Someone should have told Chad Campbell that he was playing the Masters this weekend. Clearly the hype and anxiety associated with arguably the most prestigious golf tournament in the world wasn’t an issue. Sunny, warm, no breeze and favourable pin positions allowed the world’s best players to open up and fire at will. This is not the kind of Masters that we are accustomed to. Many players voiced their concerns during cold and windy practice sessions saying that the course would play too difficult and that the winning score could potentially be over par.
Campbell breezed through the opening five holes of Augusta National. Five birdies in five holes. It didn’t stop there. The American cruised to nine-under par after 15 holes and flirted with the course record of 63, before stumbling in to the clubhouse with consecutive bogeys on the 17 and 18th holes to finish atop the leader board at 7-under par. (65)
Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan sit one stroke back in a tie for second after shooting a solid pair of 6-under (66) rounds to open the major.
The man with the best hat collection in golf, Shingo Katayama, sits in a tie for fourth position after a round of 5-under (67) with 50-year-old, 1987 Masters’ champion, Larry Mize.
It was a good day for the two Canadian golfers in the field.
2003 Masters’ winner, Mike Weir, eagled the 13th hole to finish at 4-under (68) for the day, good enough for a tie for sixth position after round one.
Stephen Ames eagled the second hole to get off to a good early morning start, but would eventually bogey four times throughout the round, which led him to a round of 1-over (73), putting him in a tie for 51st.
But, what about Tiger?
After a mediocre start, Woods caught fire on the back nine at Augusta. Woods has never shot a round under 70 in the opening round of the Masters. Birdies on 13, 14 and 15, salvaged a good round for the four-time green jacket recipient. He finished with a round of 2-under, (70) putting him in a tie for 20th.
Don’t expect the pin positions to be as generous tomorrow. The Augusta board of directors will ensure that the golfers return to reality.
Greg Warren
Radio - T.V. - Magazine - Tour
2 comments:
Tiger's right where he wants and needs to be I think. Look for a 67 out of Tiger with an early tee time. Hopefully Weir can still consistent over the weekend and be at the very least in one of the leader groups come Sunday.
The last three times he has opened with a 70 he has won the Masters. Will it be four?
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