The wind tricked some players more than others on the first day of the 2017 Masters in Augusta, Georgia on Thursday. For the first round, only 11 players broke par. And, the number one player in the world, Dustin Johnson, scratched late after a back injury from a fall at his rental house earlier in the week.
Leader Board
Charley Hoffman
Masters 2017: Charley Hoffman | 16th Hole, Round 1 pic.twitter.com/dKpWX5vVAi
— Masters Highlights (@MastersMoments) April 6, 2017
For Hoffman’s fourth Masters, he blew away the field with a 65 with five birdies in his last seven holes, and nine overall. At seven under par, he has a four shot lead and an early tee time going into play on Friday. With a great first day, Hoffman says he is really starting to believe in himself.
William McGirt
For McGirt, he says the wind did not phase him, which landed him at three under. Regardless, he says he’s just happy to be at the Masters. With birdies on two of the three par 5s, he ended with 69 and just 27 putts on the day. This seems to be one of the best rounds in his career.
Masters 2017: William McGirt | 13th Hole, Round 1 pic.twitter.com/21pRHvrV21
— Masters Highlights (@MastersMoments) April 6, 2017
Lee Westwood
Masters 2017: Lee Westwood | 15th Hole, Round 1 pic.twitter.com/nM5Hlqzvyq
— Masters Highlights (@MastersMoments) April 6, 2017
At two under par 70, Westwood overcame four bogeys with six birdies in his round; his success came alongside Hoffman and Rory McIlroy where the wind did not seem to affect them as badly.
Keep on the Radar
One under par: Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia, Kevin Chappell, Andy Sullivan, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Phil Mickelson, Jason Dufner and Russell Henley
Par: Ernie Els Thomas Pieters, Matt Kuchar, Paul Casey, Shane Lowry, Soren Kjeldsen, Rory McIlroy