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De Champeau and Scheffler set the pace at the 2024 master’s with impressive performances before Round 1 was halted:
After the first day of the 2024 Masters, two former U.S. Ryder Cup teammates are leading the pack. Play was halted due to darkness, but Bryson Dechambeau is currently in the lead as he heads to bed for the night.
Dechambeau had an outstanding performance on Thursday morning at Augusta National Golf Club, shooting a remarkable 7-under 65 with eight birdies. Excelling in both driving and putting, he positioned himself well to contend for another prestigious title in golf. He showed precision in both driving and putting, ranking second in tee-to-green performance and first in putting. As the 2020 U.S. Open champion, he has positioned himself well to contend for another major title at the Masters. Dechambeau’s stellar performance has set him up nicely to compete for another major title in golf.
To secure victory at the Masters, Dechambeau will need to surpass his former Ryder Cup teammate, Scottie Scheffler, who also had an impressive round. Ranked as the world No. 1, Scheffler played flawlessly on Thursday, shooting a bogey-free 6-under 66 while gracefully
handling the challenging Augusta National conditions. Scheffler finished strong with four birdies in the last seven holes, thriving despite challenging conditions.
Scheffler surged towards the finish line with four birdies in the final seven holes, successfully navigating through tough conditions without any setbacks. Instead of faltering, he excelled. Although he couldn’t secure one more birdie at the last hole to match Dechambeau’s score, Scheffler is undoubtedly the frontrunner to add another title to his collection. He’s now considered the frontrunner to secure another major title. On Thursday, Danny Willett, a former Masters champion, also showcased his skill by securing third place in the clubhouse at 4 under. This marks his first start since September 2023 due to injury. Other major contenders like Will Zaataris, Brian Harman, Tommy Fleetwood, and Patrick Reed are close behind, while Rory McIlroy posted an under-par round to stay competitive in his ongoing pursuit of the career grand slam. 2024 Masters leaderboard, round 1 in progress:
1. Bryson Dechambeau (-7):
Dechambeau reflected on how his victory at Winged Foot taught him valuable lessons about winning major tournaments. He emphasized the importance of patience, particularly on a course like Augusta, where it appears scoreable but can be deceptive and challenging.
Dechambeau highlighted the balance between playing aggressively and safely, avoiding unnecessary risks while still attacking when opportunities arise. He’s evolved his approach to be more strategic, focusing on placing shots in optimal positions rather than always going for broke and aiming at every flag.
2. Scottie Scheffler (-6):
Scottie Scheffler’s performance speaks volumes. He dominated from tee to green, maintained solid putting, and impressively navigated Augusta National without any bogeys. His round wasn’t without luck, though, as he sank a bunker shot for birdie on the challenging par-3 12th and got a fortunate break on the following hole, where his approach narrowly avoided Rae’s Creek. Scheffler managed to avoid the water hazard and capitalized by securing another birdie. He continued his impressive play with two more birdies on the back nine,
showcasing the poise and skill of a true champion. This round marked Scheffler’s lowest score at the Masters and his first-time navigating Augusta National without dropping a shot, highlighting his growing mastery of the course.
T4. Danny Willett, Max Homa (-4):
Nicolai Hojgaard sits at 5-under with three holes remaining, while Danny Willett and Max Homa are tied for fourth at 4-under. Homa, known for his limited major experience, is poised to achieve his best-ever opening round in a major championship with five holes left. He
showcased his talent alongside Tiger Woods and finished strongly with a well-executed up-and-down birdie on the challenging par-5 13th, navigating Amen Corner without dropping a shot.
T6. Ryan Fox, Cameron Davis, and Tyrrell Hatton (-3):
Tied for sixth place at 3-under are Ryan Fox, Cameron Davis, and Tyrrell Hatton. Hatton still has four holes remaining to complete his round. T9. Will Zaataris, Ludvig Aberg, Tommy Fleetwood, Joaquin Niemann, and four others (-2): Tied for ninth place at 2-under are Will Zaataris, Ludvig Aberg, Tommy Fleetwood, Joaquin Niemann, and four others. Zaataris, who missed last year’s master’s due to back surgery, has made a strong comeback. With a notable track record at Augusta National, including a runner-up finish in his debut and a T6 in his second appearance, he started his round strongly by birdieing the second-nine par-5s. However, dropping shots on his final two holes left him at 2 under, leaving him with a disappointing finish to an otherwise promising round. Zaataris commented on the challenging conditions at Augusta, noting the unpredictable winds. Despite hitting 10 solid shots on the final two holes, he acknowledged the difficulty of playing in such conditions. However, he found the experience enjoyable and praised the fairness of the course. Meanwhile, Aberg and Fleetwood still have holes remaining to finish their rounds.
T17. Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Viktor Hovland, Tony Finau, Matt Fitzpatrick, and eight others (-1):
Tied for 17th place at 1-under are Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Viktor Hovland, Tony Finau, Matt Fitzpatrick, and eight others. McIlroy had a positive start, recording his first under-par opening round at the Masters in six years. Although he played the par 5s evenly, he missed a short birdie opportunity on the 16th that could have boosted his score further. McIlroy’s wedge play was a bit off, leading to a dropped shot on the par-5 2nd and complicating his up-and-down attempts on two other occasions. Meanwhile, Woods began with a birdie, balanced out to par after the 4th, and then birdied the 8th to maintain his score with five holes remaining in his round.
T32. Xander Schaufele, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry, Tom Kim, and five others (E):
Tied for 32nd place at even par are Xander Schaufele, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry, Tom Kim, and five others. This group might be feeling disappointed, especially Schaufele, who entered the tournament with significant momentum. The world No. 5 had a rough start, dropping two shots in his first four holes, but managed to fight back to even par on the back nine. Despite struggling with his iron play, Schaufele still has a chance to bounce back if he can put together a strong performance on Friday. Koepka has completed 11 holes so far and is still in contention.
T42. Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Wyndham Clark, Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, and seven others (+1):
Tied for 42nd place at 1-over are Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Wyndham Clark, Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, and seven others. Rahm, the defending champion, had a promising start, playing his first nine holes at 2 under par. However, he struggled on the back nine, posting a 39 due to losing iron swings and some visible frustration. Rahm dropped shots on the 17th and 18th holes, finishing around the course average for the day. Rahm acknowledged the challenging nature of the golf course, emphasizing its difficulty. He noted that there’s little room for error, particularly off the tee. Unfortunately, Rahm admitted to making too many mistakes on the back nine, contributing to his higher score.
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Conclusion:
Bryson Dechambeau and Scottie Scheffler emerged as frontrunners at the 2024 master’s after impressive performances in Round 1. Their low scores set the pace for the tournament, indicating that they will be strong contenders as play continues.
Dechambeau and Scheffler’s standout performances in Round 1 of the 2024 master’s not only showcased their talent but also underscored their strategic prowess on the challenging Augusta National Course. Dechambeau’s controlled play and Scheffler’s flawless round demonstrated their ability to handle pressure and capitalize on opportunities, setting a high bar for the rest of the field. As the tournament progresses, their strong start positions them as formidable contenders, but the unpredictable nature of golf means anything can happen in the following rounds. Fans eagerly anticipate seeing how they maintain their momentum and whether other competitors can rise to the challenge.
Their ability to navigate Augusta National effectively and capitalize on scoring opportunities has positioned them as early favorites for the tournament. As play resumes, all eyes will be on these two players to see if they can maintain their momentum and continue to lead the
field
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