AUGUSTA, April 12 — Tiger Woods struggled to begin a tough 23-hole stroll aimed at making Masters history whereas Max Homa and Nicolai Hojgaard charged after chief Bryson DeChambeau as the primary spherical of the 88th Masters concluded at present.
After a rain delay of two and one-half hours on Thursday, darkness fell with 27 gamers from the sector of 89 nonetheless on the course, together with Woods, Homa and Hojgaard.
Woods, the 48-year-old US legend whose 15 main titles embody 5 Masters inexperienced jackets, has struggled to stroll programs since struggling extreme leg accidents in a 2021 automotive crash. This is his first main since proper ankle fusion surgical procedure final April.
Woods has made 23 consecutive Masters cuts to share the report with Gary Player and Fred Couples, however he would seize the mark all to himself if he stands within the low 50 and ties after 36 holes.
After ending one-under par for 13 holes on Thursday, Woods started his hardest main strolling problem because the accident on Friday with a bogey at the par-4 14th, developing wanting the inexperienced in two and blasting his third shot 22 toes past the opening.
Woods discovered a greenside bunker at 18 and missed a 13-foot par putt for one more bogey to face on 73, sharing thirty fifth and one stroke beneath the early projected reduce line as he ready to shortly begin spherical two.
DeChambeau, who fired a seven-under par 65 on Thursday to seize a one-stroke lead over world primary Scottie Scheffler, was set to start his second spherical simply earlier than midday (1600 GMT).
The 2020 US Open winner birdied 5 of the final seven holes in his finest spherical ever at Augusta National to set the tempo whereas Scheffler, the 2022 Masters champion, birdied 4 of the ultimate seven to remain on DeChambeau’s heels.
Denmark’s Hojgaard and American Homa every accomplished a first-round 67 on Friday to share third, one stroke forward of England’s Danny Willett, the 2016 Masters winner.
Returning on 4-under after 13 holes, Homa went over the 14th inexperienced however salvaged par with an eight-foot putt.
Homa sank a nine-foot birdie putt at the par-3 sixteenth then dropped his strategy inches from the opening at 17 and tapped in for birdie.
But on 18, Homa discovered a bunker and missed a nine-foot par putt to fall one again of Scheffler however nonetheless cracking 70 for the primary time in 13 Masters rounds.
Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard watches his tee shot on the 4th gap throughout the second spherical of The Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia April 12, 2024. — eNM pic
‘It’s robust on the market’
Hojgaard, amongst 20 gamers making their first Masters begin, was two off the tempo at 5-under by way of 15 holes Thursday and closed with three routine pars, leaving the Dane alongside Homa.
“You’ve received to adapt,” Hojgaard stated. “You must hit the pictures. It’s robust on the market. It’s going to be a grind. It’s going to be an extended day.”
No Masters rookie has received the inexperienced jacket since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.
McIlroy, whose most up-to-date main win got here in 2014, wants a Masters triumph to finish a profession grand slam, a feat achieved solely by Woods, Player, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.
McIlroy fired a 71, his finest opening spherical at the Masters since 2018, whereas Schauffele, chasing his first main crown, started on 72.
England’s Tyrrell Hatton, who like DeChambeau and defending champion Jon Rahm is amongst 13 Masters starters from Saudi-backed LIV Golf, was 3-under by way of 14 holes however started Friday with a double bogey at the par-5 fifteenth and made bogey at 18. — eNM
