If it is the Masters, it is very bad advice to remain a slave to words. Before the Augusta competition in 2021, Bryson DeChambeau He arrived as proud and omnipotent champion of the 2020 US Open, played at Winged Foot. And in his comments it occurred to him to underestimate the par 72 course designed by Alister MacKenzie: “I see it as a par 67 for me, because I can hit all the par 5s in two shots, no problem. If the conditions remain the same, it is the par I feel for my game. “I’m not arrogant: I can go as far as I want.” The assessment infuriated many and brought the Californian the closest thing to a curse: he finished 46th in that event, after two opaque last laps of 75 (+3). And the worst thing was that he did not make the qualifying cuts in the next two tournaments, in 2022 and 2023.
Now, with the lesson learned and determined to respect the layout of the first major of the year, DeChambeau He opened with 65 (-7) to remain the sole leader, one behind the great candidate, Scottie Scheffler, champion in 2022. The LIV Golf player, who managed to stabilize his body after becoming excessively muscular a few years ago based on an extreme calorie diet, started with three birdies and also made three successes in a row between the 15th and 17th. If before he was valued for his power, now he had his main card with the putter. After believing that he would take on the world and open a new era in golf, the native of the city of Modesto stomps his heels in a tournament that was delayed two and a half hours due to rain and whose first round was not completed.
“I have a level of respect for this field that is a little different than a couple of years ago. Clearly, this Thursday was a great test and I was able to conquer a very difficult court. That comment about par 67? You know, one makes mistakes. I’m not a perfect person. Everyone makes mistakes. You learn from your mistake and that was definitely one,” conceded DeChambeau, 30, another of those who showed that playing in the Arab league is not synonymous with becoming rusty golfing, as Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm’s second, also demonstrated last year. the current holder of the green jacket.
When the greens were no longer as soft as they were in the morning, a good part of the Masters spectators followed Tiger Woods, who was seen to be physically solid, with no difficulties moving around. With everything under control during the fairway walks, he built an interesting course until darkness slowed him down. He had a total of -1 after completing the 13th hole, when the strong wind moved the trees from one side to the other. The main challenge for the former No. 1, who is seeking the sixth coronation in Augusta, is to resist the demands of a Friday with very little rest, because he will have to leave early to complete the remaining holes and, normally, he needs at least two hours of preparation to align your physique and start engines. Only the adrenaline of your good game can relieve you of the effort.
While, Emiliano Grillo had a discouraging start. The only Argentine in the tournament started with three bogeys and signed a card of 76 hits (+4) which momentarily places him in 75th place among 89 players.