Conservative yet tasteful, with some nice color is how many in the field for the 86th Masters were dressed.
Except for Viktor Hovland. Hovland showed up Thursday sporting hot pink trousers with a white stripe down the side.
He was impossible to miss. He didn’t let the trousers distract him. Viktor did a pretty good job on day one and finished with an even par round of 72.
It was mission accomplished for his clothing line as photos of the pants went viral.
Day One By The Numbers:
A few numbers from round one:
Rounds under par: 18
Low round: Sungjae Im 67. High round: Sandy Lyle 82.
Scoring average: 73.83.
Low amateur: Japan’s Keita Nakajima, 72.
Happy For Harold Varner III:
East Carolina University had its first-ever player in the Masters field — first-timer Harold Varner III.
Harold was three-over his round through 12 holes, not looking too good. But then he made eagle at 13 then a birdie at 14. He shot even par 72 and put himself in position to play the weekend.
30 Minute Delay For First Round:
Augusta National took more than an inch of rain on Tuesday, nearly another inch on Wednesday and just under an inch Wednesday night for a total of nearly three inches of the wet stuff. The grounds crew did an incredible job, the sub-air systems were sucking moisture but they start of the first round was delayed by 30 minutes.
Despite five hour rounds, the final group that included Rory McIlroy, finished just as the sun was preparing to set.
Friday’s Difficult Forecast:
The weather for day two calls for morning sunshine then cloudy and cooler in the afternoon, slight chance of showers. High temp only 66 but winds steady at 15-18 miles per hour with gusts from 25 and up to 30 miles per hour.
Tiger’s “Terrible” Warm-Up Session:
“I had a terrible warmup session, I hit it awful,” Woods said after his first round. “I forgot whatever I did on the range and just go ahead and play shot for shot, hit the ball in the correct spot, commit to what I’m doing, leave myself in the right angles, hopefully make a few putts, and let’s get after this thing. Yeah, I was able to do that. I’m right where I need to be.”
Woods said he through back to what his late father Earl used to tell him: “Did you accomplish what you wanted to accomplish.”
Tiger then added: “Yes, it was a warm-up and I warmed up.”
Sungjae Im Inspired By Dad’s Shot At Par Three:
First round leader Sungjae Im played in the Par Three on Wednesday and let his father hit the final tee shot on the ninth hole. What happened inspired the first round leader:
“Received some good vibes from my dad,” Sungjae said with a big smile. “It’s definitely a memorable day. I didn’t expect much. When he was setting up, I remember the group behind us, we were at the tee box; Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns and Billy Horschel, they were just having fun and having a crack at my dad, and it got me, too, so I was laughing. But once he hit the shot, it was the most beautiful shot I’ve seen. It was like a professional shot.”
Ji Taek Im’s shot was a really good one, pin high, just left of the hole and just a few feet from the hole.
Phil Was Not Banned Or Discouraged From The Masters:
Chairman Fred Ridley poo-pooed the notion that he discouraged or dis-invited Phil Mickelson from competing in the 86th Masters.
“He reached out by text message, March, to say he wasn’t going to compete,” Ridley said.
