Jon Rahm Festival at the start of the August Masters

They were two easy shots, one uphill and one downhill, but both veered slightly to the right of the first hole at Augusta National. Those two shots, details that can disturb anyone new to the tournament with studs, spoiled Jon Rahm’s start at the Masters. But he responded like a champ to that double bogey at the first flag: instant birdies on 2 and 3. The immediate reaction was just the beginning of his exhibition. He put more shots into the field in the 7th, in the retouched 13th, 15th, 16th, 18th and most of all in the 8th with an eagle of power and placement: an effect of more than 300 meters with the driver, an incredible iron of 230, and the put of barely a meter and a half. After signing a card of 65 strokes (-7), he is the co-leader (Friday, Movistar Golf, 15:30 and Saturday, 18:00), tied with Norwegian Viktor Hovland and American Brooks Koepka.

Rahm’s display after the first slip was an eyesore. Brave on the moves with the driver, reliable with the irons towards the green and precious with the putter. To date, no one since the tournament’s inception in 1934 has opened the Masters round with a double bogey as low as Rahm.

receptive field

The rains of the previous days showed one of the friendliest faces of the course, with receptive fairways and greens. From this Friday, the weather is expected to worsen, with wind, rain and cold. Another different master. A different test for Hovland, who offered a very complete repertoire in search of his first grand slam.

Among the favorites, lights and shadows. Current World Golf No. 1 and defending champion Scottie Scheffler took the positions, on a day in which he skated just 11. While Rory McIlroy, a little more erratic, ended up channeling a very erratic day to finish even in the only grand slam missing from his record. Far from the best, but with a flaw that can be corrected in the next three days.

Rahm, Scheffler and McIlroy are the three players with options to take over the world ranking lead on Sunday, when the Masters ends.

Tiger Woods defies pain between cheers

No one is more aware than Tiger Woods himself of the pain he experiences every time he plays golf. At the age of 47, the consequences of the reconstructive surgery on his right leg due to the traffic accident he experienced in 2021 are visible. When he walks on the court, when he twitches, when he twists… That’s how he spent Thursday morning at Augusta, applauded almost every step of the way on the stage where he won five Masters, but dissatisfied with his game. Despite all the problems, he finished his return with a score of +2, which keeps him in a position to make the cut this Friday and play the weekend, which is his most realistic goal right now.

Among the players who fared the worst was Sergio García, who delivered a card with two shots over par.