Masters Round 1: Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns share lead at 5-under
Rory McIlroy is chasing back-to-back Masters titles and after Thursday’s first round he looks every bit capable of pulling it off. The reigning champion fired a 5-under 67 despite hitting only five fairways all day. Sam Burns matched him shot for shot to share the lead at the end of round one.
Burns was the story of the morning. The world number 33 went on an absolute tear through Amen Corner, making a 20-foot birdie at the 12th, sticking his third shot to 11 feet at the 13th and converting, then adding another birdie at the 15th. It was the lowest round of his career at Augusta National in his fifth start and he played the par fives exactly the way you need to play them at this golf course.
Sam Burns tied atop the leaderboard
Then McIlroy came along an hour later and matched him while barely finding the fairway. He ground his way around Augusta, made his birdies at eight and nine, then caught fire at the back of Amen Corner with birdies at 13, 14, and 15.
Five fairways hit and still a 67. That is the kind of round that tells you someone is seeing the golf course clearly regardless of where the ball is starting. Only Hideki Matsuyama in 2023 has shot 67 or better at Augusta while hitting five or fewer fairways in the last ten years.
Rory McIlroy Birdie Putt on No. 13
Six defending champions have shared the first round lead the following year and only three players in history have won back-to-back Masters. McIlroy is trying to join Nicklaus, Faldo, and Tiger in that group.
The Rest of the Field Round 1 at the Masters
Patrick Reed opened birdie-eagle to start the first round and added another eagle at the eighth to turn at 31, tying the front nine record. Bogeys at ten and fifteen brought him back to 3-under 69. Still very much in it.
Jason Day shot 69 in a reminder that he can still play this golf course. Justin Rose posted 70 and is three back. Xander Schauffele shot 70 quietly and is in the top ten.
Scottie Scheffler also shot 70 but hit 12 of 14 fairways which is a positive sign for a player who has been inconsistent off the tee this season.
The bad days belonged to Jon Rahm, who shot 78 without a single birdie, and Bryson DeChambeau at 74. Collin Morikawa also shot 74 in his return from a back injury and admitted he has never felt this nervous in his life.
The hole that deserves its own mention is number 15. Three players, Fred Couples, Bobby MacIntyre, and Danny Willett, each made quadruple bogey on the 550-yard par five on Thursday. The first time three or more nines were carded on a single hole in one round of the Masters since 1998.
McIlroy and Burns at the top. The defending champion playing like the defending champion. Round two on Friday.
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