DeChambeau fires 65 to lead Masters

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Bryson DeChambeau reeled off 5 birdies in six holes on the again 9 on Thursday to carry off late-charging world No 1 Scottie Scheffler for a one-stroke lead on the darkness-halted 88th Masters.

DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open winner, fired a seven-under-par 65 for his lowest Main spherical in relation to par whereas 2022 Masters winner Scheffler made 4 birdies in 5 holes on the again 9 at Augusta Nationwide.

Denmark’s Nikolai Hojgaard, amongst 20 first-time Masters starters making an attempt to turn into the primary rookie winner since 1979, birdied his manner via “Amen Nook” – the course’s famed eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth holes.

The Dane was two again on 5 below with three holes remaining when play was stopped for darkness after rain delayed Thursday’s begin by two-and-a-half hours.

In all, 27 gamers, together with 15-time Main winner Tiger Woods, should end the primary spherical on Friday morning. They embrace American Max Homa, 4 below via 13 holes, and England’s Tyrrell Hatton, three below after 14 holes.

Three adrift in fourth on 68 was England’s Danny Willett, the 2016 Masters winner who birdied three of the final 4 holes.

South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen began properly, with birdies on the third, sixth, ninth and thirteenth holes, however bogeys on the 14th, fifteenth and seventeenth noticed him card 71 and slip to a share of seventeenth.

DeChambeau birdied the primary three holes, stumbled with a bogey at 9, then started his birdie binge from 17 ft on the tough par-three twelfth.

“I felt like I positioned the golf ball in the correct locations,” DeChambeau mentioned. “For essentially the most half I drove it properly, hit it properly, hit my irons properly and took benefit when the alternatives offered themselves.”

DeChambeau, amongst 13 gamers from Saudi-backed LIV Golf in The Masters subject, added a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-five thirteenth.

The 30-year-old American tapped in for birdie on the par-five fifteenth after a 40-foot eagle miss, then added a six-foot birdie putt on the par-three sixteenth and an epic 31-footer to birdie 17.

“I wasn’t anticipating to make that,” DeChambeau mentioned. “However when it dropped it was fairly good.”

Scheffler’s 66, his first bogey-free Masters spherical, included a nine-foot birdie putt on the par-five 2nd, an 18-foot birdie putt on the par-three sixth and holing out a 30-foot bunker shot at 12.

“Any time you get off this course bogey-free, you’re going to have a great day. I used to be lucky to get out with a clear card,” Scheffler mentioned.

The 27-year-old American dropped his method three ft from the outlet to arrange birdie putts at 13 and 16 round a tap-in birdie at 15.

Scheffler, making an attempt to match Woods as the one gamers to win The Masters twice whereas atop the rankings, closed with two pars.

“You need to get off to a great begin,” Scheffler mentioned. “Mission completed for right now.”

Woods, returning to Main golf after proper ankle surgical procedure final April however nonetheless struggling to stroll, seeks a twenty fourth consecutive Masters lower to interrupt to file he shares with Gary Participant and Fred {Couples}.

He was one below after 13 holes.

Willett, shaking off a shoulder damage, answered a bogey at 14 with birdies at 15, 16 and 18 to remain within the battle.

Second-ranked Rory McIlroy, a four-time Main winner who would full a profession Grand Slam by profitable, fired a 71, his greatest Masters opening spherical since 2018.

McIlroy, who final gained a Main in 2014, made 4 birdies and three bogeys. He sank a 10-foot birdie putt at 12 and a 15-footer at 14 however missed the seventeenth inexperienced and made bogey.

“I held it collectively properly. It was a little bit scrappy,” McIlroy mentioned. “The situations are tough. Onerous to totally decide to photographs on the market at occasions.

“In all probability turned a 3 below right into a one below there on the finish however general nonetheless not a foul rating.”

Whipping winds stored tree limbs dancing throughout the famed 7,555-yard format.

“When we have now this quantity of wind, this course is extraordinarily tough,” defending champion Jon Rahm mentioned after taking pictures 73 and marvelling on the leaders.

“These dudes performed some significantly good rounds,” he mentioned. “I haven’t made it simple for myself. I’ll need to make up some floor shortly.”

The Spaniard, who closed with back-to-back bogeys, may turn into the fourth participant to seize back-to-back Masters titles after Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo.