Rory’s title defense, unsatisfactory opening rounds, and anticipation for the remainder of the Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. — After just 18 holes into the 90th edition of the Masters, the tournament is already showcasing a high level of competition.
A favorable weather forecast leading up to the event has set the scene for a firm and fast Augusta National, which seems ready to distinguish the serious contenders from the pretenders and potentially offer one of the finest iterations of this major championship.
Following the first round, the leaderboard is filled with some of the top players globally, alongside those who have recently excelled here. Five of the top 10 finishers from last year’s tournament are again in the top 10, and four of the top five players in the world, according to Data Golf (as well as five of the top 10 in the OWGR), are among the 18 players currently under par.
With a golf course expected to become increasingly challenging over the next three days, hereβs what we are monitoring as we approach the second round of the Masters.
Which players are most likely to remain near the top of this competitive leaderboard?
Paolo Uggetti: Since Tiger Woods won in 2001, there has not been a true defense of the green jacket, following his second Masters victory in 2000.
After an opening round of 67, which is good enough to share the lead at 5-under, Rory McIlroy is eager to attempt just that.
McIlroy described his score on Thursday as somewhat undeserved. He hit only five of 14 fairways and mentioned he probably should have ended up at 2-under. His ability to score as well as he did illustrates the confidence the five-time major champion currently has in his game and the freedom he feels after finally achieving the grand slam last year.
“I mentioned this when I arrived on Tuesday; I believe winning a Masters makes it easier to secure a second one. I truly do,” McIlroy stated. “It allows me to make those swings without worrying about the outcome when I know I can go to the Champions Locker Room and put on my green jacket while enjoying a Coke Zero at the end of the day.”
That must be nice. Beyond his enthusiasm, McIlroy has come to appreciate this challenging style of golf that demands shot-shaping, spin control, and the right mix of aggression and patience. As the tournament progresses and conditions become tougher, it would be surprising to see him not contend over the weekend. He is not alone in this belief.
“By the way, Rory may never lose this thing again after last year,” Fred Couples remarked on Thursday. “I mentioned that to my caddie around the 12th hole.”
The same can be said for Scottie Scheffler, who played with his C game on Thursday yet still managed to shoot 2-under, as well as Justin Rose, who followed his near Masters victory last year with a round of 70. Both players understand what it takes to win here and are unlikely to fade away.
Patrick Reed, a previous green jacket holder, has been playing some of the best golf globally this year, securing two victories on the DP World Tour. Reed also achieved a top-10 finish last year and possesses ample experience without getting ahead of himself.
“When I won in ’18, it was the first year I fully committed to taking it day by day and shot by shot,” Reed explained. “I believe that is my formula, as the first major often brings excessive pressure, and you tend to grind a bit harder.”
Lastly, a solid round of 70 from two-time major champion Xander Schauffele should not be overlooked. Schauffele has remained somewhat under the radar following a disappointing 2025, but he has recorded three top-10 finishes so far in 2026 and has shown remarkable form at Augusta. In eight appearances, he has achieved five top-10 finishes.
“You just have to hang in there,” Schauffele stated. “Anything can happen on this course, especially given the current conditions.”
How did the course perform today, and what can we expect for the remainder of the tournament?
Mark Schlabach: During the opening round, Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, broke a tee while attempting to repair a ball mark on the 17th green.
Jason Day, participating in his 15th Masters, observed the “tinge of purple” on the No. 1 fairway, indicating that the Augusta National course is beginning to firm up, bounce, and play fast.
Chris Gotterup, making his debut in the season’s first major, averaged an impressive 363 yards off the tee due to the ball rolling significantly on the firm fairways.
High temperatures are expected to reach the mid-80s on Saturday and Sunday, with relative humidity dropping to 20-30% each afternoon, ensuring dry conditions.
“You already know it’s going to get crusty,” Reed, who opened with a 3-under 69, remarked. “It’s going to get fast, and patience will be essential. You must hit the ball solidly and place it in the right spots. When you do, be patient and aim to minimize mistakes.”
Shane Lowry, who recorded a 2-under 70 on Thursday, predicted it might be the “toughest Masters we’ve played in a while.”
“Considering the forecast,” Lowry said. “They can manipulate the golf course however they wish this weekend. In recent years, we’ve had at least one day of rain each year, which has somewhat aided us, but I believe by the end of the week, it will become very, very crusty around here.”
Day noted that Augusta National can make the course as challenging as desired under the current conditions.
“If they want single digits to win, it’ll be baked out and fast, and players will struggle out there,” said Day, who posted a 3-under 69. “It will be quite difficult.”
