Masters 2019: Initial rankings see some slip, some rise on Day 1

At the end of Day 1, many predictions have gone wrong. There are three tough playing days ahead and anything can happen

Tiger Woods played well from tee to green but missed half a dozen putts from within six feet. When he flew his second on the Par 5 15th from the centre of the fairway, just about 200 yards away from the inviting green, to 25 yards over the green and almost in the water that borders the 16th, his chances of being the leader in the clubhouse at 4- or 5-under vanished. He was fortunate to make a par on a hole where it could have been an eagle or a birdie at worst. 

It is not idly said that those who make the most under birdies on the Par 5s have greater chances to be the winner. Tiger averaged 50 per cent and that’s what his chances look like at present.

The playing conditions were completely benign — pleasantly warm, hardly any breeze, and the greens, of course, played true despite their maddening undulations. The scoring on the first half was lacklustre for all players, the course yielding nothing much. Then, on the second half, the much easier half for scoring, there were some excellent rounds resulting in the leaders — Brooks Koepka, who played quietly to craft the only bogey-free round for the day, and the scientist Bryson DeChambeau, who birdied the last four holes. That’s the kind of ending that can take the tournament away from what may look like a sure-shot victor. 

Phil Mickelson livened up the proceedings with some sound hitting, chipping, and putting to end just one behind, and if he can keep his attitude towards risk-reward under control, he could surprise us and become the oldest to win at Augusta.

Bryson DeChambeau

The rain a couple of days ago had rendered the course soft, so the drives would not travel much on landing and that made for longer shots to the green. It did not much affect Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson or Koepka (and there are others in the long driving stakes), who played in the afternoon when the course was drying out a bit and often had wedges to the greens where pinpoint hitting is typically easier while others had longer irons.

As one traversed the course, one could hear the massive suction machines rumbling away as the excess moisture was sought to be eliminated. Should it rain again, and that is on the cards, some water logging is a distinct possibility.

Now, having once trod the slippery path of predicting outcomes, it may make better sense to wait a day before risking it again. 

Justin Harding, the South African pro was at 200-1 to start but the moment he finished at -2, the odds dropped to 80-1. The same was the case with the others. Given that the oddsmakers need to make money, the present line up has thrown their books all akilter. DeChambeau was nowhere in the running, but is leading now. As they say, nothing is finished until the green jacket is placed on the winner’s shoulders.

The next day promises to be somewhat drier and warmer, though humidity will be beginning to increase prior to the Sunday thunderstorms that will surely affect the course of play. Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth, and a few others who are truly star attractions could not get anything going. If they don’t wake up soon, they may well miss the cut, which is just too bad because they are such talented players. We are going to give predictions a miss for today and go back to them tomorrow.