Masters Golf Tournament: DeChambeau and Scheffler Shine in Opening Round
Catch up on the thrilling action from the 88th Masters as Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler lead the pack with outstanding performances. Stay tuned to witness the world’s top golfers battle it out for the prestigious green jacket.
Rainy conditions may have delayed the start of the 88th Masters, but the opening round was anything but dampened. A major champion with a mixed history at Augusta National delivered his best Masters round to date, while the world’s top-ranked player continued his dominant run of form.
On a day filled with standout performances, Bryson DeChambeau, the outspoken and boundary-pushing golfer, carded a scintillating 65, his lowest round ever at the iconic venue. This marked the first time DeChambeau held the outright lead following a Masters round. In contrast, his previous appearances at Augusta had been marked by struggles on the greens, where he had lost nearly half a stroke per round. However, Thursday’s round saw him gain an impressive 3.71 strokes with his putter, the most of any player in the field.
“This is a magical place for me,” DeChambeau said after his round. “I’m just trying to learn this golf course and understand where I can miss it and get away with it.”
Hot on DeChambeau’s heels was the smiling golf ball-destroying machine, Scottie Scheffler, the reigning world number one. Scheffler’s bogey-free 66 was the third time a reigning world number one has opened the Masters with a round of 66 or lower since the rankings began in 1986. Both previous instances, Dustin Johnson in 2020 and Greg Norman in 1996, went on to have historic finishes to their weeks.
Scheffler’s short game prowess, often an underrated aspect of his game, was on full display as he gained a field-best 2.8 strokes around the green. Entering the week, he had scrambled at a rate of 62.7% in his young Masters career, and on Thursday, he was a perfect 5-for-5 in that category.
Elsewhere, the ever-popular Max Homa made a strong start, including:
- Carding four birdies on the front nine to be 4-under through 13 holes when play was suspended due to darkness.
Homa, who has steadily climbed the ladder of professional golf over the past decade, is seeking his first major championship breakthrough.
The defending champion, Jon Rahm, struggled to find his form, shooting a over-par round, continuing the recent trend of reigning Masters winners struggling in their opening round. Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, opened with a 71, his best first-round score at the Masters in six years.
As the tournament unfolds, the stage is set for an exciting weekend of golf, with the top players in the world vying for the coveted green jacket.
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