Despite starting the day with a double ‘bogey’ on hole 1, the Biscayan overcame it with pride and confidence. With two ‘birdies’ in the next two holes he recovered his normality and from there signed an almost perfect card. In fact, the best in the history of the tournament after puncturing so early (nine down). With some devastating statistics (extreme effectiveness on fairways taken and taken out of ‘bunkers’) he equaled his idol Ballesteros by starting the tournament in the lead. Then the Spaniard ended up winning his first green jacket in 1980.
The day began in Augusta with the incentives of a lifetime. Spectators entering the crowd first thing in the morning to spread out around the different enclaves of the course and, those most attached to history, queuing up at the first hole to attend the traditional symbolic start of the tournament. Three of its most emblematic men, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, acted as honorary ‘starters’ before the competition began.
But people were very clear where their points of interest were going to be. For all the fans in the Tiger Woods game and, for the Spanish in particular, in the Jon Rahm game that followed. In that of the best player in history there was an unexpected turn, since the leading role was taken by Víctor Hovland instead of the Californian. And so, while the former world number one was limping throughout the day, the Norwegian signed a perfect card without any blur until sealing a final 65 for minus 7. «I am very happy with how I have played and the way I have gone overcoming the hard moments that I have been having -he commented- but above all having been able to play with Tiger. It is a privilege to be able to see him so closely and you never stop learning from him.” Despite finishing at two over par, he shouldn’t have a problem making the cut and playing through the weekend.
The one who will surely do so will be the Biscayan, who once again reaffirmed the great moment of form with which he has started this season. Despite committing a somewhat absurd double bogey on the first hole, he immediately overcame it to the point of signing his best result at the National in the following seventeen holes (nine down). «I didn’t take it badly for two reasons: first, because if you’re going to prick it’s better to do it on the first hole, because then you have 71 left to finish the tournament; and later, because the four ‘putts’ that I shot were well raised, “he acknowledged. The turning point that he needed he already had it from very early on. «At that moment I only had to react, that is, I had no choice but to compose myself and look ahead. And on the way to hole 2 I repeated to myself a phrase from Seve to make the matter less ironic. How can you make four ‘putts’? Well, failing the third », he joked.
‘Birdies’ saviours
The best way to react was by subtracting blows from his card, which he did immediately in the next two flags, so that in the third he was back at parity on the field. And from the 7th hole he was back in action. «In any strategy in this field it is good to reach that point at or below par. In other words, the forecasts were being fulfilled. And since he was playing well, very comfortably, I just had to let the blows flow to continue growing on the scoreboard ». No sooner said than done. He finished the first part of the course with three less and left the mythical ‘Amer Corner’ full of energy, with a ‘birdie’ on the revamped 13th hole that has grown in length. And then with another three in the closing four holes to tie Hovland at minus seven. Spectacular.
He reached the end with some devastating figures: one hundred percent effectiveness on streets taken and taken from ‘bunkers’ and 94% on ‘greens’ reached. «It’s not that I was aware of the statistics, far from it, but on the 17th hole I began to think and realized that I had not stepped on the ‘rough’ all day. And it is that not a single street had failed! »He recalled in amazement. On a day of perfect temperature, with soft and receptive mats, it was the best way to ensure a good card and to withstand the challenges of players who came from behind. In the end, the only one to emulate the two Europeans was Brooks Koepka, who tied them for the lead and made it clear that his move to LIV Golf has not detracted from his ‘punch’ in the big ones.
There is another good part to take into account for those who are already beginning to dream of the sixth green jacket for Spanish golf. That Ballesteros also started as the leader in his first title (1980) and that from now on bad weather comes and it is better to be on top so as not to have to come back. «Here every hour changes, but I feel the same favorite as before I started, there is nothing different. I’m playing well and proud of what I’m doing.”
García (+2) and Olazábal (+5), almost eliminated
The first day of the other two Spaniards in contention, Sergio GarcÌa and Chema Olaz·bal, was not as brilliant as that of Rahm. What’s more, it took place as expected based on the fitness of each one. For the man from Castellón, who is not completely comfortable with his current state of form, it was a round in which he lacked good feelings. So despite reaching the 13th hole with one under par, a visit to the stream made him chain three ‘bogeys’ to finish with two over par and the feeling that today he will have to work hard to play the weekend.
The Basque, for his part, fulfilled his own prediction of passion and signed 77 shots (with a miserable ‘birdie’ in the 13th) that definitely takes him away from the cut.