The first round of The Masters lived up to the hype, as the world’s best struggled to come to terms with the slick greens and blustering winds conditions. We look at the best and worst bits of day one, writes WADE PRETORIUS..
Birdie
A few contenders here, with Rory McIlroy coming home in 33 to finish level par after a shaky opening nine. Much has been written about the Northern Irishman’s pursuit of the career grand slam this week, and it was almost over before it began on Thursday – a day where you can’t win The Masters, but you can certainly lose it – before he bounced back to take advantage of Augusta’s back nine par 5s.
Another close contender was Ernie Els. He could grab this ‘birdie’ award for making par on the first after last year’s debacle, but it was his display down the stretch that had local fans roaring with delight as he finished level for the day and firmly in contention.
But there can be only one winner on day one, the first round leader Charley Hoffman. On a day when only 11 players broke par and just two broke 70, Hoffman was the standout performer at Augusta. His game was solid tee to green, but his putter made all the difference as he rattled off seven birdies in his last 11 holes to grab a four-shot lead.
Par
This title goes to England’s golf, although after some consideration they could be listed under birdie too. Of the 11 players to be under par, England accounts for four of them (Rose, Fitzpatrick, Sullivan and Westwood) with Paul Casey in the group of players who finished level.
South Africa may be the second most successful country at this event after the host nation, but the English contingent were oustanding on Thursday, giving fans across the pond something to shout for. And it could’ve been better, if Lee Westwood hadn’t gotten out of the block so slowly and Matthew Fitzpatrick not doubled the last with a three putt.
Bogey
It’s a straight battle between South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and 2015 winner Jordan Spieth. Both for their performance on the 15th. Oosthuizen’s third pitched on the green and spun back into the water. It was a case of mistake on top of mistake as his drop zone pitch went over the back, leaving him one of the hardest up and downs on the course.
He would eventually settle for a triple bogey, one shot better than Jordan Spieth’s attempt.
Spieth was going along nicely after coming through 12 unscathed – the site of his quadruple bogey last year, but made exactly the same error as Oosthuizen. His 2017 quadruple earns him the bogey title after round one.
What were your best and worst moments of round one? Let us know on Twitter: @compleatgolfer and Facebook.
Photo: Getty Images
