Jonas Blixt proves to be quick study at Masters

Much has been made about Jordan Spieth’s short learning curve at Augusta National Golf Club. Jonas Blixt seems to have made nearly as much progress in the same amount of time.

Blixt, a two-time PGA Tour winner, shot his second consecutive subpar round with 70 on Saturday, moving him to 4-under-par 212.

It was Blixt’s seventh consecutive round of par or better at Augusta. He, like Spieth, is playing in his second Masters.

Blixt caught Spieth in the final round last year to tie for second, three shots behind Bubba Watson. It was the best Masters finish for a native of Sweden. Blixt has struggled on the PGA Tour since his last victory in the 2013 Greenbrier Classic, and that finish at Augusta punched his invitation back.

“I think the course sets up for both of us,” Blixt said. “Maybe a little more for him this week.”

Blixt began the day at 2-under. After a birdie at No. 2, he bogeyed No. 4 after missing a 6-foot putt for par, then birdied four of six holes, starting with a 4-footer at No. 8.

Sticking the ball close most of the day, Blixt made birdie putts of 7 feet at No. 10, and 5 feet at Nos. 12 and 13 to get to 6-under. It put him into a tie for eighth, but it was still eight shots behind Spieth.

Blixt interrupted his momentum when his third shot at the par-5 15th spun back into the water. He pitched on and two-putted for only his second double-bogey at Augusta. He recovered with pars at Nos. 16 and 17 and got up-and-down for par on the 18th, making a 7-foot putt.

“I made two bad swings, and they cost me a lot,” Blixt said. “(No.) 15 took me out of the hunt. If I make a birdie there and birdie one of the last holes, I could have a chance to make a little run (Sun­day). But after that, I don’t know.”

Blixt said one of the characteristics of Augusta Na­tional that he enjoys is the pressure on every shot.

“Every shot is a challenge, even the easy ones,” he said. “You have a 2-foot putt and you’re still kind of grinding over it because you know if you miss, you’ll have 6 feet left. I’m extremely happy with the way I struck the ball. (No.) 15 cost a lot. I made a bad bogey at (No.) 4. Other than that, I striped the ball way better than (Thursday).”

Blixt has hit 10 of 14 fairways in each round and found greens in regulation 14 out of 18 times Saturday.