The 90th Masters Tournament is underway, and the first round has already set the stage for an exciting competition. The course at Augusta National is playing firm and fast, with a field scoring average of 74.65, the highest since 2017. The leaderboard is packed with familiar names, but also some surprises.
One of the most notable performances came from Rory McIlroy, who exudes a newfound freedom after shedding the burden of history and past Masters demons. McIlroy's opening-round 67, one shot off the lowest-ever first-round score by a defending champion, is a testament to his improved approach play. He gained three strokes on the field in strokes gained approach, the fifth-best in the field, and birdied all four par 5s, a feat he hadn't achieved since 2019. McIlroy's performance on par 5s is particularly impressive, with a cumulative score of 108 under par, tied with Phil Mickelson for the best in that span.
McIlroy's major championship prowess is evident, as he leads the field in strokes gained approach for the fifth consecutive Masters round, a statistic he achieved just five times in 36 rounds from 2015 to 2024. His ability to consistently outperform the competition is a key factor in his success. McIlroy's major championship career is also marked by his ability to maintain a lead, as he is the first defending champion to hold the 18-hole lead or co-lead at Augusta National since Jordan Spieth in 2016.
Another standout performer is Sam Burns, who nearly broke through with his first major win last summer at Oakmont. Burns' 67 on Thursday was his best career round at the Masters, and he led the field in greens in regulation and strokes gained tee to green. His performance is a stark contrast to his previous Masters rounds, where he struggled with double bogeys and missed cuts. Burns' odds to win the Masters were 70-to-1, the lowest since Charl Schwartzel's victory in 2011.
The 2018 Masters champion, Patrick Reed, is also in contention, sitting two shots back in a tie for third. Reed's putter earned him more than 3.5 strokes on the greens, and he eagled both par 5s on the first nine. His performance on the DP World Tour circuit has been impressive, winning twice this season and leading in the order of merit and strokes gained total per round.
Jason Day and Kurt Kitayama also had strong opening rounds, with Day shooting a 3-under-par 69 and Kitayama carding a field-best eight birdies or better. Day's pre-tournament scripting has received attention, but his performance on the course deserves recognition. Kitayama, 33, has one top-10 finish in a major, a tie for fourth place at the 2023 PGA.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler had a strong start, playing the first three holes in 3 under, his best opening three holes to any round in his Masters career. Despite not making a single birdie the rest of the afternoon, Scheffler is positioned to be a factor in the tournament. He hit 12 of 14 fairways and ranked second in strokes gained off the tee.
Justin Rose, a five-time Masters opening-round leader or co-leader, finished his opening round at 2 under par, in contention to win the green jacket. Rose hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation, a total bettered by just three players in the field on Day 1. At 45 years old, he would be the oldest Masters winner since Nicklaus in 1986 and the oldest men's major winner from Europe since Old Tom Morris in 1867.
The first round also saw two past major winners, Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele, carding scores of 70. Lowry made four birdies on the first nine, playing arguably his best golf since the late loss at the Cognizant Classic. Schauffele, with the best scoring average in tournament history by a player without a win, made five birdies and ranked in the top seven in strokes gained off the tee and strokes gained tee to green.
Two pre-tournament favorites, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, had disappointing rounds. DeChambeau shot 76, marred by a triple-bogey 7 on the 11th hole, and Rahm (78) failed to make a single birdie, the first time in his Masters career. Rahm's performance on LIV Golf this season has been impressive, but he struggled to replicate that success on the Masters course.
The first 15 groups averaged 74.48 for the day, while their counterparts in the last 16 groups averaged a higher score of 74.81. Each of the last 20 Masters champions shot scores of par or better in the opening round, and 18 of the last 20 winners were in the top 10 after Round 1. McIlroy's performance last year, despite a tie for 27th place, was a notable exception, as he sat in a seven-stroke deficit, the largest in Masters history by a tournament winner.
In summary, the first round of the 90th Masters Tournament has set the stage for an exciting competition, with several players showcasing their skills and potential. The course at Augusta National is playing firm and fast, and the leaderboard is packed with familiar names and surprises. The tournament promises to be a thrilling contest as the players battle for the green jacket.
