AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) – The Latest on the Masters (all times local):
10:30 a.m.
Viktor Hovland opened his Masters’s with a disaster.
Hovland, the low amateur when he last played the Masters in 2019, opened with a triple-bogey seven on the first hole Thursday. He sent his tee shot into the trees left of the fairway, then needed two images to get onto the fairway. His fourth shot to the back pin location went off the green. He chipped on, then two-putted.
Hovland parred No. 1 his first three times playing it at the Masters, then made birdie in the final round two years ago. It was his first triple-bogey in 73 holes of competition at Augusta National.
It wasn’t the only significant number early in the opening round of the Masters. Amateur Joe Long scored seven on the par-4 fifth hole, and 1988 Masters winner Sandy Lyle had a quadruple-bogey seven on the par-3 fourth hole. That matched the second-highest score in Masters history at No. 4. Henrik Stenson made a quintuple-bogey eight there in 2011. The first group has reached the turn at the Masters, and the scoring is about what was expected. Hudson Swafford was at two under nine holes, picking up birdies on the par-5 second and par-3 fourth holes without a bogey on his card. With 29 players now on the course at the firm, fast Augusta National, no one has reached below two under, and five players were under par.
The forecast called for scattered showers, though any rain chances on a course dry for a week were most likely after the first round ended. Sandy Lyle’s game fell apart with a quadruple-bogey seven on the fourth hole. He sent it well over the green from the front bunker, took two more shots to get back to the front of the green, and took three putts to get down from there. The 63-year-old Scot won the Masters in 1988.
The 85th Masters has started with two honorary tee shots and one former player who only had to raise his driver to make it memorable.
Lee Elder was invited to take part in the ceremonial start. The 86-year-old Elder was the first Black golfer to compete in the Masters in 1975. Augusta National announced in November he would be joining six-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus and three-time champion Gary Player.
Elder’s health wouldn’t allow him to take a swing. Instead, he raised his driver on a cool morning warmed by enormous applause from spectators who lined both sides of the tee box.
Masters chairman Fred Ridley said Elder had blazed a trail that inspired golf and future generations with a message that golf belongs to everyone.
Among those on the tee were Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson, wearing green jackets as past champions, and Cameron Champ, one of four players of Black heritage on the PGA Tour.
The tournament began a short time later. Defending champion Dustin Johnson tees off at 10:30 a.m., while Jordan Spieth is in the last group.
