The opening round of the 89th Masters at Augusta National delivered thrilling performances from some of the biggest names in golf. As players head into the second round, several standout statistics and stories emerged from Day 1. Here’s a comprehensive look at the top numbers and notes from the tournament’s first round.
For an impressive fifth time, Justin Rose holds a share of the lead after Round 1 of the Masters. At 44 years old, he is now the oldest player to lead after the first round since Fred Couples was 50 in 2010. Rose excelled on the greens, gaining over five strokes on the field in strokes gained putting, leading by a significant margin. Despite an underreported history of major championship near-misses since his 2013 U.S. Open victory, Rose has accumulated 14 top-10 finishes in majors since 2014—the most of any player without a win during this period. Interestingly, Rory McIlroy leads this statistic with 21 top-10 finishes since winning the 2014 PGA Championship.
This marks the ninth time Rose has led or co-led after any round at the Masters, surpassing any other player in the tournament's history without a victory. Notably, he has led more rounds at Augusta than multiple-time champions like Tom Watson, Seve Ballesteros, and Nick Faldo.
If Rose clinches victory this week, he would break records for the oldest first-time winner (currently held by Mark O’Meara, who was 41 in 1998) and for the most starts before securing a first win (currently at 20 starts). Since the inception of the Masters in 1934, he is the 26th player to lead by three strokes after Round 1 of a men’s major, with 44% of the previous 25 leading to a win. However, the closing rate at the Masters stands at 4-for-8. In 2021, Rose also held a four-shot lead after the first round, but ultimately fell behind the eventual champion, Hideki Matsuyama.
Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion, opened his title defense with a solid 68, positioning himself excellently for a potential third green jacket. Remarkably, Scheffler went bogey-free, a feat he also achieved in last year’s opening round. He joins a rare group of defending champions who have started with a bogeyless round in the past 30 years, although none of the last three have secured victory following such a start. Since his debut at the Masters in 2020, Scheffler has not recorded a negative stroke average in his ball striking for 20 consecutive rounds, showcasing his remarkable consistency at Augusta.
Following a strong debut last year, Ludvig Åberg is once again making waves at the Masters. Åberg's exceptional driving on Thursday saw him gain the most strokes off the tee among all competitors and hit 15 of 18 greens in regulation. His impressive performance follows a first-round score of 73 in 2023, positioning him 12-under-par over his last four rounds at the Masters. While no player has won their Masters debut since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, several second-year players have achieved this feat in recent tournaments.
Corey Conners completed the trio of players just three strokes behind Rose. Known for his stellar approach play, Conners surprised many with his putting performance, gaining nearly three strokes on the greens. Throughout his Masters career, he has consistently ranked among the top players in strokes gained ball striking and birdies-or-better, with his best major finish being a tie for sixth in 2022.
Bryson DeChambeau opened with a 69, continuing his trend of solid starts at the Masters with back-to-back rounds in the 60s. DeChambeau's seven birdies throughout the day demonstrate his scoring prowess. However, sustaining this performance through the weekend remains a question, as his average scores tend to decline in the following rounds. Tyrrell Hatton also made headlines with a 69, marking his first sub-70 opening round at the Masters.
At 65 years old, Fred Couples showcased his enduring talent with a one-under-par round of 71. This remarkable achievement represents the longest period for a player to break par at the Masters, surpassing the previous record of 40 years shared by golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. Couples’ 58th round under par at the Masters ties him for third-most all-time, showcasing his incredible longevity in the sport.
Rory McIlroy started strong, posting a 33 on the front nine, marking his best opening round since 2011. However, misfortune struck on the 15th hole, leading to a double-bogey that ultimately derailed his momentum. This year marks the seventh consecutive Masters in which McIlroy has found himself six shots back or more after Round 1, a challenging statistic given the historical difficulty of overcoming such a deficit.
The fifth hole emerged as the toughest on the course, averaging over 4.55 strokes, with only two birdies recorded. Additionally, the 11th hole proved challenging for players, with average approach shots exceeding 60 feet. While the 15th hole yielded two eagles, it also highlighted the difficulty players faced on Day 1 of the Masters.
As the tournament progresses, fans eagerly anticipate how these narratives will unfold in the coming rounds at Augusta National.
