Masters: 5 things you need to know before Friday’s second round
The other 87 participants in the 2021 Masters Tournament were probably unsure what course Justin Rose played Thursday in the first round.
Surely, it was not Augusta National.
The Englishman scorched the layout in 65 strokes to open a four-shot lead. There are 54 holes remaining, but the former World No. 1 is in terrific shape to claim his second major championship title.
The scoring was much more difficult for everyone else. Altogether, the field averaged 74.5 strokes and of the 12 players who broke par, seven have never recorded a top-10 at the Masters. They’ll have to hope Rose fades or find a way to make a charge in an unrelenting, exacting examination.
Here are five things we observed during the opening round.
Strong Scrambling
Hideki Matsuyama walks up to the 10th green during the first round of the Masters Tournament on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: David J. Phillip/Associated Press)
Scroll the roster of past Masters champions, and a deft short game touch is one common thread. On a day when firm conditions generated excessive stress, saving pars to maintain momentum was essential. Hideki Matsuyama and Webb Simpson were both perfect scramblers in the opening round, and consequently are positioned well on the leaderboard. Rose and pursuers Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Brian Harman also scrambled successfully on 80 percent of their opportunities.
Green Gainers
Jordan Spieth plays from the pine straw on the 13th hole during the first round of the 2021 Masters Tournament. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
The last two Masters champions, Tiger Woods in 2019 and Dustin Johnson last fall, led the field in greens in regulation en route to victory. Johnson tied the modern record, hitting 60 of the 72 greens, and of course set the tournament scoring mark at 20-under, 268. Jordan Spieth, as hot as anyone on the PGA Tour in recent weeks, continued his excellent ballstriking in the opening round by hitting 16 greens, two more than anyone else in the field. Will Zalatoris, Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele tied for second, landing on 14 greens in regulation; not surprisingly each player shot par or better to get into the hunt for their first major championship title.
Nicked Notables
Apr 8, 2021; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Bryson DeChambeau putts from out of the shrubs on the 4th green during the first round of The Masters golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
If you had Patrick Cantlay, Jason Day, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Sungjae Im, Rory McIlroy, Louis Oosthuizen or Lee Westwood in the office pool or on your fantasy roster, there could be trouble. Each golfer shot 76 or worse in Thursday’s opening round, severely damaging their chances of not only contending, but simply making it to the weekend. The highest opening round by a champion is Craig Stadler’s 75 in 1982. The field will be cut to the low 50 and ties after the second round.
Champions Crumble
Phil Mickelson looks out from a bunker on the 1st hole during the first round of The Masters. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
Speaking of past champions, Patrick Reed (2018) and Jordan Spieth (2015) are the only green jacket owners in the top 20 after the opening round. Reed, No. 7 in the world, is tied for eighth after a 2-under 70. The former Augusta State star is seeking his third top-10 in the last four Masters. He was third in the field in proximity to the hole in the opening round, hitting 12 greens in regulation. Spieth, who won the Valero Texas Open last week, has twice been the runner-up in the Masters. He vaulted into contention with a chip-in for eagle on No. 15 and shot 71. Zach Johnson (77), Danny Willett (76), Phil Mickelson (75) are among the past champions in danger of missing the 36-hole cut.
Another Ace
Tommy Fleetwood during the first round of the Masters Tournament on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Matt Slocum/Associated Press)
Tommy Fleetwood’s hole-in-one on No. 16 was the 23rd on the par 3, which measured 170 yards in the opening round, and the 12th there since 2010. By comparison, the historical field has combined for nine aces on Augusta National’s three other par 3s. The last occurred in 2013 when Jamie Donaldson made a one on No. 6 with a 7-iron.
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