McIlroy, Burns Lead Masters After Opening Round
Rory McIlroy’s defense of his Masters title is off to a promising start as he shares the first-round lead with Sam Burns after both carded 5-under 67s at Augusta National.
McIlroy shot one of his best opening rounds ever at the Masters, seemingly playing with freedom after finally capturing the green jacket last year to complete his career grand slam. Despite the breakthrough, he admitted he still felt those familiar first-tee jitters.
“I was anxious just like I always am on that first tee. It’s the first round of major season, the first round of the 16 most important rounds of the year,” McIlroy said. “I’m thankful that I felt the same as I always have. I think it would be worrisome if I didn’t feel that way because it definitely still means something to me.”
Burns matched McIlroy’s score with an impressive performance on Augusta’s par 5s, recording an eagle and three birdies on those four holes alone.
The leaderboard has plenty of familiar names within striking distance. Former champion Patrick Reed shot 69, as did Jason Day and Kurt Kitayama. Scottie Scheffler posted a 70, putting him in a tie with Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele and Shane Lowry – all players who’ve finished in the top three at Augusta but haven’t yet won the tournament.
Only seven players managed to break 70 on Thursday, suggesting Augusta National is showing its teeth even before conditions firm up with dry weather in the forecast.
Meanwhile, some big names are in danger of missing the weekend entirely. Bryson DeChambeau struggled to a 76, while Jon Rahm had an even rougher day with a 78.
“It’s a hard golf course,” Rahm explained. “Some of the players might have been able to manage a respectable round, but when you have no feel with the swing whatsoever, it’s just not an easy one.”
The par-5 15th played as one of the more generous holes with 21 birdies, but it also delivered some crushing blows. Danny Willett, Fred Couples and Robert MacIntyre all made quadruple bogeys there. Even Reed, who’s otherwise in contention, found trouble when his second shot flew the green and splashed into the pond that’s part of the 16th hole.
“With that hole playing a little bit downwind, even though it wasn’t much wind, you had to land it a pace or two on the green at the most if you wanted to hold it with your second shot,” Scheffler said. “Stuff can happen quick around this place, and it’s really hard.”
Viktor Hovland (75) and Patrick Cantlay (77) also need strong second rounds to make the cut. MacIntyre might already be packing his bags after shooting 80, a round that included sending an eagle putt completely off the 13th green and making a nine on the 15th.
The second round should reveal whether Augusta will continue to separate the field or if some of the struggling stars can mount a comeback.
