Paul Lawrie recorded two eagles in the space of three holes in producing his best Augusta National score on the opening day of the Masters, writes Bernie McGuire.
Eight years after last competing on the famed Georgia course, Lawrie recorded a three-under-par 69 to share the early clubhouse lead in the 76th staging of the Masters.
Lawrie earned himself two sets of special Augusta National crystal goblets, first in sending a superb rescue club second shot from 213 yards to just three feet at the par five, 13th. Watching Lawrie knock in the putt was former long-time R&A secretary Sir Michael Bonallack, who is present as an official observer.
Then at the par-five 15th, Lawrie brought the crowd to their feet to generate the first real crescendo of sound coming from among the Georgia pines when he chipped in from 45-feet, also for eagle.
The Aberdonian then moved to four under par when he birdied the par-four 17th from 10 feet but left the course a short time later having bogeyed the last.
His three under par score was the first occasion Lawrie has broken 70 in 15 rounds of Augusta since making his debut in 2000.
"Well, I'm older, which I think is a good thing, and I would like to think I'm a little more mature, but some would argue that point," said Lawrie. "But I kind of feel that this course is all about the speed and patience and
Paul Lawrie recorded two eagles in the space of three holes in producing his best Augusta National score on the opening day of the Masters.
Eight years after last competing on the famed Georgia course, Lawrie recorded a three-under-par 69 to share the early clubhouse lead in the 76th staging of the Masters.
Lawrie earned himself two sets of special Augusta National crystal goblets, first in sending a superb rescue club second shot from 213 yards to just three feet at the par five, 13th. Watching Lawrie knock in the putt was former long-time R&A secretary Sir Michael Bonallack, who is present as an official observer.
Then at the par-five 15th, Lawrie brought the crowd to their feet to generate the first real crescendo of sound coming from among the Georgia pines when he chipped in from 45-feet, also for eagle.
The Aberdonian then moved to four under par when he birdied the par-four 17th from 10 feet but left the course a short time later having bogeyed the last.
His three under par score was the first occasion Lawrie has broken 70 in 15 rounds of Augusta since making his debut in 2000.
"Well, I'm older, which I think is a good thing, and I would like to think I'm a little more mature, but some would argue that point," said Lawrie. "But I kind of feel that this course is all about the speed and patience and I struggled with that on the front nine and then I got into it in the back nine."
Lawrie had been awoken at 5.45am and arrived at the course just before 7am. He then ended an eight year wait, walking on to the first tee a few minutes ahead of his 8.12am tee time.
However, Lawrie then broke out in a smile when, after introducing former Masters winner, Larry Mize, the official starter announced: "Fore please! Paul Lawrie now driving".
"I forgot that's how they introduced the players here at Augusta," he said. But while Lawrie split the fairway, he admitted a bout of butterflies standing back on the tee at Augusta National's 445-yard first hole.
"I always get quite nervous on the first tee at any tournament, I always have," he said. "I think it's a good thing. But no more than normal this week."
The former Open Champion became the first player in the 76th Masters to eagle the par 13th and also the first in the tournament to eagle at the par-five 15th.
Lawrie already has a set of Augusta goblets which he received from competing in the Par Three contest some years ago and he's now tripled that number and in a round where he could not recall ever recording two eagles.
And while delighted to be already returning home with additional crystal to add to his trophy cabinet, Lawrie was also reminded of long time coach, Adam Hunter who passed away late last year.
"Adam is on my mind every day, and I think of him all the time, as you can imagine," he said. "It's just a pity he's not here. He would have enjoyed being here this week because he would have been walking around and he would have been taking notes. We then would have gone through it in the house at night, but obviously we can't do that anymore. But I think of him every day."
After some lunch, Lawrie was intending to stick with his Augusta routine this week of hitting just one bucket of practice balls and then returning to his house to rest as he still continues to shrug off the effects of bronchitis he picked up on his prior visit early month to the States.
"I had bronchitis for a couple of weeks which was not pleasant," he said. "I am still a little bit weak and not quite a hundred percent but, not having played here at Augusta for eight years, it's really nice to be back."
Martin Laird and Sandy Lyle, however, drew no inspiration from Lawrie's round as they recorded their worse scores at Augusta.
Laird carded a four-over-par 76 and walked from the scorer's hut moments before Lyle handed in his equal highest round in 31 Masters showings.
Included in Laird's round were three birdies but also five bogeys and a third hole double bogey for a round two strokes more than on his debut last year.
"I didn't play well all day and just found myself snookered on every hole and you can't do that around here," said Laird.
"The sad thing is that for the past three days in practice I could not have hit the ball any better and I was feeling very good coming into today. So it's disappointing standing here now having shot a 76.
"But the good thing is that's the worse I could have played today and I shot four over so I know if I can play well around here I can shoot three, four or five under.
"I know also the good work over the last three days is not going to disappear in one day so hopefully that's my poor round for the week."
Lyle's effort matches his worst Augusta round and a similar 14-over score he posted in the second round two years ago.
Lyle, who has gone back to a 'two part' swing, handed in a scorecard showing seven bogeys, two double bogeys and a seventh hole triple bogey.
However he left the scorer's hut looking unfazed and was soon engaged in conversation with South African great, Dale Hayes, who in 1971 become the then youngest ever winner on the European Tour in capturing the Spanish Open.
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