Homa, Hojgaard charge at Masters

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Tiger Woods struggled to start out a troublesome 23-hole stroll aimed toward making Masters historical past whereas Max Homa and Nicolai Hojgaard charged after chief Bryson DeChambeau as the primary spherical of the 88th Masters concluded on Friday.

After a rain delay of two and one-half hours on Thursday, darkness fell with 27 gamers from the sector of 89 nonetheless on the course, together with Woods, Homa and Hojgaard.

Woods, the 48-year-old US legend whose 15 Main titles embrace 5 Masters Inexperienced Jackets, has struggled to stroll programs since struggling extreme leg accidents in a 2021 automobile crash. That is his first Main since proper ankle fusion surgical procedure final April.

Woods has made 23 consecutive Masters cuts to share the file with Gary Participant and Fred {Couples}, however he would seize the mark all to himself if he stands within the low 50 and ties after 36 holes.

After ending one beneath par for 13 holes on Thursday, Woods started his hardest Main strolling problem because the accident on Friday with a bogey on the par-four 14th, developing in need of the inexperienced in two and blasting his third shot 22 toes past the outlet.

Woods discovered a greenside bunker at 18 and missed a 13-foot par putt for one more bogey to face on 73, sharing thirty fifth and one stroke under the early projected minimize line as he ready to rapidly begin spherical two.

DeChambeau, who fired a seven-under-par 65 on Thursday to seize a one-stroke lead over world No 1 Scottie Scheffler, was set to start his second spherical simply earlier than midday.

The 2020 US Open winner birdied 5 of the final seven holes in his greatest spherical ever at Augusta Nationwide to set the tempo whereas Scheffler, the 2022 Masters champion, birdied 4 of the ultimate seven to remain on DeChambeau’s heels.

Denmark’s Hojgaard and American Homa every accomplished a first-round 67 on Friday to share third, one stroke forward of England’s Danny Willett, the 2016 Masters winner.

Returning on 4 beneath after 13 holes, Homa went over the 14th inexperienced however salvaged par with an eight-foot putt.

Homa sank a nine-foot birdie putt on the par-three sixteenth then dropped his method inches from the outlet at 17 and tapped in for birdie.

However on 18, Homa discovered a bunker and missed a nine-foot par putt to fall one again of Scheffler however nonetheless cracking 70 for the primary time in 13 Masters rounds.

Hojgaard, amongst 20 gamers making their first Masters begin, was two off the tempo at 5 beneath by 15 holes on Thursday and closed with three routine pars, leaving the Dane alongside Homa.

“You’ve acquired to adapt,” Hojgaard stated. “It’s important to hit the pictures. It’s powerful on the market. It’s going to be a grind. It’s going to be an extended day.”

No Masters rookie has gained the Inexperienced Jacket since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

Scheffler, who may be part of Woods as the one gamers to win The Masters twice whereas atop the rankings, tees off within the afternoon’s penultimate group alongside four-time Main winner Rory McIlroy and Tokyo Olympic champion Xander Schauffele.

McIlroy, whose most up-to-date Main win got here in 2014, wants a Masters triumph to finish a profession Grand Slam, a feat achieved solely by Woods, Participant, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.

McIlroy fired a 71, his greatest opening spherical at The Masters since 2018, whereas Schauffele, chasing his first Main crown, started on 72.

England’s Tyrrell Hatton, who like DeChambeau and defending champion Jon Rahm is amongst 13 Masters starters from Saudi-backed LIV Golf, was three beneath by 14 holes however started Friday with a double-bogey on the par-five fifteenth and made bogey at 18.