Wind, Hoffman Dominate Masters Opening Round
Fred Couples is playing in his 32nd Masters Tournament dating back to 1983. The opening round Thursday was his 119th at Augusta National Golf Club.“I’ve never seen it like this,” said Couples, the 1992 Masters winner, of the unseasonably cool, blustery conditions. “To shoot even par was a really good score. It was really, really difficult.”Then what does it make the opening round of 7-under-par 65 produced by Charley Hoffman?
Charley Hoffman leads the first round on Thursday of Masters/ Photo credit: Masters.com Infographic Staff
“For lack of a better word, it was a dream,” Hoffman said.
It was all of that, and more. Hoffman was 1-over through five holes and 8-under through the next 12 to build a four-shot lead over William McGirt. England’s Lee Westwood, always a threat at the Masters, shot 70. Eight other players – for a total of only 11 – were in red numbers in the field of 93.
The average score was 74.978.
Hoffman made birdie 2 on all four of the par 3s. In 2015, Hoffman opened with rounds of 67-68. He was tied for second after the first round, solo second after 36 holes and fourth after 54 holes. He finished in a tie for ninth behind the winner, Jordan Spieth.
“I'm going to feed off that the rest of the week,” Hoffman said. “Today you just sort go with it. There wasn't, I wouldn't say, a ton of pressure today. You’re just trying to make ends meet really. Just want to start hitting the fairways so you can hit the green and have the ability to make the putt.
“Obviously going to sleep on the lead at a major championship here at Augusta National is not going to be the easiest thing. I look forward to it, and I look forward to the challenge the next three days.”
Leaderboard after the first round of 2017 Masters / Photo credit: Masters.com Infographic Staff
Incidentally, Spieth is one of only two first-round leaders or co-leaders since 1985 to go on to win. Trevor Immelman, in 2008, is the other.
Westwood reeled off five straight birdies on the back nine, beginning at the 13th hole. “It got me back in the Tournament,” said Westwood, who was 3-over at the turn. “(Hoffman) was definitely making putts out there. I was watching the score board, and we were saying on the 18th green what a phenomenal round 7-under-par is today. That’s a belter. Really good.”
Dustin Johnson, ranked No. 1 in the world, did not start. He suffered injuries to his back and left elbow when he slipped on stairs Wednesday. “It's disappointing, for sure, for everybody,” said Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters winner who opened with 75. “The way he’s been going, a freak accident, he’s obviously very, very injured, because to pull out of the Masters when you’re in the kind of form he’s in, it must be a very difficult decision to make. Hopefully he gets better quick.”
Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson had no complaints about the strong winds, which were steady at 20 miles per hour, with substantial gusts that moved balls in every direction and on the greens. True to his word when he said challenging conditions would be the ideal scenario, Mickelson flourished. He kicked off his round with an eagle 3 at the second hole and shot 71.
- Masters champion Phil Mickelson reacts to a putt on No. 2 during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 6, 2017/ Photo credit: Masters.com Infographic Staff
“Man, I love it,” the left-hander said. “I thought anything at par or better was going to be a great score, and it is. But because the greens are receptive, you can make birdies and you can stop balls on the greens and make easy pars on a lot of holes". “The problem is there are a lot of holes out here that you can have a big number, and you just have to be careful of that.”
Similar weather conditions are in the forecast for Friday’s second round. That suits Mickelson. “Absolutely,” he said. “You’ve got to think par first, and then if the birdie opportunities are there, then great.”
News by Vartan Kupelian/ Master.com
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