, "What happened to Couples...?"

The short answer is that the game of golf happened to Boom Boom. It happens to all of us who play this silly, addictive, painful, joyous, marvelous, wonderful game. The game of golf just happens. No two days, no two rounds, even at the same venue, are the same. Things change, people are human, the swing doesn't feel the same, and the grips don't feel the same.

There is a huge difference between playing with emotion and playing on emotion. When you play with emotion, you play with passion, focus and energy; things seem easy. When you play on emotion, eventually it runs out and the struggle ensues.

For the record, Freddie shot a three-over par 75 and for Boom Boom it's all about two things, how his back holds up and how his putter behaves. Round one on Thursday, everything was smooth as silk; Friday, not so much.

Still, Couples is right there, five shots back heading into round three. He doesn't have to make it all back up in one round, but he does have to move in the right direction.

YOU DON'T KNOW UNION JACK
At the top of the leader board after 36 holes from Augusta National certainly has an international flair to it. Brits Poulter (68-68-136) and Westwood (67-69-136) will be the final group on the course Saturday afternoon.

Poulter has been steady and at times spectacular in his play, owing most of his scoring advantage to the flat stick. In two trips around Augusta National, Poulter has taken only 54 strokes with his putter, offsetting his middle-of-the-pack driving accuracy (19/28 = 68 percent) and greens in regulation percentage (23/36 = 64 percent). Today's five-birdie, one-bogey effort was a perfect example of that.

Poulter is not the longest or most accurate player in the game, but when he is on, the confidence flows, the shots are flawless and the putts drop. Back to back 68s are a testament to the game Poulter possesses and it has nothing to do with his outfits.

Westwood climbed to the top of the leader board with a stellar 5-under par 67 on Thursday's easier scoring day, followed up by a 3-under par 69 that included an eagle, six birdies, seven pars, three bogeys and a double. One thing is for certain, you are going to get every penny's worth when you're following Westwood around the course. The guy can flat light it up and as shown by his tournament leading 13 birdies over 36 holes. What also seems to be certain is that the big Englishman is going to give some back at some point during the round. Regardless, it's fun to watch.

Poulter and Westwood will go off in the last group, at 2:45 p.m. Masters time.

THE CUT
The cut for the season's first major came at +3, leaving several big names on the wrong side of the cut line.

The biggest surprise was Sandy Lyle, one of the names "in contention" after round one following up his first round, three-under par 69 with a second round 14-over par 86.

The former Masters Champ card was a colorful affair on full of circles, boxes and double boxes. Officially, Lyle carded two birdies (on Nos. 13 & 15; the two back nine par-fives), five bogeys and five doubles to go along with his six pars. Wow, that must have felt like a lifetime on the links, regardless of the scenery or circumstances.

Others missing the cut, in a more or less spectacular fashion included:

Tim Clark (75-73, +4) who has played well at Augusta in the past and was considered a dark horse coming into this week.

Teen sensation Ryo Ishikawa (72-76, +4) one of the young guns expected to not only play well, but contend.

Two-time Masters Champ Bernhard Langer (71-78 +5) who followed up a solid 1-under par 71 Thursday with a Friday round that was done in by back to back big numbers at Nos. 9 (triple bogey 7) and 10 (double bogey 6).

Luke Donald (74-75 +5) whose game just hasn't seemed to translate to the big stage.

Three-time Major Champion Padraig Harrington (74-75 +5) who despite putting well (54 total putts over 36 holes) couldn't give himself enough chances to make a move.

Young star Rory McIlroy (74-77 +7) posted two birdies on Thursday and none on Friday.

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