GlimmerTwinDawg knows as much about UGA golfers on Tour generally and the Masters specifically as anyone around. So when he tells you that multiple Bulldogs are likely to be in contention following the first day at Augusta National, brother, you can take that to the bank.
Once again, our intrepid correspondent for good walks spoiled was right on the money, as four former Bulldogs are tied for 11th or better as day two dawns on God’s own chip and putt course. Harris English leads the pack of Dawgs at 2 under and tied for 7th. It was an up and down affair on day one for English, as he leavened four birdies with a pair of bogies (one on the par 4 fifth and another on the fourteenth).
One shot back at -1 are fellow UGA alumni Bubba Watson, Davis Thompson, and Brian Harman. All are six shots behind leader Justin Rose. The Englishman charged out to an opening 7 under par 65 to take a commanding three shot lead on his closest competition and put himself is excellent shape to don the green jacket. However there’s a lot of golf to be played and English, Watson, Thompson and Harman are all in good position to make a run at the top of the leader board.
But it wasn’t all sunshine and reasonably priced pimento cheese sandwiches for the Red and Black contingent on day one. Chris Kirk charged into the lead early with birdies on two of his first four holes. But a disastrous 9 at the par 5 thirteenth has him at +3 and in 67th, battling to make the weekend cut.
Sepp Straka bogied two of his first three holes, then things didn’t get any better. A double at number 9 and a triple at 11 have the emperor of the Austro-Valdostian Empire at +6 and unlikely to play on Saturday. Russell Henley just never could quite get it going on Thursday and carded not a single birdie on the day. That’s a problem when you do manage five bogies. Henley also put his first shot in the pond at the par 3 16th en route to a double bogie and sits at +7 after one. That’s a bitter pill for a guy who’s made the cut in 7 of his 8 Masters appearances and recently won the Arnold Palmer. But there will be better days.