In the 87-year history of the Augusta Masters, surely the most iconic great in the world of golf, no one had been able to sign 65 shots after starting with a double bogey. Until this Thursday. Jon Rahm delighted the fans on the first day of the Masters with a magnificent round, making up for the worst start imaginable with an exhibition of golf that is already part of the history of Augusta.
Barrika’s player hit the green on the first hole. Everything seemed under control at the dawn of his debut in a tournament that he craves like no other. But suddenly everything went wrong. Up to three times he crossed the hole with the putter until he managed to hole the ball with the fourth putt. A horrible 6 on the initial par 4. But, from there, the devastating version of Rahm emerged, the one that has led him to number one in the world on two occasions and the one that has amazed half the world. The same one that places him as one of the top favorites to win on Sunday, a condition that he cemented with an unprecedented reaction. Over the next 17 holes he was able to lead the course by nine shots thanks to seven birdies and a delicious eagle on the 8th hole after an impressive second shot.
With his -7 total to start, equaling his best historical round in Augusta, Rahm’s name is hanging around the head of the Masters after a first day in which the feared weather gave a truce to the golfers who went out first on the course, waiting of the wind and rain that are expected these days in the Augusta National area.
There was some doubt about the version of the Basque that would be seen this week. The man from Barrika had completed an unbeatable start to the season, with three victories in his first five PGA Tour tournaments, which returned him to the top of the world ranking, but in his last appearances he had raised some doubts, far from that infallible player of beginning of course The way in which he knew how to react on this first day of the Masters confirms that this version was kept in the closet to be taken down at the right time. And none better than the Masters.
Another of the great protagonists of the first day, as always when he competes in a tournament, was Tiger Woods, who played shortly before Rahm. The Californian was seen to be physically impaired, visibly lame, and suffering a lot, especially in the first section of his lap. It should not be forgotten that in Augusta the slopes are brutal, the biggest of the year, and with his battered leg it is difficult for Tiger to move fluently. Despite everything, with his usual competitiveness, the former world number one battled until the end to start a creditable round of 74 shots. He was seen somewhat off center on the greens at the beginning, with three putts on holes 5 and 7. But as the day progressed, as if his body was heating up, he was seen to be a little looser and just bad luck with his drive at 18 it prevented him from even signing a better card. What is clear is that he will have to sweat a lot on the second day to overcome the cut.
