[Masters] Woods 4 Under Par "Historic Start~"... Casey Surprises with 7 Under Par Lead

Tied 5th on Masters Opening Day, Thomas 5 Under Par 2nd, World No.1 Johnson 3 Under Par in 9 Holes 13th, DeChambeau 2 Under Par 21st

Tiger Woods is reading the putting line on the 10th hole on the first day of the Masters. Augusta, Georgia, USA = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Getty Images

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "An unprecedented start."

The early surge of the 'Returned Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods (USA). On the 13th (Korean time) at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, USA (par 72, 7,475 yards), Woods secured a tie for 5th place at 4-under par on the first day of the 'Masters,' the 'Tournament of Champions.' While some players' rounds were postponed due to severe weather, Paul Casey (England) leads at 7-under par, with Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, and Webb Simpson (all USA) tied for 2nd at 5-under par, fiercely chasing the lead.

Woods started at the 10th hole (par 4) and gained momentum with a '2-on 2-putt' birdie at the 13th hole (par 5), followed by consecutive birdies at the 15th and 16th holes. Especially at the 16th hole (par 3), he boosted his momentum with a 'hole-in-one-like birdie.' After a birdie at the 1st hole on the back nine (par 4), his string of pars was somewhat disappointing. His tee shots reached a maximum of 292 yards, but he relied on an 83.33% greens-in-regulation rate and pinpoint iron shots as his driving force. Above all, his 'stingy putting' stood out with an average of 1.67 putts per hole.

For Woods, 4-under par is his best score in the first round of the Masters, and it is also his first 'bogey-free' round. It is worth noting that this tournament is his 'winning stronghold,' where he has claimed five victories in total: 1997, 2001 and 2002 back-to-back, 2005, and 2019. He also holds numerous remarkable records such as being the first Black player, the youngest winner (21 years, 3 months, 14 days), the lowest 72-hole score (270), and the largest margin of victory (12 strokes). Last year, he achieved a come-from-behind victory by one stroke, reigniting his major championship clock for the first time in 11 years since the 2008 US Open.

Bryson DeChambeau is teeing off on the 3rd hole on the first day of the Masters. Augusta, Georgia, USA - Photo by Getty Images/Multibits

It is interesting that Woods reached the PGA Tour record-tying 82 wins at the Zozo Championship last October. This time, he has the opportunity to create a new history with his 83rd win. Defending his title and reaching '16 major wins' is truly a 'three-rabbit hunt.' He is known to be particularly strong at Augusta National, and expectations are high. "I always feel comfortable when I come here," he said, expressing confidence, "Today, all my shots went well."

World No. 1 Dustin Johnson (USA) played only nine holes but is tied for 13th at 3-under par along with No. 2 Jon Rahm (Spain). Although he tested positive for COVID-19 before the CJ Cup on the 14th of last month, he successfully completed his 'mock test' with a runner-up finish at the Houston Open after recovery. On this day, he quickly racked up 3-under par on just two par-5 holes with an eagle at the 2nd hole and a birdie at the 8th hole, powered by a 320-yard long drive.

'The Hulk' Bryson DeChambeau (USA) remained tied for 21st at 2-under par. Despite showcasing a 346-yard long drive, his iron shots faltered, resulting in five birdies, one bogey, and a double bogey at the 13th hole. Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) dropped to a tie for 51st at even par, signaling a red light for his 'career Grand Slam' challenge. From Korea, Im Sung-jae (22) and Kim Si-woo (25) are tied for 21st, Ahn Byung-hoon (29) is tied for 51st, and Kang Sung-hoon (33, all from CJ Logistics) stands tied for 82nd at 3-over par.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.