There may well be a thaw in one of the many quarrels of golf. Enemies sworn in for so long, there was a crawling suspicion Thursday afternoon that Tyrrell Hatton and Augusta National could still find a way to continue.
In the compilation of an excellent 69, Hatton not only left a single shot from the first advance of the clubhouse held by Scottie Scheffler and Corey Conrs, but also seemed to have fun.
When we consider the frequency at which this place has extracted the worst from Hatton temperament, which should be considered as two -level progress.
Naturally, a solid round here will do good things for the soul, and it has been fortified by three birdies out of the nine before and a fourth at the top of Amen. His corner six feet above the Rae stream on the 12th par-three was a good way to hit more deeply in the red.
Inevitably, it will be pointed out that a good start to the Masters is not a guarantee of anything. Especially when Scheffler is in the lead and chasing his third green jacket in four years – Monster Putts of 62 and 42 feet with the fourth and 16th holes enlightened a series of regular progress for the world n ° 1.
With Scheffler, such altitude is to be expected. With Hatton, this is something that was curiously absent in its performance to the majors – even with six top 10 results of the four major events, the Liv Rebel was never a serious competitor.
Tyrrell Hatton (right) made a steering wheel on the first day of the masters in Augusta National
Hatton left only one shot from the first advance of the clubhouse with an excellent series of 69
But after having finished a ninth best in career here last year, Hatton finally provides proof that he has the head to use his excellent iron game and take a course where he should do well.
The first example came with a 25 -foot for Birdie at first – the same hole he showed the middle finger in 2022 – and he got up and went for another on the third. A birdie two strokes of the eighth by five transported him further north, and this time there were few vacarines. In other words, he did not pretend to shoot the 13th green with his putter, as he did to a considerable amount of titing three years ago.
If there was a bitter point in Hatton’s opening tour, he came when he pulled through green from the middle of the Fairway on the 17th, which dropped his first day. By signing for a 69 sub-pararanne, the 33-year-old man was the best of the first English runners in a classification invading his compatriots.
After being congratulated for his patience at the end of his round, Hatton said: “I don’t know if I worked on my patience. I think it depends on what side of the bed I remove, if I have a little or not. But obviously, it was a good day.
“I am disappointed to do Bogey on the 17th. I don’t feel like I was doing a lot of trouble there. But I think it’s also a bit of this place. You don’t really have to do anything wrong to drop photos. But I am happy to pull another round in the 60s.
When he was pointed out that Hatton could well complain about this course, he added: “Do I like the golf course? It’s so difficult. It’s like, you like to be here and it’s very special, but at any time, you can just hit a blow and it’s just your head. I just need to continue hitting perfect blows.
The other English on his orbit in the ranking included Aaron Rai, the world No. 20, who carded 70 to sit two cents. Justin Rose, among the last runners, followed a considerably better place – it was an amazing six under 12 holes.
Further on, Rory McILroy was three under the turn after having reached trouble with a pair of delicate pars at the start of his sleeve.
Scottie Global Scheffler No. 1 was also one of the leaders, finishing the first four -sous -sous -sous round
Corey Conners carded the same score as Scheffler because he showed that he also meant business
Far from parish interests, Conners, Canada’s world n ° 21, has made a late increase on his part of the clubhouse by winning three shots in the last four holes. The presence of Scheffler to the same mark of four sous will be disturbing for all nearby.
The American has not won since his cut on a wine glass at Christmas, but his game seems to have culminated in time. For the large part, he was able to patiently remove his chances, but more impressive was his control of the difficulties – his sand escapes with the seventh and 17th holes were as precious as the four birdies.
He said, “I felt pretty good. Whenever you can keep a clean card here, it’s a very good thing. I fought for two pars today, but other than that, I kept the ball in play and I did a lot of very good things.
Among the previous beginners for its beginning in control, Rai was accompanied by one of the smallest galleries in the first stages of its march between the Pins of Georgia. Given his indifference to fame and attention, insofar as he has no agent, Rai would not have distorted a newspaper.
But anonymity is difficult to achieve in Augusta when your game blows warm. A seven feet in the second made it move and after turning a field of 70 yards at a range of perage in the third, he was two sous.
For some, there was no big surprise in there-Rai has one of the best tee-à-green games of the PGA Tour and has the tools for a course that rewards a good iron game. This has been demonstrated with the 152 yarn approach to five -feet in the seventh, bringing it to three sous, before winning another eight birdie to hold the pure and simple head.
With this green oasis apparently under control, he quickly received the lesson they all learn, the calamity hitting him square in the face while he bypass Amen Corner. Traits would be abandoned to each of the 11, 12 and 13 years old, before a Birdie to the 17th brought it back to two sous and a map of 70.
“This beginning was definitely beyond expectations,” he said. “I tried not to go too far on myself, but I knew there were difficult holes to come, especially around the median section of this tower. The course definitely called me on this central section.
