Augusta National Golf Club is known for its pristine fairways, towering pines, and iconic green jacket. However, for Rory McIlroy, the 2021 Masters didn’t start off as he had hoped. The Northern Irishman struggled with an “untidy” opening round, posting a score of 72, much to his frustration. In this article, we will take a closer look at McIlroy’s start to the tournament and what it could mean for his chances of finally completing the career Grand Slam.
Rory McIlroy was “untidy” in his opening round at The Masters and is now trailing behind the leaders. McIlroy had five birdies but a double-bogey and three more dropped shots saw him score an even-par 72. This has left him seven shots behind the leaders, Viktor Hovland, Jon Rahm, and Brooks Koepka. McIlroy, who frequently experiences sluggish starts at The Masters, called the round a “bit of a scramble all day.” However, he still remained optimistic, saying that there were still 54 holes of golf left and anything could happen.
McIlroy’s low scoring was not enough to overcome the good performance of other golfers, and he admitted that this played on his mind throughout the day. He will look to gain some advantage over the weather with an earlier tee-off time on Friday. During his round, McIlroy spoke to the host broadcasters while playing the par-four ninth hole. He believed that it was a “cool thing to do” to provide viewers with more insight into what was going on out on the course.
Reigning Masters champion Scottie Scheffler also had a solid start with a four-under opening round of 68. He didn’t think about being the defending champion while playing and said that it was just about getting settled into the round. While he missed a few opportunities, he remained positive about his performance.
Dame Laura Davies praised Hovland, Rahm, and Koepka’s beautiful 65s and their fantastic golf performances. She believed that Rahm’s was the standout because he double-bogeyed the first hole and still managed to recover with such a good performance. For McIlroy, she said he hung in there and level par is “not the end of the world.” Scheffler was also praised for his performance despite missing a few putts.
Due to potential inclement weather, starting times will be moved up 30 minutes, and play will start at 7.30 am local time (12.30 pm BST). Live coverage from the second round is exclusively available on Sky Sports Golf at 2 pm on Friday.
As Rory McIlroy walked off the 18th hole, he admittedly felt frustrated by his opening round of 72 at Augusta National. The untidy display could have easily spelled disaster for many other players, but McIlroy remained optimistic and knows that he still has time to turn things around. The Masters is a marathon, not a sprint, and the world-class golfer is determined to make a comeback in the days to come. Whether it’s through his precision putting or his signature long drives, McIlroy will surely bring his A-game to the tournament as he seeks to claim his first Green Jacket. We eagerly anticipate the next rounds and are excited to see how McIlroy will perform.