Uggetti: A prime example of what players are discussing occurred today on the 13th green. Earlier, McIlroy had to lay up on the par-5, leaving himself a 60-yard pitch on a downslope to the hole. McIlroy managed to generate enough spin to put the ball past the hole and keep it on the green, making the subsequent birdie putt that initiated a run of three consecutive birdies.
A few hours later, Scheffler and Gary Woodland played the hole, leaving themselves 62 and 39 yards respectively for their pitches. However, despite executing their shots well off the turf, the greens had already become firmer and less receptive. Instead of holding, both of their balls rolled off the back left of the green, turning a birdie opportunity into a struggle for par.
“When the greens become that firm, you really need to consider where the best miss is, and distance control becomes crucial, but also, like, different — missing it left, missing it right,” McIlroy explained. “So when the greens firm up like this, it transforms into a much more tactical challenge, and you must think things through.”
McIlroy highlighted that the wind will remain relatively calm for the rest of the week, but the golf course? That will only become more challenging. Prepare yourself.
Who had the most disappointing first round?
Uggetti: There was considerable anticipation surrounding Jon Rahm heading into this week, and for good reason. The Spaniard had secured a victory and five top-5 finishes in five events on LIV. He seemed to be hitting his stride just in time to contend for a second green jacket and expressed much optimism about his game after taking a proper offseason to address “bad habits.”
However, Rahm delivered another lackluster performance on Thursday, shooting a 6-over 78 and placing himself 11 shots behind the first-round leaders.
It would be easy to link Rahm’s subpar play in recent majors to his decision to join LIV. While there may be some truth to that, it also serves as an excuse. The reality is Rahm does not belong in the same conversation as Scheffler and McIlroy as one of the top players in the sport.
His game lacks the sharpness required to compete at an Augusta that is firm, fast, and only becoming more challenging. Rahm himself noted earlier this week that his Masters victory came during a version of the tournament in 2023 that was wet and soft, where enduring the elements was more critical than executing the types of shots needed this week.
“If I had to identify what was particularly good in 2023 that is hopefully approaching that level again, it would be my iron game,” Rahm stated on Tuesday. “I hit my irons very well.”
On Thursday, a frustrated Rahm lost over a stroke to the field with those irons and an astonishing 3.62 shots to the field with his putting — he three-putted four times! — marking the third-worst performance in the entire field. Although he could rebound on Friday and make the cut, he effectively eliminated himself from contention after just 18 holes.
Schlabach: Following back-to-back victories in the LIV Golf League, Bryson DeChambeau was a favored choice to secure his first green jacket this week.
Last year, DeChambeau played in the final pairing with McIlroy during the last round and tied for fifth at 7 under. It seemed he had finally cracked the code for Augusta National.
That was not the case on Thursday. He recorded a 4-over 76 and is already nine strokes behind the leaders.
After making the turn at even par, DeChambeau’s round unraveled on the par-4 11th. He hit his approach shot into the right greenside bunker and required three attempts to escape, resulting in a triple-bogey 7.
DeChambeau mentioned he hit his second shot 12 yards farther than intended and noted that the bunker was softer than he expected.
The Crushers GC captain will need to produce a low score on Friday. He hit eight of 18 greens and nine of 14 fairways.
This marked his worst opening round since he shot a 7-over 78 in the first round of The Open at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland in July 2025. He went 16 under over the final 54 holes and tied for 10th at 9 under.
“I will just take what the golf course gives me,” DeChambeau stated. “I need to work on my iron play. I drove it left on several occasions. You know, everyone has the potential for unusual occurrences, and today I simply did not have my irons under control, which is unusual. They had been performing well leading into the week.
What other golfers need to improve on Friday to make the cut?
The leaderboard is competitive, with many of the world’s top golfers within striking distance.
However, several familiar names are at risk of missing the 36-hole cut, projected at 4 over par or better (38.4%) by DataGolf.com.
Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, Sungjae Im, Nicolai HΓΈjgaard, and DeChambeau are right on the projected cut line. Patrick Cantlay, Harry Hall, and Maverick McNealy are at 5 over, while Min Woo Lee, Fred Couples, and Rahm are at 6 over.
Hall intends to make significant adjustments after scoring 37-40 in his first Masters round.
“I’m going to switch my driver,” he stated. “I plan to use two different drivers tomorrow. I’m also putting a new putter into play and will work it out on the range. I don’t think I spin my irons enough either. I switched to a spinnier ball this week, but I still can’t stop it on a dime like I need to. So, I probably need to enhance my irons or make some adjustments to compete in these majors.”
Former Open Championship winner Brian Harman is at 7 over, and Robert MacIntyre is at 8 over.
