Conners grabs lead; Woods, McIlroy in pursuit
Augusta — Corey Conners, the last man to book his Masters berth, surged to the early first-round lead on Thursday as Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods made quiet starts at Augusta National.
Canada’s Conners rolled in an eight-foot eagle putt at the par-five 15th on the way to a two-under par total of 70 and the early clubhouse lead in the first major of 2019.
Four other players, including England’s Tommy Fleetwood, were two-under on the course when Conners concluded his round with a bogey at 18.
Conners, who squeaked through qualifying into last week’s Texas Open then won it to punch his Masters ticket, shook off a bogey at the third, getting back to even for the day with birdies at the 13th and 14th before his textbook eagle at 15, which briefly put him alone atop the leaderboard on three-under.
Meanwhile, McIlroy, who can complete a career Grand Slam with a victory on Sunday, was one-over through six holes.
American Phil Mickelson, who needs a US Open title to complete a career Grand Slam, was among those tipping McIlroy to contend.
“He’s had such a phenomenal start to the year, been playing with such great consistency week-in week-out, I think contending will be a given,” Mickelson said. “You just need those little breaks, little things to happen that push you over the winner’s circle.”
But the Northern Ireland star was one-over through six holes. He opened with a bogey at the first, pulled a shot back at the third, but bogeyed the sixth, where he was short of the green.
Woods, 43, is seeking to add to his major tally for the first time since he won the 2008 US Open.
He capped his comeback season in 2018 with a victory in the US PGA Tour Championship and contended in two majors last year.
“I’ve proven that I can do it,” said Woods, who got up and down for birdie from a bunker at the par-5 second, but settled for a bogey from a bunker at the newly lengthened par-5 fifth before letting a short birdie chance go begging at the sixth.
Among the late starters, world number one Justin Rose of England was due off in the penultimate group along with three-time Masters winner Mickelson and Justin Thomas. —