Bryson DeChambeau put himself in good company during Thursday’s first round of the 88th Masters.
He finished the shooting a 7-under 65, taking a three-stroke lead over Danny Willett while positioning himself four shots ahead of Ryan Fox who was the early leader through the first several holes.
It’s one better than the 66 he shot in the first round of the 2019 Masters, which makes him just the fourth player in Masters history to record a first-round score of 66 or lower more than once.
In doing so, he joined past Masters champions Jordan Spieth who did it three times and Phil Mickelson who accomplished the feat twice, along with two-time Masters runner up Brooks Koepka.
DeChambeau was impressive almost from the get-go as he carded an eight-birdie, one-bogey performance where he birdied the first three holes and then five of the last seven. Making it more remarkable was the fact that he did it in the midst of a stiff wind with gusts of up to 25 mph.
Winds won’t be much better Friday as forecasts predict a sunny, 72-degree day with a steady west wind at 15 to 25 mph.
For that reason, DeChambeau tried to quell his enthusiasm a bit while still embracing the potentially good omen in a solid start.
“It’s always great getting off to a hot start,” DeChambeau said. “Three-under through the first three holes kind of gets you settled. I knew it was going to be a tough day today with the wind, and even tomorrow. So a lot of patience is required around this golf course and making sure you’re just stroking on your line, putting it good, hitting good iron shots and driving it well. In ordered to win major championships, especially out here, you’ve got to do everything well.”
DeChambeau bogeyed on No. 9, but quickly made up for it by making par at 10 and 11 before going on his back nine birdie streak. He just missed eagle on 15 as his putt pushed the ball to the lip of the cup before it stalled.
Going into 15, DeChambeau said he rolled the dice a bit to properly position himself.
“I was just trying to get to the back right section of the green, and I pushed it a little bit,” he said. “It clipped the tree. I hit four pine needles rather than five, and it worked out perfectly. But it was a little scary of a shot. I shouldn’t have probably done it, but I took a risk. I was willing to take it. I was rewarded fortunately.”
DeChambeau’s first-round aggressiveness signaled the 30-year old’s hunger to win his second major. He captured his first when he won the 2020 U.S. Open while playing on the PGA Tour before joining the LIV Golf League. He’s one of 13 LIV Golf players who earned invites to this year’s Masters. Yet, he’s historically struggled in his seven appearances at Augusta National, finishing no better than 21st back in 2016.
It’s something he says he doesn’t obsess over, but he’s certainly aware.
“If you don’t play well at any golf tournament, it bothers me,” he said. “Any event you’re at, we’re always trying to win. We are not just going there to hit it around and have a hit-and-giggle. I’m trying to win every single golf tournament. It’s been extremely disappointing, especially with how well I love this golf course, love the Patrons, love the members, love the golf course conditions.”
“Everything about it, it’s something I’ve dreamed of always winning my entire life.”
SCHEFFLER, WILLETT IN THE HUNT
Not far behind DeChambeau’s torrid pace was the 2022 Green Jacket winner, Scottie Scheffler. Scheffler carded a 6-under, 66 for his opening round Thursday, one shot back from DeChambeau, and was the only golfer to play a bogey-free opening round.
And similar to the first-round leader, Scheffler got particularly active on the back nine as he recorded back-to-back birdies on 11 and 12 and 14 and 15.
Danny Willett also turned in a solid opening round, shooting a 68 at 3-under. Willett is looking to win his second Masters after slipping on the Green Jacket in 2016.
Early on, it looked like Ryan Fox was going to emerge as the round one leader. He opened with three birdies on the first three holes before carding an eagle at No. 8. But then he cooled off by bogeying on 13 and 16. Even with those two misfortunes, Fox’s 3-under 69 is more than respectable and placed him fourth toward the end of the evening.
Scheffler admitted he was a bit shocked at well some golfers were playing, given high winds and the fact that the course was just a couple of hours removed from some rain.
“When I was walking up to the first tee, I was fairly surprised with how many people were under par already,” Scheffler said. “Going into today with the forecast the way it was supposed to be, and I’ve played this tournament once before in some pretty high winds, and it’s an extremely challenging golf course.”
Scheffler called his Thursday performance a combination of skill and a little good fortune.
“I just felt like today, I just did a really good job of — [caddie] Teddy [Scott], I would say, did a really good job of kind of guessing the wind correctly, that makes sense. You know, we stole a few shots on the par 3s, I felt like, and then I played the par 5s well.”
