Tiger Woods shot a 2-over 74 in the first round at the 2023 Masters Tournament on Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:
- The five-time Masters champion struggled with his putter on the front nine, bogeying the third, fifth and seventh holes. Woods recorded five bogeys on his card.
- Woods posted three birdies during his opening round. His best stretch came on the back nine, when he birdied holes 15 and 16.
- Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele played with Woods. Hovland shot a 7-under 65, while Schauffele finished with a four-under 68.
- Hovland, Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm share the 18-hole lead at 7-under par. Sam Bennett shot a bogey-free, 4-under 68, the lowest opening round from an amateur at the Masters in 22 years.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
‘Sore’ Tiger reflects on first round
Woods said after his round that he didn’t hit the ball close enough with his irons today to really compete. On his failed flop shot on the third hole, he said he got it too high on the club face and couldn’t get it up the hill. When asked how his right leg felt, he simply grimaced and said, “Sore.” — Miller
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Hovland’s great day
While the front nine for Hovland was about being steady and in constantly good position, the back nine included a challenging 37-foot birdie putt on the 11th hole. Then, while his groupmates Woods and Schauffele had to lay up on the extended par-5 13th hole, Hovland put a near-perfect 218-yard shot to reach the green and set up a two-putt birdie.
He went five straight pars after that as he lost some control off the tee and with his irons, but some improved short game kept him steady. — Miller
Required reading
- Masters ratings outlook: How Tiger, Phil and weather might impact viewership
- Tiger Woods says his leg ‘will never be the same,’ not sure how many more Masters he’ll play
(Photo: Kyle Terada / USA Today)