Aiken's Kevin Kisner survives wild day to stay in striking distance

A water ruling, a ball nestled behind a security guard and a turtle made for an eventful 1-over-par 73 for Kevin Kisner on Friday during his second round at the Masters.

The Aiken native is tied for 23rd at 2-under, five shots behind a five-way tie atop the leaderboard.

Kisner followed his Thursday 69 with a bit of inconsistency Friday, carding three bogeys through the first 11 holes before birdies at Nos. 15 and 16. 

“It was very similar to (Thursday), I just didn’t birdie the par-5s,” Kisner said. “I didn’t make the putts I did the day before. I probably hit four iron shots, and I was going over them with (caddie Duane Bock) about how I thought they were perfect in the air and they didn’t work out ... That’s what Augusta does to you.”

PHOTOS: Round 2 at the Masters

Kisner got in a brief dispute with rules officials at the par-3 6th hole after pulling his tee shot left of the green.

Stuck in mud from a heavy downpour just before his round began, Kisner was ruled to be in "casual water" and was allowed to move his ball to another location, but rules officials, according to Kisner, kept having him drop his ball into more casual water.

“I was arguing with them (about the ruling),” Kisner said. “Every time he said it was less water, and if there’s any water it’s casual water. I was arguing with that and he finally came to his senses.”

He chipped up to 21 feet but made bogey.

His second shot on No. 9 hit the back of the green and bounced into the chair of a security guard. The ball settled between the chair and back of the guard, who didn’t move until rules officials and Kisner arrived.

“I told him that he was pretty worthless for not kicking it back on the green for me,” Kisner said jokingly. “You have to mark it where he is and then drop it back near where it landed.”

His chip came up short of the green, and he two-putted for another bogey.

After another bogey on No. 11 put him at even for the tournament, Kisner eventually found a couple holes he could feel positive about.

His second shot into the par-5 15th hole landed pin high and stayed on the green before he two-putted for birdie.

“I was so frustrated out there on 15, I’d hit a few shots out there that didn’t work out and I hit that one as good as I could,” Kisner said. “I told Duane in the air that that’s as good as I’ve got, I don’t care anymore. It went to 12 feet.”

Kisner followed with a birdie on the par-3 16th hole after workers had to scare off a turtle that was sunbathing on the green. He landed his tee shot 11 feet from the pin and sank the putt to get within striking distance going into the weekend.

“Nobody’s trying to get it up there and I absolutely flushed it and it worked out and somewhat gets me back in the hunt,” Kisner said of his birdie on No. 16. “If (the leaders) don’t run away, I’ve got a low one in me if I can keep hitting the golf ball the way I’ve been hitting it.”