Golf fans can look forward to the tantalising prospect of world No 2 Jordan Spieth and third-ranked Rory McIlroy continuing their battle for Masters glory in the final pairing in Saturday’s third round.
This week’s Masters had the makings of being extra special with every player in the world’s top six in good form during the build-up and defending champion Spieth and four-time major winner McIlroy now occupy the top two spots on the leaderboard.
Spieth, seeking his third major title, has led after each of the first two rounds while McIlroy soared into contention with a superb one-under-par 71 on Friday when the challenging Augusta National layout was made even more difficult by gusting winds.
More from The Masters:
Memory Lane: Looking back 30 years ago to Jack Nicklaus's iconic 1986 Masters win
Predictions: Five players set to challenge Day, Spieth and McIlroy for the Masters green jacket
“It will be a fun round tomorrow,” American Spieth, 22, said after making a clutch par on the final hole to card a two-over 74. “We enjoy playing with each other. We’ve both played well. We’ve both played poorly.
“Just both seem to be on our games right now and obviously really focused on this week with a lot of fantastic players behind us.
“There’s the potential tomorrow for someone to shoot a few under (par) and move up into the lead from outside the top 25. There’s a potential for that with what I saw on the last six holes today, the way the course was playing.”
Spieth said the heavily-contoured greens at Augusta National had become lightning fast late in Friday’s second round with putts from just two feet requiring extra care.
“A gust from one direction when you think it’s going to be the other can throw a two-footer at this speed almost out of the hole,” said Spieth, who is widely regarded as the best putter in the game.
“So trying to really stay down and grind on those putts was challenging. It was very tough. I knew that even par was still a good score,” he said, referring in particular to the back nine.
“We kept reminding ourselves that even par is a good score, even par is a good score. Let’s play these holes par in from here on out.”
Spieth, who completed a stunning wire-to-wire victory by four shots at Augusta National last year, battled through an adventurous round on Friday that included four birdies, four bogeys and a double at the par-four fifth.
“Dropped a few, but all in all still in the lead,” he said. “A good save at the last to kind of have a putt to see go in. But boy, that golf course changed very much throughout the day today.”
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Result
2.15pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,950m; Winner: Majestic Thunder, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
2.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,800m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,600m; Winner: Native Appeal, Adam McLean, Doug Watson.
3.45pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,950m; Winner: Conclusion, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh100,000 1,400m; Winner: Pilgrim’s Treasure, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,400m; Winner: Sanad Libya, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,000m; Winner: Midlander, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
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Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
PROFILE OF CURE.FIT
Started: July 2016
Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori
Based: Bangalore, India
Sector: Health & wellness
Size: 500 employees
Investment: $250 million
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)
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