Recapping the First Round of the 2024 Masters

All things considered, the weather largely spared Augusta National, allowing the first round of the Masters to get started just a couple of hours behind schedule. The golf course was softer than it had been all week, but strong winds still provided conditions conducive to a highly entertaining day of golf. The first round will be completed early Friday morning, with the goal of wrapping up round two by Friday night.

A MORE CAUTIOUS BRYSON?

By Garrett Morrison

Bryson DeChambeau took full advantage of his early tee time today at the Masters. In the relatively calm conditions of the late morning and early afternoon, he blistered Augusta National for a 7-under 65—or, as many social media comics pointed out, a 2-under 65, according to his own infamous assessment of his personal par for the course.

After his round today, DeChambeau said that comment from 2020 was “definitely misinterpreted” but added that he has “a level of respect for this golf course that’s a little bit different than a couple of years ago.”

This is not to say that he played conservatively in the first round. He went for all four par 5s in two, birdieing three of them. He was one of only a few players to get around the corner and down the hill on the newly lengthened second hole, and his drive on the eighth traveled 350 yards—uphill. A poor tee shot on 15 left him in the woods on the right, but he reached the treacherous green in two anyway.

Despite the scorching performance, it was an unassuming DeChambeau who appeared before the media in Augusta National’s press building on Thursday afternoon. He stated repeatedly that he “respects” his critics. Instead of touting his latest discoveries in swing technique, he said, “I’m not trying new things, not doing new things. I’m just doing more of the same…. And that’s what I feel like has accumulated into playing some really good golf.” Finally, although his play suggested that his aggressive style is still intact, he preached the importance of patience, positioning, and bogey avoidance. “For me it’s a focus of how do I execute the next best shot and put myself in a good place to make birdie or par and not make a big number,” he explained.

DeChambeau, now 30 years old and almost eight years into his professional career, seems to know that winning the Masters requires finding the narrow shaft of daylight between caution and aggression.

But the sun is always moving, and it’s hard to stay out of the shade for four straight rounds. Remember, DeChambeau has gone low at Augusta National before, posting a first-round 66 in 2019 before dropping out of contention on Friday. The true test of the big man’s newfound regard for small golf will come tomorrow.

SCOTTIE SHOWED UP

By Andy Johnson

There are murmurs around the press center that the Masters is already over after a stellar start for Scottie Scheffler, who shot a bogey-free 66 on a difficult, gusty Thursday at Augusta National. Scheffler entered this week as the heavy favorite thanks to his two wins and a runner-up finish leading into the first major of the year. After just one round, and despite the fact that he’s not even leading, Scottie now sits at even money to win the Masters.

Scheffler’s supreme ball-striking was on full display. In conditions that made hitting greens difficult, Scheffler hit 13 of them, including sticking a number of approaches close to set up plenty of opportunities. That’s not to say Scottie handled conditions perfectly. Scheffler actually struggled for stretches, especially at Amen Corner. Scheffler missed the green on 11 and 12, and ended up finding the creek bank on 13 after going for it in two. That the ball stayed up on 13 was certainly a lucky break, but even during a bit of a rough patch with his ball-striking, Scheffler played those three holes in two-under par. Playing partner Rory McIlroy, who opened with a 71, called Scheffler’s play “efficient”, and said that Scottie’s ability to avoid bogeys is the “secret to winning major championships and winning big-time golf tournaments.”

There is quite a bit of golf still to play, of course, and disasters lurk around every turn at Augusta. But it already looks like any player who wants to take home the green jacket will have to go out and beat the steady Scottie Scheffler.

OTHER THURSDAY NOTES

Danny Willett hasn’t had a top-50 finish since the 2023 Players. He had shoulder surgery six months ago that was supposed to keep him sidelined for 12-18 months, but decided to try and play this week anyway. So of course he shot 68.

Following a strong winter of on-course play and even stronger off-course talk, special invite Joaquín Niemann backed up his words with a first-round 70. Winner of two LIV events this spring, Niemann is looking for his first top-10 finish in a major championship.