Augusta, Georgia – Just a couple of weeks ago, Scottie Scheffler thought her game was not as sharp as she would like.
“Sharp” could be a bad choice of words given what happened in December.
In any case, Scheffler’s game was seen: how should we say it? – well perfected in the Opening Round of the Masters ThursdayWhen the defending champion triggered a 68 without Bogey to get directly in the mixture. Sheffler made two long Putts Birdie and a couple of pleasant bunkers outings in a Augusta National Course That was Maduro for some red numbers.
“I really don’t care what happened in the last tournaments,” said Scheffler, who arrived this week without victories for the first time since 2021. “Every time you approach the leadership, you will have more information for you to win the golf tournament. That is a simple fact.
His good beginning began in the second torque 5, when Scheffler became aware of Birdie from 40 yards. But it really lit up with the fourth torque 3, when he rolled in a 62 -feet putt through a green that is dramatically tilted from a rear.
Scheffler added another Birdie in the eighth torque 5, then rolled in a 42-feet foot for the Birdie in number 16. Add a beautiful sand salvation in the next hole, when Scheffler managed to carry his bunker shot all the way to the upper hole in the back of Green, and the player at the top of the world was happy to sign for a 4-LANDER to start his tournament.
He is only the fourth champion of defenders to open with a Bogey free round in the last three decades.
“Every time you can keep a clean card here,” said Scheffler, “it’s something really good.”
Although he has not yet won this season, Scheffler believes that things have been tending in the right direction. He shot 63 of the final round to finish the second to Min Woo Lee at the Houston Open, and could obtain a solid work last week, when Texas skipped Open in favor of a small additional preparation for masters.
Nor has he had any problem with his hand. Scheffler cut him badly in December, when he tried to make raviols using a glass of wine during the holidays and broke. The injury forced Scheffler to delay the beginning of his season, and it can be one of the reasons why he simply has three best results and not victories when he led by Magnolia Lane.
History has shown that a good start is important in Augusta National.
This is the fourth consecutive year that Scheffler has opened with a round in the 60s in 2022, he supported it with a second round on their way to his first green jacket, and used his inauguration 66 last year to catapult him to his second.
Maybe this helps the 28 -year -old to become the youngest with three green jackets from Jack Nicklaus in 1966.
“I struggled for what he felt like two pairs today. I had to do two very good ups and downs,” Scheffler said. “But apart from that, the golf course was in front of me most of the day, he kept the ball at stake, he did many really good things.”
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AP Golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
