The Masters: Bryson DeChambeau leads after delayed first round

AS IT STANDS – 7 DeChambeau; -6 Scheffler; -5 Hojgaard (15); -4 Willett, Homa; -3 Fox, Davis, Hatton (14) SELECTED OTHERS  -1 Woods (13), McIlroy, Hovland, Fitzpatrick; +1 Rahm, Mickelson

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Bryson DeChambeau surged into the lead as Scottie Scheffler lurked ominously after a weather-delayed first day at The Masters. 

Overnight storms pushed play back two-and-a-half hours at Augusta National, meaning the late starters including Tiger Woods will be back to finish their opening round on Friday.

But it wasn’t long before LIV star DeChambeau hit the front in this year’s first major, making birdies on three of his first five holes and coming back in 31 for a spectacular seven-under 65.

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It was the former US Open champion’s best round at Augusta since 2020, when he infamously claimed he looks at the fabled venue as a par-67 because of his monstrous length off the tee.

“The comment was definitely misinterpreted,” DeChambeau said. “I said it, and I respect people’s opinions on it. For me, I have a level of respect for this golf course that’s a little bit different than a couple years ago.

“Clearly today was a great test of golf, and I was able to conquer a very difficult golf course today.”

The imperious Scheffler, meanwhile, made another relentless start and remains firmly the man to beat in his bid for a second Green Jacket.

The world no.1 navigated the tougher conditions late in the afternoon with an effortless bogey free round of 66 to trail DeChambeau by one, with a hole-out from the sand at 12 sparking a run of four birdies in five holes.

His playing partner Rory McIlroy trails by six after opening with a one-under 71, the Northern Irishman’s lowest first round in pursuit of a career grand slam at Augusta since 2018.

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“After a slow start, making a few birdies around the turn was good,” McIlroy said. “A little wasteful coming in. I had a good chance for birdie on 15 in the middle of the fairway and didn’t take that.

“Missed a shortish one on 16 and then a bogey on 17. Probably turned a three-under into a one-under there at the end.”

Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard has made a stellar start to his Masters debut, making a birdie under the dying light of the par-5 15th to close on minus five with three holes to play on Friday morning.

The British challenge, meanwhile, is somewhat miraculously led by Danny Willett. The 2016 champion, who hasn’t played in seven months and was told he could be out for at least a year with shoulder surgery, returned with a four-under 68.

“I had no idea what to expect, so it’s obviously always nice to come in having shot a decent score,” Willett said.

Woods, meanwhile, is one-under after a very encouraging start through 13 holes. The bigger test on the five-time winner’s ailing body will come when he needs to play 23 holes on Friday.

• Listen to Masters Commute episodes of The bunkered Podcast LIVE from Augusta.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.