The opening round of the 2026 Masters is under way at Augusta National, with the attention of golf fans fixed on Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler as they begin their latest bids for the green jacket. The tournament is moving quickly into its first day storyline, with early scoring swings already shaping the mood around the course.
Among the early developments, Carlos Ortiz has endured a particularly difficult stretch. The 34-year-old Mexican is making only his second Masters appearance, and his first since 2021. Ortiz arrives with notable major-championship credentials, having finished tied for fourth at last year’s US Open at Oakmont, but Augusta National has already given him a harsh reminder of how punishing the course can be.
Ortiz’s round began badly and only got worse. He drove into the creek down the left side of the second hole, then fluffed a splash shot out of a fairway bunker at the fifth. His early sequence has gone 5-7-5-4-6, leaving him with three bogeys and two doubles in the opening holes. At seven over par through five, he is already battling to recover from a start that has put him deep into damage-control mode.
Even a par at the sixth would do little to improve the overall picture after such a difficult opening run. Augusta National has a long history of turning small mistakes into large numbers, and Ortiz’s start is a clear example of how quickly things can unravel at the Masters.
The live coverage also marks a notable date in the tournament’s history. It is the 30th anniversary of one of the Masters’ most memorable moments, a reminder that Augusta continues to produce stories that linger long after the round is over.
As the first round develops, the focus remains on the biggest names in the field and on how they handle the demands of a course that rewards precision and punishes hesitation. McIlroy and Scheffler remain central to the pre-tournament conversation, but early play has already shown that the Masters can shift the spotlight in an instant.
With the leaderboard still taking shape, the day at Augusta is only beginning. Some players will look to build momentum quickly, while others, like Ortiz, will be trying to steady themselves after a bruising start. In a tournament known for momentum swings and pressure under the Georgia pines, the first round is already offering a reminder of just how unforgiving Augusta National can be.
The official leaderboard remains the best place to track the action as the round unfolds, with more changes expected as the leaders tee off and the field settles into the rhythm of Masters Thursday.
