History always beckons, it is in the nature of such things that history must be appeased and as day two of the 2016 Masters in Augusta got underway, history surely signalled its intention to Jordan Speith and the long list of players vying for the chance to wear with pride the famous Green Jacket come Sunday night.
History may be unsure but as the patrons gather underneath the lighting of the gates, they perhaps see a future, that someone, arguably their favourite will be knocking on the doors of the past greats of the game.
With the defending champions currently standing at six under par from the start of the day, he is controlling his own density at the moment and such his tight grip on the game, he looks as if he is able to play through the course and feel no pressure whatsoever; a relaxed attitude hiding determined spirit that sees the Texan take two birdies to go eight under par on the opening few holes.
History may not let on in great detail to whom she has her eyes upon but she should never be taken for granted as the young Dallas man double bogies to fall back to six under par as the trailing pack, Justin Rose and Danny Lee included, sniff the scent of worrying blood; comebacks have been earned over less deserving faults and mistakes in play.
The wind is something that doesn’t normally worry the European players, taking advantage of the situation when a player from the Americas finds the scissor like cut of the course disturbed by a ruffle of ignorant blustery weather gets in the way. The wind certainly started to affect the flight of the ball, it almost to a man seeing the ball stubbornly refuse to land where the intended shot was to take it. Although not as interesting a leveller upon the courses of Ireland and Scotland, it nonetheless added extra tension to those on the par three 12th.
The weekend and the cut always beckons, nearly as much as History and chance but Time can be cruel and unforgiving and there was an air of sadness hanging over the game as Ian Woosnam, one of the bright young sparks of the British game over the decades finally called it a day, the joy that the man brought to the European game, the joy that the Welshman gave is to be remembered.
With day two almost over and a slender lead at the top of the board held by Jordan Speith, the Masters is certainly hotting up to be one of the best remembered for a while.
Anthony Hall