BRITS ON THE CAS
PAUL’S SIZZLING 65 SETS THE PACE AS WESTWOOD GETS A FLYER BUT TIGER’S ON THE PROWL AFTER FINDING FORM
PAUL CASEY produced a fabulous first round at Augusta to take the early clubhouse lead at the Masters, with defending champion Tiger Woods only just off the pace.
Casey made a superb seven-under 65 to lead by two shots from Webb Simpson and Xander Schauffele. Woods was alongside Hideki Matsuyama, Lee Westwood, Louis Oosthuizen and Patrick Reed on four under.
There was a frustrating start to the third and final major of the golfing year, with a three-hour weather delay due to the threat of lightning and heavy rain in Georgia.
When play eventually started, Casey quickly made hay while the sun shone. The Englishman began in ideal fashion with a birdie at the tough tenth – his first hole – and then picked up further shots at 13, 15 and 16.
Casey made his most significant move at the long second, a magnificent approach setting up a four-foot putt for eagle. He was clearly enjoying himself, and his round got even better when he birdied the 15th.
Three pars to finish completed an excellent day’s work for Casey – who’s to say the 43-year-old can’t go on from here and claim the victory of his life this weekend?
Woods did not come into this tournament with any great form to speak of, but Augusta so often brings the best out of him. The defending champion made birdies on 13, 15 and 16 to sit pretty, and he added another on the first. It made you wish there were fans present. How they would have loved the 15-time major winner playing like this.
Woods finished with eight straight pars – he has given himself the ideal platform.
Englishman Westwood had an explosive start to his tournament, reaching the turn in just 31 shots.
The 47-year-old made early birdies on the second, third and fifth. A birdie on the eighth came soon after, followed by a delightful approach into the ninth to gain another shot.
Westwood did drop one on the short 12th, after his tee shot flew into a greenside bunker, but he will surely be very satisfied with an opening 68.
Most of the talk before the opening round was of big-hitting US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau (pictured), and he certainly had the most eventful of starts here.
DeChambeau hit his tee shot into the trees at 11, but escaped with a par. He then made an almighty mess of 13, a host of fluffed shots leading to a double-bogey seven.
The American held his nerve, however, with birdies at 15 and 16 moving him up to level par. And a decent back nine saw him finish with a two-under 70. He didn’t fire but no damage was done.
A host of big names started later in the day – and will finish their first rounds today – including Rory McIlroy. But yesterday belonged to Casey.