PGA Tour Brunch on The Masters
@PGATourBrunch Coverage of the 2021 Masters Tournament - Second Round Begins at 8am EDT Today
Justin Rose Shot a 65 to Take Opening Round Lead
By TERRY LYONS
England’s Justin Rose burst onto the professional golf scene as an 18-year old with a (T-4) and low amateur honors at the 1998 Open Championship. He’s won the 2013 U.S. Open and the gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games. At the Masters, he’s had a (T-2 in 2015) and an outright runner-up at the 2017 event. In Thursday’s opening round of the 2021 Masters, he shot a blazing 7-under (65), including his six under, six birdies on the Back Nine.
Rose tied Jack Nicklaus for the most first-round leads/co-leads in Masters Tournament history. (4 times).
Rose’s round began with a bogey on the Par 4 first and one other bogey on the Par 4 seventh hole, and then the magic began. Rose carded an eagle on the Par 5 eighth and proceeded to birdie seven of the next 10 holes to finish two off the Masters/Augusta National course record of (63) - shared by Nick Price (‘86) and Greg Norman (‘96).
Rose played his first 13 Masters without missing a cut, but that streak ended in 2019. Last November he finished (T-23) and was listed as a 70-1 shot by William Hill to win this event.
Brian Harman (USA) and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama shot impressive opening round three-under (69) and stand four off the lead. Four professionals shot two-under (70) and are (T-4) after 18 holes.
Tournament favorite, Dustin Johnson shot a two-over (74) and other favorites were, at least five off the leader. Patrick Reed fared best (two-under, 70); Jordan Spieth, the winner at last week’s Valero Texas Open and the 2015 Masters champion, shot one-under (71). Spain’s Jon Rahm shot even par (72) and is T-13th after 18.
Justin Thomas is among 10 players (T-20th) after his +1, (73).
Johnson is among 22 players (T-30th) and is joined by former Masters champions Bernard Langer (1985, ‘93), Charl Schwartzel (2011), Bubba Watson (2012, ‘14), and Adam Scott (2013). Some of the PGA Tour’s highly-ranked players like Brooks Koepka, Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick are also (T-30).
Fleetwood carded the 22nd “ace” in Masters history and here it is via the 16th hole:
Masters Leaderboard After Opening Round:
Justin Rose 65 (-7)
Brian Harman 69 (-3)
Hideki Matsuyama 69 (-3)
Will Zalatoris 70 (-2)
Webb Simpson 70 (-2)
Christiaan Bezuidenhout 70 (-2)
Patrick Reed 70 (-2)
PGA Tour Brunch Coverage of the 2021 Masters Tournament
Tee Times range from 8am to 2:00pm (EDT) for Round 2 (link).
Weather: Today’s forecast is calling for scattered thundershowers. Temperature at 72% with 57% humidity and a 60% chance of rain, most likely after 2pm. Winds at 10-15 mph. Forecast calls for showers and thunderstorms on the weekend, too.
PGATourBrunch will be posting by 8am (EDT) Saturday and Sunday.
Next Week: The RBC Heritage from Hilton Head
THIS WEEK on the PGA TOUR: The Masters
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedEXCup #TheMasters
OFFICIAL SITE: (MastersCom)
TV COVERAGE: Today, April 9: 3:00pm to 7:30pm (EDT) on ESPN. Saturday, April 10 - Exclusive TV coverage 3:00pm to 7:00pm (EDT) on CBS. Sunday, April 11 - Exclusive TV coverage from 2:00pm to 7:00pm (EDT).
STREAMING: Masters Live will offer streaming coverage of the tournament today from 8:30am to 7:30pm (EDT). Saturday and Sunday streaming coverage will be from 10:15am to 7:00pm (EDT).
PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Special Masters Radio coverage today from 2:00pm to 8:00pm (EDT); Saturday and Sunday, 2:00pm to 7:00pm (EDT) on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Masters Coverage via PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com.
How to Watch: (PGATourCom)
Top 10 Win Possibilities (@datagolf and PGATourCom)
1. Justin Rose (1, -7, 25.0%)
2. Jon Rahm (T13, E, 7.4%)
3. Hideki Matsuyama (T2, -3, 7.1%)
4. Webb Simpson (T4, -2, 6.0%)
5. Patrick Reed (T4, -2, 5.4%)
6. Jordan Spieth (T8, -1, 4.2%)
7. Justin Thomas (T20, +1, 3.9%)
8. Will Zalatoris (T4, -2, 3.8%)
9. Brian Harman (T2, -3, 3.8%)
10. Tyrrell Hatton (T8, -1, 3.7%)
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What They’re Saying:
Rose Shocks Masters Field (CBS Sports HQ)
Rose Lights Up Scoreboard (Golf Week/USA Today)
Round One Review (PGATourCom)
“It’s Like Coming Out of the Ring with Evander Holyfield” - (ESPN)
Leaderboard: Stars Struggle (CBS Sports HQ)
Augusta Photo Gallery (CNN)
CBS’ Masters TV/Streaming Coverage (CBS Sports HQ)
#SportsBiz and Golf Industry News
Elder, Player, Nicklaus Open 2021 Masters (ESPN)
Lee Elder’s Honor Tainted by Wayne Player’s Guerrilla Marketing (Golf Digest)
Ancer Docked Two Strokes with Rules Violation (Golf Week/USA Today)
On This Day in Golf History:
April 9, 2017 - Sergio Garcia finally broke through and won his first major at the Masters with a win over Justin Rose on the first playoff hole. The victory came on what would’ve been fellow Spaniard and two-time Masters champion Seve Ballesteros’ 60th birthday. - Courtesy of Randy Walker), Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE
