Bryson DeChambeau’s triple bogey derails Masters hopes
Bryson DeChambeau’s triple bogey on No. 11 led to a 76, putting his Masters chances in serious doubt.
Courtesy of The Masters / Augusta National
AUGUSTA, GA – Rory is the story after Round 1 at the Masters.
The defending champion attracted the largest gallery, by my eyes, anyway, and he looked totally at ease, even if he said he felt some nerves on the No. 1 tee.
He wasn’t great, but he was darn good.
He joins Sam Burns as the leaders after the first round at 5-under 67.
Here are four quick takes after Round 1, plus one celebrity sighting:
Rory McIlroy can win another green jacket
McIlroy tried to tell us. Before the tournament started, he surmised that if he’s going to win another major in his career, he’s got the best shot to do it at Augusta National.
Even though the Masters proved the hardest major for him to win the first time, he thinks his experience on this course positions him to get a second win here.
He didn’t predict it would come this season, but his Thursday round suggests it might.
McIlroy wasn’t great off the tee, especially on the front nine, but it’s OK to miss some fairways here, so long as you avoid disaster and do good work around the greens.
McIlroy did that. He looks relaxed and confident. He might not win, but he is the favorite.
Bye-bye Bryson?
Bryson DeChambeau is a polarizing figure within the larger golf community. He’s got his fans. He’s got his detractors. Here, though, he’s a hit.
He’s not a draw to the level that McIlroy is, but he had a committed following.
He’s a bro’s bro, and who doesn’t love seeing a muscle-bound man bomb a tee shot?
One fella stationed on No. 8 sure loved it after DeChambeau launched a majestic bomb to split the fairway on the 570-yard par-5.
“Big dog gotta eat,” the DeChambeau fan hollered.
Right on cue, DeChambeau grabbed an energy bar from his golf bag and chowed down. As he walked to his shot, the crowd gave him hearty applause.
And yet after that beautiful drive, DeChambeau couldn’t birdie the par-5. He settled for par.
The less said, the better about DeChambeau’s disastrous showing after he made the turn.
He’s at 4-over, and he might not make the weekend.
Xander Schauffele steady, but not elite
Nobody asked me – OK, maybe a few people asked me – but Schauffele was my pick to win. He’s a top-10 machine at Augusta, and, I figured, it’s not such a tumultuous climb from eighth place or third place or second place to slipping on the green jacket.
Or, maybe it is. Ask McIlroy.
He finished in the top 10 seven times before finally winning in his 17th Masters appearance.
Schauffele was steady but unremarkable in carding a 2-under.
Another top-10 finish? Book it. He’s a machine, I tell ya.
Am I feeling confident in my pick of X marking the spot on Sunday? Not exactly.
RIP, LIV Golf
Here’s a look at your Round 1 leaders:
Burns: 5-underMcIlroy: 5-underKurt Kitayama: 3-underJason Day: 3-underPatrick Reed: 3-under
If you’re scoring at home, that’s four golfers who never lived LIV life, and one ex-LIV golfer (Reed) who’s headed back to the PGA Tour.
LIV long and prosper?
More like prosper quickly in LIV and get the heck out.
Or, in the case of Jon Rahm, go LIV, and go 6-over. His scorecard featured no birdies. Oof.
MLB commissioner turns out at Masters
Standing near the No. 18 green as I watched McIlroy, Mason Howell and Cameron Young finish their round, I thought I recognized the man in the green jacket standing next to me.
I peeked at his credential for a fact check. The credential confirmed: Rob Manfred, MLB commissioner and Augusta National member, was in attendance.
Does Manfred count as a celebrity sighting? I’ll allow it.
I missed my opportunity to tell him what I think about the potential for an MLB “Golden At-Bat” rule.
A green jacket, pretty cool. A Golden At-Bat rule, if it ever comes to pass, would be pretty stupid.
Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.