The Masters - R1

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DeChambeau surges into a share of the lead at Augusta National
Posted on
April 12, 2019
by
The Editorial Team in , ,
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

April 11-14
Augusta National GC, Augusta, Georgia
$11,000,000
Live leaderboard
Round 2, Round 3, Round 4

DeChambeau surges into a share of the lead at Augusta National, © Getty Images

© Getty Images


Bryson DeChambeau produced an incredible finish, posting four closing birdies to share the lead with Brooks Koepka at six under par the end of day one at the Masters Tournament.

A remarkable run of scoring in the late groups stretched the field at Augusta National Golf Club, with DeChambeau amongst a host of European Tour players in the mix going into Friday at the first Major Championship of the year.

“It's my best round out here, a 66. I was just looking to shoot something in the 60s this week because I haven't done that yet in my couple times playing here.

“What a magical back nine. Wind started to pick up, right around Amen Corner, and it was tough. It was not easy one bit. But we just stuck to what we knew we should have done, and we did, and was able to execute a beautiful nine iron on 12 that kind of jump started my back nine, hitting it to five feet, making that putt got me rolling.

“Should have pulled the flagstick out (on the 18th ). But no, it was a great shot, and I was excited just to tap‑in to finish off a great round.”

Debutant Justin Harding of South Africa was one of the players who had set the target at three under par early in the day and for a long time it looked like there would be a highly congested leaderboard as a nine way tie for the lead developed.

“I was happy with it, I handled my emotions pretty well, a bit annoying on the last making bogey. But at the end of the day I'll take it.


“Golf is purely momentum based. If you take enough confidence into the rounds then you're bound to play well just pretty much need to get out of your own way. I'll take it and run if I can ‑‑ we're not allowed to run here at Augusta ‑‑ but I'm pleased.

“It's one of those where I gave myself a couple chances, I didn't feel like I took great advantage of the par fives. I managed to hit a wedge close in on 16 but other than that it was one of those where you just kind of sneak in a birdie here or there where you can. Managed to hit a couple of fairways. I'm still learning and this golf course is difficult.”

DeChambeau surges into a share of the lead at Augusta National
Brooks Koepka holds a share of the lead after day one of the 83rd Masters (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

But four birdies in a row from the 12th hole from Koepka moved the three-time Major Champion to six under par and into a two shot lead. DeChambeau's incredible finish saw him catch his fellow American, thanks in part to a wonderful second shot on the 18th where he was only denied an eagle by the pin flag. He signed for a 66 - his best round at Augusta National - and Koepka parred his way home to record the only bogey free round of the day and share top spot.

Three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson birdied five of his last seven holes to sit one shot off the lead at five under par, a shot clear of fellow American Dustin Johnson and England's Ian Poulter.

“I'm very happy with today's work," said Poulter."It's a great start to a long week. The weather is going to be interesting over the next three days with the thunderstorms coming in. 

“The course dried out nicely today. A couple of greens may have been a touch slower than what we've previously had in the past on a Thursday. But I'm happy with that and feel pretty good about it.


“My whole game was together, from the first hole to the 18th hole. I mean I only missed two greens in regulation, I think. One of them was 9. I made bogey there. And the other green I missed I was kind of 12 feet from the pin and just on the fringe. So really my putting all around today was extremely solid. I need to do that over the next few days.”

Harding – who has won five times worldwide in the last year, including his maiden European Tour title at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters – is joined at three under par by Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Kevin Kisner of the United States, Australian Adam Scott and Spain's Jon Rahm.

Denmark's Lucas Bjerregaard, who is also making his Masters debut, and The Open champion Francesco Molinari are amongst a group of 10 players at two under par.


Pos.
Player
To Par
R1
T1
Bryson DeChambeau
-6
66
T1
Brooks Koepka
-6
66
3
Phil Mickelson
-5
67
T4
Ian Poulter
-4
68
T4
Dustin Johnson
-4
68
T6
Justin Harding
-3
69
T6
Adam Scott
-3
69
T6
Jon Rahm
-3
69
T6
Kiradech Aphibarnrat
-3
69
T6
Kevin Kisner
-3
69
T11
Corey Conners
-2
70
T11
J.B. Holmes
-2
70
T11
Lucas Bjerregaard
-2
70
T11
Gary Woodland
-2
70
T11
Tiger Woods
-2
70
T11
Rickie Fowler
-2
70
T11
Cameron Smith
-2
70
T11
Patton Kizzire
-2
70
T11
Francesco Molinari
-2
70
T11
Jason Day
-2
70
T21
Tony Finau
-1
71
T21
Charley Hoffman
-1
71
T21
Louis Oosthuizen
-1
71
T21
Tommy Fleetwood
-1
71
T21
Kevin Na
-1
71
T21
Thorbjorn Olesen
-1
71
T21
Bernhard Langer
-1
71
T21
Matt Kuchar
-1
71
T29
Andrew Landry
E
72
T29
Keith Mitchell
E
72
T29
Kevin Tway
E
72
T29
Mike Weir
E
72
T29
Si Woo Kim
E
72
T29
Branden Grace
E
72
T29
Emiliano Grillo
E
72
T29
Kyle Stanley
E
72
T29
Viktor Hovland (a)
E
72
T29
Webb Simpson
E
72
T29
Marc Leishman
E
72
T29
Haotong Li
E
72
T29
Jimmy Walker
E
72
T29
Billy Horschel
E
72
T29
Bubba Watson
E
72
T44
Takumi Kanaya (a)
1
73
T44
Charles Howell III
1
73
T44
Sergio Garcia
1
73
T44
Patrick Reed
1
73
T44
Xander Schauffele
1
73
T44
Rory McIlroy
1
73
T44
Sandy Lyle
1
73
T44
Martin Kaymer
1
73
T44
Alvaro Ortiz (a)
1
73
T44
Jovan Rebula (a)
1
73
T44
Rafa Cabrera Bello
1
73
T44
Tyrrell Hatton
1
73
T44
Patrick Cantlay
1
73
T44
Justin Thomas
1
73
T58
Eddie Pepperell
2
74
T58
Henrik Stenson
2
74
T58
Devon Bling
2
74
T58
Trevor Immelman
2
74
T58
Zach Johnson
2
74
T63
Adam Long
3
75
T63
Aaron Wise
3
75
T63
Brandt Snedeker
3
75
T63
Danny Willett
3
75
T63
Hideki Matsuyama
3
75
T63
Matt Wallace
3
75
T63
Alex Noren
3
75
T63
Satoshi Kodaira
3
75
T63
Justin Rose
3
75
T63
Jordan Spieth
3
75
T73
Michael Kim
4
76
T73
Stewart Cink
4
76
T73
Keegan Bradley
4
76
T73
Shugo Imahira
4
76
T77
Kevin O'Connell
5
77
T77
Charl Schwartzel
5
77
T77
Larry Mize
5
77
T80
Shane Lowry
6
78
T80
Fred Couples
6
78
T80
Jose Maria Olazabal
6
78
T80
Matthew Fitzpatrick
6
78
T84
Ian Woosnam
8
80
T84
Vijay Singh
8
80
86
Paul Casey
9
81
87
Angel Cabrera
10
82
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