Anand Datla
The conversation at the Masters on Thursday was dominated by wind and Dustin Johnson. One of them will remain a factor throughout this week, but Johnson will play no further part as he withdrew at the last minute. The world No.1 injured his elbow and back in a freak fall down the stairs. On a cool and windy day at the Augusta National Golf Club only eleven men managed to nudge under par, from an elite field of 93 golfers. In the event, Charley Hoffman produced a mind numbing 65 in the opening round, for a handy four stroke lead. William McGirt is in second place at three under through 18 holes.
Hoffman was one over through the first five holes, before he turned to some magic in the bag to go eight under through the remainder of this mythical course.
“I’m going to feed off that the rest of the week,” Hoffman said. “Today you just sort go with it. There wasn’t, I wouldn’t say, a ton of pressure today. You’re just trying to make ends meet really. Just want to start hitting the fairways so you can hit the green and have the ability to make the putt.
“Obviously going to sleep on the lead at a major championship here at Augusta National is not going to be the easiest thing. I look forward to it, and I look forward to the challenge the next three days.”
Phil Mickelson, the Michael Schumacher of golf in terms of playing well under adverse conditions, was in that group of eleven men under par. The left-handed golfer soared on an eagle at the second hole for a fluent 71.
“Man, I love it,” the left-hander said. “I thought anything at par or better was going to be a great score, and it is. But because the greens are receptive, you can make birdies and you can stop balls on the greens and make easy pars on a lot of holes.
“The problem is there are a lot of holes out here that you can have a big number, and you just have to be careful of that.”
Lee Westwood never fails to rise from the woods when the tour reaches Augusta. He is back in the mix, despite struggling at a stage during the round. He was three under at the bend, trying as he was to cope with the 20 mile and hour winds.
But soon as he went past the Amen corner, Westwood produced a blitz. He scored five straight birdies from the 13th hole as he dipped under par for the day.
The day itself began on a somber note. Arnold Palmer wasn’t present at the customary starting tee to get the Masters going, but his spirit enveloped Augusta like a thick mist from the heavens. It is going to be another great and poignant week for golf.
