Thursday was no piece of cake for some of golf’s biggest names at the 82st playing of The Masters.
Biggest shock of the day started with Dustin Johnson unable to compete after injuring his back in a Wednesday afternoon fall at the rental home he occupied.
Number one was gone and the championship lost its strongest performer, considering he had won his last three events.
Then the wind of day one began to take it’s toll.
Open champion Henrik Stenson shot 77. Hideki Matsuyama, a pre-tournament favorite based on his early season, struggled with a 76. Jason Day’s 74 didn’t put him out of it but left him a lot of ground to make up.
Jordan Spieth shot 75 thanks to a quadruple bogey at the par five 15th, thanks to a third-shot in the water and a three-out green. Spieth had gotten past the fateful 12th, the hole that took away his bid for a second Green Jacket last year. He made par there but let 15 do him in. Still, Spieth was optimistic. “It looks like a tournament where single digits under par can win and I can still shoot single digits under par.”
Rickie Fowler started out well, got himself under par early but finished with a one-over par 73.
Two big names who put themselves squarely in the hunt were Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy.
Mickelson played steady golf for most of the day and finished with a 71 while McIlroy rallied on the final nine with three birdies that got him to even par at day’s end.
You can also add Justin Rose to that list. Rose, who has been a solid performer in this event, shot a one-under par 71.
Rose said it was all about being committed to the shot. “If you didn’t commit, there’s something bad waiting for you. The first 12 holes were the best I’ve played all year.”
Sergio Garcia tied Rose with 71 late in the day. Garcia also held a distinction by himself. The veteran from Spain was the only player in the field who managed to get around the course without a bogey.
And on a day like Thursday, that was something to brag about.
