2021 Masters By The Numbers: Most Intriguing Stats from Thursday

Phil Mickelson said that over the past few years the greens at Augusta have been devoid of respect.

Reason being was that recently, and particularly in 2020, the greens at Augusta haven’t been nearly as stiff and running as in previous years.

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After watching the first round of the 2021 Masters, it’s safe to say the groundskeepers at Augusta knew what they were doing all along. Balls were speeding on the green like cars on an open highway. Great approach shots quickly turned into insufferable putts that almost guaranteed a need to two or even three-putt.

The course presented a rollercoaster like challenge. While some managed to squeak out of the opening hole with a par with a chance to go one under on the par five second hole, for a good chunk of the field, the first quarter of the course was a nightmare.

2013 champion Adam Scott bogeyed the opening two holes. Through the opening four holes, Tony Finau and Tyrrell Hatton both began +2 thanks to a double bogey on three and four respectively. Sergio Garcia began +3.

It only got worse down the stretch. While some players like Japanese national Hideki Matsuyama managed to run through most of Augusta unscathed, big ticket names like Rory McIlroy bogeyed six of nine holes between the fifth and 13th holes. Brooks Koepka opened the back nine with four bogeys in five holes.

To say the least, Augusta has lived up to the expectations. It’s also validated anyone’s notion that the conditions of the 2020 tournament were a fluke. Regardless, the numbers on day one was fascinating. Here are some of the highlights from both individual performance & the field:

3 – Three players finished with a round under 70, Justin Rose, Brian Harman and Hideki Matsuyama.
4 – This number is popular. Justin Rose’s leading score at -7 gives him his fourth first round lead at Augusta, tying Jack Nicklaus (per Justin Ray of 15th Club). Also, In November, Dustin Johnson had four bogeys all weekend. He had 4 bogeys (including one double) on Thursday. Finally, four holes played under par for the day, all of them were par fives (No. 2, 8, 13, 15).
6 – Back to Justin Rose… This is the sixth time Rose has lead or co-led any round at the Masters, the most by a player to have never won a green jacket (per Justin Ray of 15th Club).
12 – Only 12 players finished play under par. Of those 12, Will Zalatoris is the sole rookie, and some big names to finish include Justin Rose (-7), Webb Simpson (-2), Patrick Reed (-2) and Jordan Spieth (-1)
74 – Brooks Koepka shot a 74 to open play. The last time Koepka shot over 74 to begin a major was in 2018 at the US Open at Shinnecock where he shot 75. Check the record books folks, he won that tournament.
226 – The number of birdies sunk
336 & 47 – There were 336 bogeys on Thursday, 47 of which were of the double or worse variety.
335 yards – The longest drive of the day didn’t come from Bryson DeChambeau, but rather Charles Osborne, one of the three amateurs.

Augusta National has become a brute; it’s been an absolute carnage and it’s only day one. More than half the field is over par with some of the biggest names in golf have scores north of +3/4.

But the battle at the Masters is more than the speed of greens, which most of the numbers would indicate. The grass, while still allowing the ball to travel, is contorting the flight of the ball off the bounce, forcing the ball into awful positioning at times.

Sand traps are forcing recovery shots that the greens take in and spit them back out to the fringe. The valleys of the course are giving golfers poor eye line positioning of the pin, forcing blind shots at the pin.

Additionally, with the return of patrons, an added element is slowly coming back to Augusta that went missing last year.

Younger players may be a bit more distracted with the added fans about the grounds. Nearby groups gathering applauds disrupt backswings. While the patrons will not cause nearly the uproar now as it will come the weekend, the presence is still noticed.

Next. 2021 Masters: Top 10 power rankings for Augusta National. dark

Tomorrow is a new day for many. A chance to turn the page. A chance to build on the successes and learn from the mistakes. New pin locations, different weather conditions. But just because some minor details change, Augusta will not get any friendlier.

I guarantee the players are praying for rain.

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