The winds whipped wickedly at Augusta National for Thursday’s opening round of the 2017 Masters, taking their toll on many including Scotland’s Sandy Lyle and Russell Knox.
Lyle, the 1988 Masters champion, finished at 5-over par 77. Knox, making his second Masters appearance, came in at 4-over 76.
On a difficult weather day where even par would seem a good score, Lyle got out of the gate in good stead with a birdie at the par-4 third hole. Lyle took bogey on the par-4 seventh and stood square making the turn.
“It was very good for the first nine, played quite tidy golf and only had one birdie,” Lyle said. “I thought, if I can get through Amen Corner and maybe birdie sort of like 13 or something, I can be 1‑under or level and I would have been very, very happy.”
As the Georgia gusts picked up on the back side, his round went south. Bogeys on 11, 13, 14, 16 and 18 left him with a sinking feeling.
“I just frittered away a few sloppy tee shots and was out of position a few times,” Lyle said. “Well, as you know, there was sand blowing out of the bunker at 18, there were gusts I would think 20 miles an hour plus. The wind's swirling around.
“On this course you have to be so accurate with your landing areas, so you get a bit negative after awhile, just sort of trying to stay below the hole as best as possible. But it is doable. I think that, at the end of the day, I think somebody will be probably 3‑ or 4‑under, I would think.”
Overnight rains had soaked the National, providing some forgiveness on the greens and in the fairways. But the breezy conditions tortured many, including the 59-year-old Lyle.
“It was a tough day. Tomorrow will be the same,” Lyle said. “It’s just hanging in there the best you can. You can’t get greedy or you’ll get your backside spanked.”
The 31-year-old Knox also started swiftly birdieing the par-5 second hole. He gave back a stroke with a bogey at No. 6. A double bogey at the 14th proved costly.
Coming off the 18th green Lyle, the lone Scottish Masters champion, was met with the news that World No. 1 Dustin Johnson was forced to withdraw after a slip and fall down stairs at his rental house resulted in a back injury. Lyle was asked who might be able to capitalize on the absence of the odds-on-favorite to capture the coveted green jacket.
“I would say that it will give a bit of hope to some of the young likes of Jason Day,” Lyle said, expressing sympathy for Johnson. “I'm surprised. He must have bruised himself pretty badly.”
Lyle then joked and gestured toward his behind.
“He hasn't got a big bum like me,” Lyle said, laughing. “He would have been all right, you see.”
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