Tough weather conditions see scores soar at Augusta
The drama of the Masters began even before play had begun this year. On Wednesday there came an announcement from Augusta National Golf Club that tournament favourite Dustin Johnson had had an accident and may have to withdraw. It is reported that the World Number One had a freak accident at his rented home whereby he slipped in his socks down the steps to the garage.
Some say he got tangled up in the cables of his ‘Trackman’. Whatever the cause, the repercussions for the 32-year old American were immense. With just a few hours before the 31st edition of the Masters (6-9 April) was due to tee-off, there was little time for Johnson to recover from the lower-back injury he had sustained in the fall.
The next day, Johnson, who was on-track for his fourth consecutive win this season, attempted to warm-up for his opening round at Augusta. He only hit a few balls before deciding that he would not be able to compete in the tournament. The disappointed US Open Champion said: “At impact and through the ball my back is painful. The Masters is one of my favourite tournaments. For me to pull out sucks really bad. It was just a freak accident.”
So who was the lucky golfer who took his place? No-one did, actually. Although there is an Australian amateur in the field called Luck. Curtis Luck is one of five amateurs competing in the Masters this year.
Willett struggling
Americans Bubba Watson and Jimmy Walker, played in the final pairing as a two-ball. Not that we’ll be seeing so much of two times Masters Champion Bubba at Augusta this year. The cult player has shed a few pounds since cutting out sugar in his diet apparently, but he is still packing a punch with his pink golf ball. USPGA Champion Jimmy Walker is also playing as a feather-weight this week due to recent health problems which have thankfully now been diagnosed.
Yorkshireman Danny Willett certainly was not expected to win at Augusta last year. And they always say that lightning never strikes twice. Or rarely. The last player to successfully defend the ‘Green Jacket’ was Tiger Woods back in 2002. In fact, it was exactly 20 years ago that he won his first Masters wearing his red sweater which became his final day trade-mark. Willett, dressed all in white on the opening day this year just as he had done on that life-changing Sunday in 2016, got off to a shaky double-bogey, bogey, birdie start. Thirty-three holes later he was back at the clubhouse looking to surely have missed the cut at 7-over par.
Breaking news at 19.00 hours local time in Holland on day one …
Thomas Pieters from Belgium is leading the Masters!
Well, at least he was at that moment. Playing in his first Masters, the long-hitter from Antwerp had got off to a flying start – two under par after four holes. Six holes later he had made it to the top of the leader-board with an impressive score of 5-under par. Alas, the 24-year old Belgian struggled on the back nine. He became co-leader after 14 holes and eventually signed for an opening round of level par and a share of 12th place.
It was Charley Hoffman (main photograph) who seized the overnight lead after shooting a brilliant 7-under par 65. His gritty performance really gave the home crowds something to cheer about following Jordan Spieth’s first day disaster at the 15th hole. After seriously misjudging his approach shot over the water, the 2015 Masters Champion notched up a 9 here! Fellow American William McGirt had been the early leader before being joined at the top by Jason Dufner (USA) and the young Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick for a while. They finished the day at 2nd, and in a share of 4th place, respectively.
Stenson, Johnson and Watson sent packing
Tough playing conditions of strong winds and slick greens in Georgia saw the projected half-way cut of 6-over par become a reality leaving defending champion Willett painfully just one shot adrift. Also packing their bags early and heading for home: Zach Johnson, Bubba Watson, Henrik Stenson and Chris Wood. The winds were so strong at times that players were having to stand back from the ball and take up their address positions again. Even Autumn leaves were appearing from somewhere, somehow on the usually 100% spic and span fairways at Augusta.
For only the second time ever, there is a four-way tie going into the third round of the Masters. The leaders on ‘moving day’ are Americans Charley Hoffman and Rickie Fowler, Thomas Pieters and Sergio Garcia (Spain) on 4-under par. Garcia is playing in his 74th Major and is still looking to win his first. Tomorrow could be a very emotional day for the Spaniard, if he could pull it off. The 9th April would have been the great late Seve Ballesteros’ 60th birthday.
With two rounds still to be played, there is an awful long way to go. It’s still anyone’s Green Jacket!
Wendy Hoad