Rory McIlroy began his defence of the Masters title with a strong opening at Augusta National as the first round unfolded on Thursday.
The latest updates from Augusta focused on the early stages of the tournament, with the official leaderboard tracking the action and live coverage continuing throughout the day.
Among the early stories of the round was the difficult start endured by Carlos Ortiz. The 34-year-old Mexican, making only his second appearance at the Masters and his first since 2021, has shown major-championship ability before. A tie for fourth at last year’s US Open at Oakmont underlined that point. But Augusta National has a reputation for punishing even experienced players, and Ortiz found the course especially unforgiving in the opening holes.
His round quickly unravelled after a drive into the creek down the left of the second hole. At the fifth, he then fluffed a splash out of a fairway bunker. By that point, his scorecard had already taken a heavy hit: 5-7-5-4-6, a stretch that included three bogeys and two doubles.
At seven over par through five holes, Ortiz was already well off the pace and likely wishing for the comfort of the clubhouse. A par at the sixth did little to ease the frustration of such an alarming start.
The opening-round coverage also noted a significant anniversary in Masters history: 30 years since Greg Norman’s well-known collapse at Augusta. The reference served as a reminder of how quickly fortunes can turn at this tournament, where pressure and precision are tested from the very first tee shot.
As the day progressed, attention remained on McIlroy’s bid to hold onto the green jacket and on the many early twists that make the Masters one of golf’s most compelling events. Augusta National once again showed its ability to reward composure and punish mistakes, with the first round offering both promising starts and painful setbacks.
Further updates from the tournament were expected as play continued, with the leaderboard set to shift throughout the afternoon and into the evening.
