Rory McIlroy’s chances at the Masters took a downturn right away on the first day at Augusta National after some tough mistakes messed up what started off as a solid game. The Northern Irish golfer was looking good at four-under-par after 14 holes, but things fell apart quickly. A bad chip on the 15th sent his ball back through the green and into the water, leading to a frustrating double-bogey. And it didn’t stop there on the 17th, another off-target shot went long, and a poor chip resulted in another double bogey. It was a tough day for him, and he decided to skip talking to the media afterward, now sitting seven shots behind early leader Justin Rose. McIlroy’s Masters Hopes Fade.
Lowry Fights for a Good Start
On the other hand, Shane Lowry managed to keep things together pretty well. He finished with a birdie at the 18th, ending with a one-under-par 71. It was a bit of a mixed bag for him, starting with a bogey on the third hole but bouncing back with a birdie on the fourth. After making gains on the eighth and ninth, he was two-under at the turn. The back nine was trickier, with a bogey on the 10th and another on the 17th almost ruining his hard work, but a nice birdie at the end helped him finish strong. Lowry admitted he was frustrated after the messy bogey on 17, knowing he had a good chance to score well on the last two holes. Still, he was happy to be under par.
Scheffler Starts Strong
Scottie Scheffler, looking for his third green jacket in four years, had a solid start with a bogey-free 68. The world number one wowed the crowd with a long 60-foot birdie putt on the fourth hole and added another on the eighth, going into the back nine at three-under. Although he had a rare three-putt on the 13th, he bounced back with a long birdie on the 16th. His steady play puts him in a tie for the early lead with Canada’s Corey Conners. After recovering from hand surgery recently, Scheffler seems to be back to his best just in time.
Strong Support for McIlroy
Even with a tough round, McIlroy has plenty of support from golf legends. Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tom Watson all picked him as their favorite for this year’s Masters during the opening ceremony. Nicklaus even mentioned that they talked about McIlroy’s strategy for Augusta over lunch and praised his approach, saying he wouldn’t change a thing. But he also pointed out that McIlroy has struggled with discipline, which has led to mistakes in key moments. Now, McIlroy’s challenge is to stay focused and fight his way back into the mix in the upcoming rounds.
