Charley Hoffman has never led any round in major championship golf.
That came to an end Thursday in the high winds and difficult conditions at the 2017 Masters when Hoffman played a round of golf unlike any other on this difficult day at Augusta National Golf Club.
While strong breezes went 20-40 miles per hour and blew most of the field from contention, it was Hoffman who really blew them away with a spectacular seven-under par 65 that looked more like a 62 considering the conditions. “I would have said ‘no way’,” was the immediate reaction of three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo, who watched the field struggle.
“It didn’t start off the way I anticipated,” was Hoffman’s first observation after his dazzling performance. “Three-putted three then everything was going in. I had good numbers from good spots,” he said. Hoffman birdied six, eight and nine to turn two-under then played a perfect back nine with birdies at 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17.
“I step on the property and it fits my eye off the tees and around the greens,” Hoffman said.
Hoffman’s super-human effort spotted him a four-shot lead over Will McGirt, the only other player in the field who managed to break 70. Hoffman narrowly missed a birdie putt at the 18th for 64 that would have tied the largest first round lead in the history of The Masters. Craig Wood led by five after the first round in 1941 and went on to win the tournament.
For McGirt, it was his first competitive round in this major. A win last year at Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial event got him in the field and he had a day to remember. “Honestly, it’s hard to put in to words,” said McGirt, who is playing in a major championship for only the fifth time in his life. “It was a very difficult day. The gusts were all over the play. I just missed it in the right spots. I know what my limits are — I know what I’m capable of.”
Lee Westwood, who has been so close in so many majors, found himself a shot behind McGirt and was the only player to come in at two-under par 70.
In all, only 11 players managed to break par on the difficult day. Three-time champion Phil Mickelson was one of eight who shot 71. “It’s great,” Mickelson said of his effort. “Anything par of better is a phenomenal score.”
Then there was Hoffman and his was super-phenomenal.
