Augusta National: After a low-scoring first round at The Masters, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, and Brooks Koepka are tied for the lead as Rory McIlroy’s quest for the Grand Slam got off to a sluggish start.
Rahm joined Ryder Cup teammate Viktor Hovland at the top of the leaderboard after overcoming a four-putt double-bogey on his first hole to shoot an incredible seven-under 65 at Augusta National.
Hovland made a flawless start to his quest for a first major championship, and Koepka broke the tie atop the leaderboard when he followed up his triumph at the LIV Golf event in Orlando on Sunday with seven birdies in a flawless 65.
The top three players had a two-shot lead over the nearest competitors, Jason Day and Cameron Young, who both scored rounds of 67 in the first round. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler began his championship defence with a round of 68.
In pursuit of the elusive major triumph that would give him the career Grand Slam and put him first since Tiger Woods, who acknowledged being in “continuous” discomfort as he fought to a two-over 74, McIlroy is seven behind the lead.
At Augusta, the top three were tied.
With Woods, Hovland aced the par-five second and added four more birdies over the next six holes to move up the standings. As he reached seven under after another birdie at hole 13 and parred the next five holes, the Norwegian appeared poised to break the course record of 63.
Rahm recovered from his dreadful double-bogey by scoring birdies at his following two holes, followed by another at the seventh, and then a remarkable eagle at the par-five eighth. The world No. 3 utilised both par-fives on the back nine to go within striking distance of the lead.
As Koepka birdied three of his final four holes to make up for a bogey at the par-five 13th, he moved alongside the European pair. The Spaniard picked up a stroke at the par-three 16th and hit his approach to close range to set up a closing birdie, bringing him to seven under.
In his attempt to become the first player since Woods to successfully defend his Master’s title, Scheffler is now tied for sixth place with Shane Lowry, Adam Scott, and amateur Sam Bennett. Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth, the 2015 champion, are all four shots down at three under par.
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