Scottie Scheffler performed a near-perfect first spherical to maneuver right into a two-way share of the Masters clubhouse lead on Thursday whereas Grand Slam-seeking Rory McIlroy bought off to a stable begin.
Scheffler, whose spherical included a pair of big birdie putts, carded a bogey-free four-under-par 68 that left the match favorite degree with Canadian Corey Conners.
“I assumed it was enjoying fairly powerful on the market, however I did a superb job of managing my means across the course,” stated Scheffler. “Stored my card clear with no bogeys. Making no bogeys round right here you’re going to have a reasonably good rating.”
Tyrrell Hatton was within the clubhouse one shot behind the co-leaders, whereas Masters debutant Aaron Rai of England, Harris English and Jason Day have been all an extra shot adrift.
Englishman Justin Rose, twice a Masters runner-up, birdied six of his first 10 holes and was outright chief at six below with six holes to play.
Scheffler made his second birdie of the day on the par-three fourth when he drained a 62-foot putt and, slightly than retrieve his ball, simply turned and headed straight to the following gap.
After getting up and down from 48 yards for birdie on the par-five eighth, Scheffler snapped a string of seven consecutive pars with one other large putt, this one a 42-foot birdie at 16.
Scheffler had an opportunity to seize the outright clubhouse lead however simply missed his nine-foot birdie try on the final.
Conners, whose finest Masters end result was a share of sixth in 2022, was enjoying 5 teams forward of Scheffler’s threesome and completed his day with a flourish when he birdied three of the ultimate 4 holes, together with a 24-footer on the seventeenth.
“I really feel prefer it’s a fantastic match for my sport,” Conners stated of the Augusta Nationwide format. “I struck the ball properly round right here many occasions.
“The course by no means performs easy, however while you hit actually stable pictures, you possibly can go away your self within the right positions and never have an excessive amount of stress.”
World quantity two McIlroy, who got here to Augusta in high kind and looking for a win that might make him the sixth man to finish the profession Grand Slam of golf’s 4 majors, went out late and was two below by means of eight holes.
McIlroy, who was stable off the tee, rolled in a brief birdie on the third, made clutch par saves on the fourth and fifth, simply missed a 21-foot eagle likelihood on the eighth and picked up one other stroke with a birdie on the ninth.
Among the many different notables who went out late, LIV Golf’s Bryson DeChambeau was one below by means of seven, Xander Schauffele was one over by means of 9 and 2023 champion Jon Rahm was two over after seven holes.
Former champion and fan favorite Fred {Couples}, making his fortieth Masters begin, carded a one-under 71 that was highlighted by an eagle from 191 yards on the par-four 14th.
“As we speak I’m comfortable as a clam,” stated {Couples}.