Masters: SA golfers struggle in opening round, as Rose leads by three

Former champion Charl Schwartzel was the best-placed South African after the first round of the 89th Masters tournament in Augusta, Georgia on Thursday.

The 40-year-old Schwartzel, who won his green jacket in 2011 — his only Major title so far — shot a two-over-par 74 in his opening round to be tied 51st.

Schwartzel played steadily up to the 13th hole, making pars on each one, and then he dropped shots at the par-4 14th and par-5 15th, before making his only birdie of the day at the par-4 17th. Unfortunately he dropped a third shot at the par-4 18th to go round the course in 74 shots.

The 2011 champion has come into the tournament on the back of a second place finish at the LIV Golf Miami tournament last weekend.

Bezuidenhout and Lawrence

Two other South Africans are in action at the Masters this year.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who plays regularly on the PGA Tour, is in danger of missing the halfway cut on Friday after opening with a four-over-par 76. He’s tied for 73rd after the first round.

The former SA Open champion shot 40 on his opening round, with two bogeys and double bogey and then registered an even-par 36 on his back nine, all pars.

Thriston Lawrence, also a former SA Open champion and playing in his first Masters, had a day to forget and will need a miracle to make it to the weekend.

The 28-year-old is tied 90th after the opening round following a seven-over-par 79 on Thursday. Three bogeys on his front nine saw his card 39 for his first nine holes before two further bogeys and quadruple seven at the par-3 12th hole saw him slip right to the back of the leaderboard. He did, however, make two birdies, at the par-5 15th and par-4 17th.

Justin Rose starts strongly

England’s Justin Rose leads the way after the opening round, after shooting an excellent seven-under-par 65 on Thursday. He made eight birdies and one bogey (at the par-4 18th).

Three shots back after openings 68s are defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Corey Conners and last year’s runner-up Ludvig Aberg.

Tyrrell Hatton and Bryson DeChambeau are a further shot off the pace after opening round 69s.

For the full leaderboard click here.