THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Matsuyama and Jazz enjoy strong start at Masters Tournament

Matsuyama and Jazz enjoy strong start at Masters Tournament

Augusta, Georgia: Asia’s flagbearers produces solid starts at the weather-hit Masters Tournament on Thursday, with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and debutant Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand leading the charge.

Matsuyama enjoyed his best opening round at Augusta National with a 4-under 68 in what his ninth appearance at the fable tournament to share fifth place with amongst others, defending champion Tiger Woods, and lie three back of early leader Paul Casey.

 

The 28-year-old Japanese star took advantage of ideal scoring conditions and made five birdies against a lone bogey to put himself in position to challenge for a maiden major title and a sixth PGA TOUR victory. Starting from the 10th, Matsuyama, who finished fifth in 2015 and tied seventh in 2016, made birdies on Hole Nos. 13 and 14 from close range before picking up another shot on the third hole following a controlled approached shot.

 

He dropped his only bogey on five by missing the green but with his well-controlled iron play where he hit 14 greens in regulation, Matsuyama promptly birdied the eighth and ninth holes from inside of six feet to ensure a three-shot improvement from his previous best first round score which he shot on three occasions.

 

Jazz, the 2019 Asian Tour No. 1, was delighted with a solid debut at Augusta National following a 3-under 69 highlighted by six birdies including four over his closing six holes.  It was also his best first round score in what is his sixth major appearance. His tied 14th result at the 2019 PGA Championship remains as his career best major finish to date.

 

Taking advantage of soft conditions due to a morning thunderstorm, Jazz rolled in birdies on Hole Nos. 2, 13, 15, 16 and 18 but dropped bogeys on Hole Nos. 11 and 12 to share 13th place.

 

C.T. Pan, the first Chinese Taipei golfer to play in the Masters since 2009, also enjoyed a memorable debut with an opening 70 on a day he turned 29. Pan made three birdies from close range on the fourth, 13th and 16th holes and dropped a shot at the par 3 12th hole when he missed the green. Pan, a one-time winner on the PGA TOUR, could have gone lower but burnt the edges with birdie attempts at the third, ninth and 18th holes.

 

Korea’s Si Woo Kim, the 2019 PLAYERS Championship winner, opened with a 70 while another debutant, Sungjae Im, was 2-under through seven holes. He is amongst the 44 players who will return Friday morning to complete their first rounds.

 

 

PARTIAL First-Round Notes – Thursday, November 12, 2020

 

Weather: Mostly cloudy with morning thunderstorms. High of 78. Wind WNW 4-8 mph. Due to inclement weather and thunderstorms, play was suspended at 7:35 a.m. ET and resumed at 10:20 a.m. ET. Due to darkness, the first round was suspended for the day at 5:30 p.m. ET with 44 players left on the course and will resume Friday at 7:30 a.m. ET. If no further delays occur, the second round will begin at approximately 9:35 a.m. ET Friday.

 

Current Leaderboard

Paul Casey                            65 (-7)

Webb Simpson                      67 (-5)

Xander Schauffele                 67 (-5)

Justin Thomas                       (-5) thru 10

 

Things to Know

  • Paul Casey ties his career-low score in a major, improves on 2019 first-round score by 16 strokes 
  • Tiger Woods ties his career-low first-round score at the Masters, records first bogey-free score in a major since 2009
  • Woods is in search of sixth Masters victory, 16thmajor championship title and record-breaking 83rd PGA TOUR win
  • Play was suspended due to darkness with 45 players left on the course; the last round at the Masters that was not completed the day it started was the third round in 2006

 

First-Round Lead Notes

16             First-round leaders/co-leaders to win the Masters Tournament

   (most recent: Jordan Spieth/2015)

1               First-round leader/co-leader to win in 2020-21

                 (Hudson Swafford/Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship)

 

Paul Casey (current leader/-7)

Category

Entering the week

Age

43 (July 21, 1977)

FedExCup

101

OWGR

22

Starts at the Masters

13

Wins at the Masters

0

Top-10s at the Masters

5

Career PGA TOUR starts

281

Career PGA TOUR wins

3

Career PGA TOUR top-10s

61

PGA TOUR starts in 2020-21

4

PGA TOUR wins in 2020-21

0

PGA TOUR top-10s in 2020-21

0

 

  • Ties his career-low score in a major championship (R4/2018 Masters Tournament) in his 218th round in a major
  • Shot a 9-over 81 in the first round of the 2019 Masters Tournament, marking an improvement of 16 strokes
  • Finished in the top 20 in each of the first two majors in 2020 (T2/PGA Championship, T17/U.S. Open)
  • Best result in 65 prior major championship appearances: T2/2020 PGA Championship
  • Best result in 13 prior Masters appearances: T4/2016
  • Three-time PGA TOUR winner (2009 Vivint Houston Open, 2018 Valspar Championship, 2019 Valspar Championship)

 

Tiger Woods (T5/-4)

  • Ties career-low first-round score at the Masters (2010) and records his second opening-round score in the 60s in his 23rdstart at the event
  • First bogey-free round in a major since the first round of the 2009 PGA Championship (went on to finish 2nd)
  • Birdied both par 5s on the back nine (Nos. 13 and 15) and has played those holes in a combined 104-under in 87 rounds at the Masters
  • In search of 83rdPGA TOUR victory; currently tied with Sam Snead for most all-time
  • In search of 16thmajor championship title; currently second all-time, three behind Jack Nicklaus
  • In search of sixth Masters Tournament win; currently second all-time, one behind Jack Nicklaus
  • Making 14thstart in a major as defending champion (DNP/2008 PGA Championship) and has four wins in the previous 13:
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