An exhilarating opening round at Augusta National showcased many top names in golf positioning themselves well as they head into Friday’s play.
Highlights from Day 1 of the 89th Masters
1. Historic Lead for Justin Rose
Justin Rose shares the lead after Round 1 of the Masters, marking a record fifth time he’s done so. At 44, he becomes the oldest player to lead post-Round 1 since Fred Couples at age 50 in 2010. Rose excelled on the greens, gaining more than five strokes on the field in putting.
2. Potential Records on the Line for Rose
If Rose secures a victory this week, he would set records for being the oldest first-time winner (previously held by Mark O’Meara at age 41 in 1998) and for most entries before his first win (20, surpassing Sergio Garcia’s 19). Historically, among the 26 players who have led by three strokes after Round 1 of a men’s major, 44% have gone on to win.
3. Strong Start for Defending Champion Scheffler
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler opened with a 68, putting him in a strong position for a potential third green jacket. He achieved a bogey-free round, a feat accomplished by only three other defending champions in the last 30 years, though none of them went on to win. Scheffler has consistently performed well at Augusta since his debut.
4. Rising Star Ludvig Ǻberg Making Waves
After finishing second in his Masters debut last year, Ludvig Ǻberg is back in contention. His driving was exceptional on Thursday, gaining significant distance off the tee and hitting 15 of 18 greens in regulation. After a first-round 73 last year, Ǻberg has been impressive, going 12-under-par in his last four Masters rounds.
5. Notable Performance by Corey Conners
Corey Conners, known for his excellent approach game, surprisingly shone with his putting, gaining nearly three strokes on the greens. He has quietly built a solid record at the Masters, boasting multiple top-10 finishes in recent years and ranking high in key performance metrics.
6. Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton Shine
Bryson DeChambeau began with a 69, continuing his trend of strong starts at the Masters with seven birdies. Meanwhile, Tyrrell Hatton also recorded a sub-70 round for the first time in his Masters career, showcasing a more consistent performance than in past years.
7. Couples Turns Back Time
At age 65, Fred Couples turned back the clock, achieving a one-under-par round of 71, extending his record of breaking par in the Masters over an extraordinary 42 years. He’s now tied for third in all-time under-par rounds at the Masters, cementing his legacy further.
8. McIlroy’s Rollercoaster Round
Rory McIlroy seemed poised to overcome past struggles when he reached four-under, but a double-bogey on the 15th and another mistake at 17 resulted in a tough day. This marks the seventh consecutive year he has been six shots or more behind after Round 1, presenting a significant challenge ahead.
9. Surprising Struggles for Nick Dunlap
Nick Dunlap faced a challenging first round, shooting 90—the highest score for a player under 50 at the Masters since 1956. However, if he improves dramatically with a low score in Round 2, he could set a record for the greatest turnaround in tournament history.
10. Challenging Course Conditions
The fifth hole played as the toughest on the course, significantly over par, while the 11th added to the difficulty with challenging pin locations. Despite tough conditions, the 15th hole yielded two eagles, adding some excitement to Day 1.
(Photo of Rory McIlroy: Andrew Redington / Getty Images)
