Spieth sets record after two rounds at the Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The old saying is that records are made to be broken. But as any wily veteran Masters watcher will tell you, they're not made to be broken by a 21-year-old who has played a mere six competitive rounds at the Augusta National Golf Club.

Then again, a special young talent like Jordan Spieth comes around, like, once every 18 years, just as a 21-year-old Tiger Woods did in 1997 when he ran away to a 12-stroke victory before a multitude of disbelieving onlookers for his first of four green jackets.

Yes, there is plenty of golf yet to be played with some big and accomplished players chasing him. But Spieth has exhibited his undeniable abilities over the last two days, adding a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 on Friday to his opening 64 to set a 36-hole tournament record in the 79th Masters.

Spieth's 130 breaks the Masters record of Raymond Floyd (1976) by one. It ties the mark for lowest 36-hole score in any major championship with Spieth joining three other players in achieving it. His 14-under for two rounds is the best in a major in relation to par.

"It's cool," Spieth said. "Any time you can set a record here, it's pretty awesome."

Spieth, who has 15 birdies and one bogey through two rounds, fired his fifth subpar round in the Masters. The comfort level he has shown at a course where experience is of the ultimate importance has been incredible, as if he had learned the layout in a previous life.

He has been the story as Woods returns to competition and Rory McIlroy bids for the career Grand Slam. Woods had a 69 – his first subpar round at the Masters since the final day in 2011 – but is 12 shots back as is McIlroy, who flirted with the cut line before finishing with a 71.

Spieth went into last year's final round tied for the lead and finished second. It's going to take an awful lot for someone to catch him this year.

"I'd like to have that same opportunity," he said. "This is only the halfway point and I'm aware of that. Not going to get ahead of myself and I'm going to try and stay in the moment and be very patient these last two days, and understand it's going to feel like a whole 'nother tournament."

One example of Spieth's showing is to look at Charley Hoffman 5 shots back in second. Hoffman, 38, a 10th-year PGA Tour pro with three career victories, posted a 68 for 135. That score would have led or shared the lead here after 36 holes in 16 of the last 20 years.

"Jordan's playing great golf," Hoffman said. "Sometimes you get in the lead and you sort of maybe change your game plan a little bit. I just kept my game plan and kept trying to make birdies, was able to do a pretty good job of that."

Hoffman is the only contestant closer than 7 shots. Dustin Johnson set a Masters record with three eagles and carded a 67 to tie Paul Casey (68) and former U.S. Open champion Justin Rose (70) for third at 137.

Although his score was 2 strokes higher than the previous day, Spieth struck the ball better on Friday. Four of his six birdies putts were inside of 10 feet. He could have had two more birdies if not for missed reads of a 5-footer on No. 9 and a 7-footer on No. 18.

He certainly is not overwhelmed by the history he is making.

"Obviously the awe factor is always there at the Masters," he said. "But to get here and play rounds ahead of time, to play the golf course that I grew up watching and admired, and after getting into contention last year and seeing what Sunday in the final group was like, now it feels more like a regular event."

The event - and his play thus far - are anything but regular.