Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland and Brooks Koepka set the pace on the opening day of the Masters Tournament, with each player firing a seven-under-par 65 to share the first round lead at Augusta National.
Rahm, who along with Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy was among the pre-tournament favourites, started the tournament in the worst possible way with a four-putt on the first for a double bogey. but responded in fine fashion with an eagle and seven birdies over the next 17 holes as he equalled his lowest round at Augusta National.
Norway’s Viktor Hovland managed to keep the bogeys off his card in a stunning 65 which contained an eagle and five birdies, with Koepka making it a three-way tie at the summit after signing his scorecard which only contained one blemish.
“If you’re going to make a double or four-putt or anything, it might as well be the first hole, 71 holes to make it up,” said Rahm.
“After that, it was more I was focused on the fact that all the strokes were good, the reads were good, the roll was good.
“Obviously the speed was off on the first two putts, so once I kind of accepted that there was nothing really to look into, I just got to work and I had 17 holes to make up.
“I’ve always said, and I tell people who ask me about The Masters, if you can somehow make it through the first six-and-a-half holes – and what I mean is putting the ball in the fairway on the seventh and you’re around level par – I think it’s a pretty good start.
“It’s easy to make bogeys. It’s not easy to make birdies. So if you can get through that, you have a short iron into seven, eight, nine to maybe make some birdies and maybe get the round going.
“I was able to do that and took advantage of it the rest of the day.”
Jason Day and Cameron Young were in a share of fourth place on five under, one ahead of the group featuring Ireland’s Shane Lowry, American amateur Sam Bennett, defending champion Scheffler, former winner Adam Scott, Xander Schauffele, Gary Woodland and Sam Burns.
