AUGUSTA, GEORGIA | Given the anticipation the Masters annually generates, it bloomed to life beautifully on Thursday like, well, a Justin Rose.
Amazon could not have delivered a more ideal day than Thursday at the Masters. Cool in the morning when the old codgers hit the ceremonial tee shots, warm and sunny in the afternoon with enough breeze blowing to furrow brows and provide a built-in excuse for any shot that didn’t come to rest where its author intended.
The 44-year-old Rose earned the overnight lead with a sunny side up 7-under-par 65 while the two most prominent protagonists – Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy – cast their shadows on the day.
Just after lunchtime, there was a hint of nervous anticipation in the April air when McIlroy walked onto the first tee in his latte-colored shirt, hoping the weight on his shoulders wasn’t Sisyphus’ stone.
McIlroy was on the verge of delivering a sparkling opening round until it turned into the cruelest tease.
Wonder why McIlroy hasn’t won the Masters?
The last hour Thursday afternoon showed why.
McIlroy had been nearly flawless until the par-5 15th hole where he found himself in the devil’s pantry, forced to play his third shot from behind the green with almost no chance to keep his ball on the green. The resulting double bogey after his third trickled into the water wasn’t devastating but a second double at the 17th was.
McIlroy’s body language has always been his tell. He bounced through the first 14 holes, sensing he had everything under control. The last four holes he looked stricken, signing for a 72 that needed a tourniquet.
As McIlroy’s happy hour horrors proved, diamonds can turn to dust quickly and he will need something special Friday morning to erase the sour milk taste he went home with Thursday evening.
Contrast that with Scheffler, who turned in a classic Scottie bogey-free 68 that reaffirmed he is the man to beat at Augusta National.
As McIlroy’s happy hour horrors proved, diamonds can turn to dust quickly and he will need something special Friday morning to erase the sour milk taste he went home with Thursday evening.
Over the past two decades, only two winners have been outside the top 10 after the first round at Augusta, which bodes well for Scheffler but not McIlroy, not that the Texan cares much about such statistics.
“I don’t really care what happened in the last few tournaments. I think anytime you get close to the lead, it’s going to be easier for you to win the golf tournament. That’s a simple fact of the matter,” Scheffler said.
Maybe it really is that simple.
The first day had its quirky moments as it typically does, adding dashes of color to the tournament’s palette.
It began when, intentionally or not, Jack Nicklaus threw shade at Phil Mickelson when asked if he is surprised that Mickelson is still playing at a high level.
“I don’t know what level Phil is competing at. I guess he’s still playing,” Nicklaus said. “He’s playing the LIV Tour, is he? I don’t know if he’s playing or not. I don’t know, you never see that anymore.”
Tell us how you really feel, Jack.
Nick Dunlap had the dubious distinction of shooting 90 without a single three-putt. It was the highest score posted by a player under 50 years old since Charles Kunkle signed for 95 in 1956 and marked the first time Kunkle’s name has been mentioned around these parts in many years.
Then there was amateur Jose Luis Ballester, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, who was apparently unaware of the many fine facilities located around Augusta National, choosing to relieve himself in the creek near the 13th green. He did have the decency to turn his back to the gallery who nevertheless gave him a round of applause when he finished.
“I’m like, I really need to pee. Didn’t really know where to go, and since [Justin Thomas] had an issue on the green, I’m like, I’m just going to sneak here in the river and probably people would not see me that much, and then they clapped for me,” Ballester said
Politeness is a thing at the Masters.
“I just love the place. I love coming here. Everyone I bring here loves it.” – Fred Couples
For pure joy, it was hard to beat seeing 65-year-old Fred Couples shoot 71 on Thursday. This is Couples’ 40th Masters and Augusta National is like his fountain of youth as he became the second-oldest player to break par in tournament history.
Once the embodiment of cool and clout, Couples still has the cool (“How does he keep getting better looking?” a woman in the gallery asked) but the clout, well, not so much.
Couples’ golf bag has seven headcovers – eight if you count the putter – and the longest iron he carries is a 7-iron. If you’re keeping score at home, Couples has a driver, 3-wood, 5-wood and 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-hybrids. But Augusta burns like an eternal flame inside the 1992 Masters winner.
“I just love the place. I love coming here. Everyone I bring here loves it. No one complains. No one makes a smart-ass comment. They all love it as much as I do, and that’s why they keep coming back,” Couples said.
“I have said [to playing partners] on the 18th tee, get a good look at this course because you ain’t coming back … I just don’t want people who don’t love it here. It’s paradise.”
It felt that way at times on Thursday.
Until – at least for McIlroy – it didn’t.