DeChambeau sets blistering early pace at Augusta

LIV Golf’s Bryson De Chambeau muscled his way into the early Masters lead after a storm delayed the start of the year’s first Major by two-and-a-half hours.

De Chambeau took advantage of the soft conditions and went six-under through his first 16 holes before adding another birdie at 17 for an opening round of 65. DeChambeau enjoyed a fast start as he opened with three consecutive birdie putts, none longer than six feet, just as the sun started to peek through the clouds.

The 2020 US Open champion three-putted from 70 feet for bogey going into the turn but responded brilliantly as he left Amen Corner with a spring in his step after birdies at the 12th and 13th holes took him to four-under.

The 30-year-old American grabbed the outright lead with a birdie at the par-five 15th where he nearly drained a 40-foot eagle putt and created more distance with a birdie at 16.

Although storms delayed one of the most anticipated days in golf, the overnight rain left the greens much softer than they were during practice rounds and, with little wind, presented plenty of opportunities for the early starters.

Among those was former champion DannyWillett,whoadmittedhewaspleasantlysurprisedafterreturningfromshoulder surgery with an opening 68. Willett carded seven birdies and three bogeys as he returned to action six months ahead of schedule.

“It’s unexpected, isn’t it?” said Willett, who had two tears in his left shoulder repaired and cysts removed following the BMW P GA Championship in September.

Willett had feared he would be sidelined for a year by the surgery but felt it was the right decision to give him the best chance to extend his career by another 10-15 years.

“I obviously couldn’t lift anything for the first six, eight weeks and then in January it was getting to where I could do all right, somewhat swing a club properly, but the strength was there,” he said.

“From where I was seven, eight, nine months ago and previous, to be able to play pain-free is a pretty nice thing.”

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, playing in his second Masters, had the outright lead until the par-five 13th where he made bogey. Fox also bogeyed the 16th on his way to a three-under 69.