Scheffler Begins Masters Defense with Impressive Bogey-Free Round

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Defending champion Scottie Scheffler demonstrated his readiness to claim another green jacket with a stellar bogey-free, 4-under-par 68 during the opening round of the 89th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday.

Scheffler’s performance places him in a tie for second, alongside fellow competitors, just three shots behind the early leader, Justin Rose, who was yet to complete his round. The World No. 1 showcased his skill with three birdies on the front nine, including a remarkable 62-foot putt on the par-3 fourth hole and another long birdie from 42 feet on the par-3 sixteenth.

The conditions on the course supported strong scoring as players benefitted from clear skies and minimal wind. However, Augusta’s greens were notably fast and firm, even after the prior rain, which posed a challenge to golfers. “I had a feeling the golf course was going to get pretty firm,” Scheffler remarked. “The areas to hit your irons out here are pretty small, and they get even smaller when the greens are firm.”

Scheffler’s goal is to join an elite group of golfers who have won the Masters three times in a four-year span, a feat previously achieved by legends such as Jack Nicklaus. He is also attempting to become the fourth player in history to win back-to-back Masters titles. Scheffler is the first defending champion in 30 years to start with a bogey-free round.

Interestingly, his round included a mixture of challenges as he faced a tricky greenside bunker on the par-4 seventh but managed to save par. His ability to navigate tough situations was evident again on the par-5 eighth when his approach shot landed in a deep divot, yet he still managed to chip to 14 feet and convert the birdie.

“Just one of those deals—sometimes you get good and bad breaks,” Scheffler noted regarding his shot from the divot. “I had to make sure I got ball first, and I hit this kind of low skipper.”

In total, Scheffler hit 11 of 18 greens in regulation and successfully made 26 putts, showing room for improvement over the remaining rounds. His steady opening round followed a month of recovery time after a cooking accident that cut his hand and limited practice. “I think that was more the nature of just the time that I’ve had to get ready for the tournament post-injury,” he said.

Now, with a solid start, Scheffler appears to be in strong form as he heads into the second round of the prestigious tournament.