Agony For Brooks Koepka, Jubilation For Others Thursday At The Masters

The opening day of the 86th Masters was one that Brooks Koepka and several others will soon like to forget. Some players had a great time at Augusta on Thursday, like the 2022 Players Champion Cameron Smith who was able to shake off an opening hole double-bogey and deliver an excellent first-round score of 68, a tally that sees the Australian sitting in second place, just one shot back of leader Sungjae Im going into Friday.

The highlight of the day of course revolved around Tiger’s terrific and miraculous return to action for the first time since the 2020 Masters, Woods who is one of the greatest players to ever live, if not the greatest, was spectacular in his return to competitive action and he finds himself well within the mix after an opening 71.

His mere presence at Augusta this week can be considered a win both for him and certainly the fans. Tiger acknowledged as much when asked if he considered playing at this year’s Masters a victory in and of itself.

"“To see where I’ve been, to see — to get from there to here, it was no easy task,” Woods stated"

Then there are others, who had a difficult time at the Masters on Thursday

Justin Thomas fits that description, as does Bryson DeChambeau, both players struggled during their opening rounds and will have to find something quickly tomorrow if they hope to be around for the weekend. Both Thomas and DeChambeau turned in opening 76s and they each sit at four-over-par after Thursday’s play.

Koepka fared slightly better during the first round, although deep down he will perhaps be left feeling even worse than the other two.

Brooks had a solid front nine that ended with two consecutive birdies as he made the turn. The back-to-back birdies on the 8th and 9th put him at 2 under par, which at the time left him just two shots off the lead. Then things turned quickly as he began his back nine at Augusta. A player who has excelled at majors by and large throughout the years turned in what can only be described as a very unlike-Brooks performance.

After securing the par on number 10 Koepka made his way to the 11th and the beginning of ‘Amen Corner’, having had found the green on 11 he gave himself a birdie look, this before proceeding to three-put for his first dropped shot of the day.

From that point on it was all downhill for Brooks Koepka as he came undone across the back nine, uncharacteristic missed putts, the kind that has been so seldom seen from Brooks during majors, proved costly as he would bogey four of his last seven holes. He squandered an opportunity for a birdie on the par 5 15th and finished his round at three-over-par.

A once-promising start vanished and Koepka now finds himself needing a much-improved performance on Friday if he wants to be around for the weekend. You would assume he accomplishes that, but then again, you would have also assumed that he wouldn’t have fallen apart on the back nine on Thursday as he did.

The highs and lows of an enthralling opening day at the Masters were indeed felt all around on Thursday.