A morning rain delay means the 15-time Major winner is among 27 players still to complete their opening rounds in Augusta, with Bryson DeChambeau taking an early lead at the Masters
The 88th Masters finally got under way after a 1 hour 50 minute morning rain delay in Georgia. Bryson DeChambeau leads by a shot from Scottie Scheffler but nine groups were unable to complete their opening rounds in the evening gloom. That includes five-time champion Tiger Woods who is playing only his second event of the year
World No.1 Scheffler warned he could be forced to quit the first Major of the year “at a moment’s notice.” And Sergio Garcia compared playing Augusta National in the gusting wind to facing a boxing legend while his fellow former champion Gary Player spoke about a former British prime minister.
Tough day ahead for Tiger Woods
The American superstar faces a long Friday after the rain-delayed opening round of the Masters was suspended at 7.51pm local time. The former world No.1 admitted: “I hurt every day” before his return to action here and his aching body will now have to play 23 holes on Friday. Woods, 48, is not used to such exertions.
The former world No.1, who suffered a horrible car crash in February 2021, withdrew after seven holes of his third round here last year with plantar fasciitis. And in his only tournament since, he pulled out during the second round of the Genesis Invitational in February.
He has not played 72 holes in a competitive tournament for nearly 15 months. Because of the weather delay, Woods did not tee off until 3.54pm and he played his first 13 holes in one-under par after starting with a birdie in his first round for only the second time in his 26th appearance and then parring his final five holes. The 27 players still to complete their first round will resume on Friday at 7:50am and the second round will begin at 8:00am.
“It was nice to finish up 13,” Woods said. “We’re going to warm up and just kind of head down there and start our round, and I think the flow would be pretty much almost like between 20 and 30 minutes in between rounds, so it’ll be a natural flow from the finish of the first round and continuation of the second. How is the body feeling? It’s there. The body is okay. We’ve got some work to do yet tonight.”
Woods is aiming to set a new Masters record of making 24 consecutive cuts here. Good weather is forecast for the final three days of the Masters.
Scheffler is on call
Hot favourite Scheffler is one-shot off the lead held by Bryson DeChambeau after the world No.1 started with a bogey-free 66. But the 2022 champion admitted he might not finish the pursuit of his second Green Jacket with his wife Meredith heavily pregnant with their first child.
Asked for an update on her health after his first round, the Texan said: “Maybe I should be more concerned. I don’t really know!
“People have asked us how our preparation is going for the baby. I feel like, well, we are a little underprepared. The nursery is not quite ready and we’ve had some issues at our house the last few weeks. I think that’s the exciting part. I think we are definitely underprepared to be parents.
“As far as her going into labour, I wouldn’t say I’m very concerned. We haven’t seen any of the early signs. But pregnancy is weird. It can happen at any time. Yeah, open lines of communication and she can get a hold of me if she needs to. Yeah, I’m ready to go at a moment’s notice.”
Phil Mickelson played the 1999 US Open with a pager because his wife Amy was pregnant with their first child and vowed to fly home if necessary but he was able to complete the event.
Sergio spars with Augusta National
Sergio Garcia did not only attract attention for his garish yellow and green outfit for his opening round – with his wife Angela wearing matching colours. After his opening 72 in gusting winds, the 2017 champion also had a colourful description of the conditions in Augusta.
“It was very tricky, not only because of the strength of the wind but the gusts,” said the Spaniard. ”It’s challenging, that’s for sure. It feels like I’ve just gone 12 rounds against Mike Tyson. I’m looking forward to going home and rest”
Player’s Churchillian speech
Gary Player was also very quotable when asked about his legacy in the press conference for the honorary starters. “Personally, I don’t believe in legacies,” said the South African. If you take my all-time hero, Winston Churchill, he was probably the greatest leader for the last 200 years, without going into the Ottomans and all the great leaders and William the Great. But if it wasn’t for Churchill, we wouldn’t be sitting here today, and they are defacing his statue in England and calling him a racist, etc. So if you think that people are going to remember you, you’re dreaming.”
Asked the key to looking so young at age of 88, the Black Knight stated: “Undereating. It’s your choice.”
