adminAUGUSTA. — Unheralded Charley Hoffman earned the early plaudits as the Masters got underway yesterday but most of the eyes were fixed on Rory McIlroy as he marched off in search of golfing history and Bubba Watson battling to defend the title.
It didn’t take long for world No. 1 McIlroy to set the crowd abuzz at Augusta National as a spectacular 325-yard drive off the first tee brought ooohs and aahs from spectators lining the 445-yard opening hole at the famed layout as McIlroy launched his first bid to complete a career Grand Slam.
The 25-year-old from Northern Ireland seeks his third consecutive major title this week and collecting his first green jacket would complete a set of at least one victory in each of golf’s four major championships.
McIlroy squandered a four-stroke lead at the 2011 Masters with a back-nine nightmare show, but bounced back to win the 2011 US Open and added the 2012 PGA Championship and last year’s British Open and PGA crowns.
Expectations were high for McIlroy as the week began at Augusta National, which helped explain the huge morning throng swelling around the first tee to catch a glimpse of McIlroy and his playing partners, Americans Phil Mickelson and Ryan Moore. After Mickelson blasted a respectable shot up the middle, it was McIlroy’s turn.
He responded by unleashing a drive that stopped 10 paces beyond the bunkers on the right side of the fairway.
“Whoa, man,” “Look at that,” and “Way to go Rory,” were among the shouts as McIlroy’s ball nestled into place comfortably in the left centre of the fairway, a mix of ooohs and aaahs followed by applause.
A large crowd began following the star group, people clad in green jackets and green shorts equally mesmerized by the display from McIlroy, quiet as a church when McIlroy made his second shot on the way to an opening par.
McIlroy followed with three more pars in the early going.
If he wins the Masters, McIlroy would join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen and Player as the only golfers to complete the career Grand Slam and would become the first European to achieve the feat. In addition, McIlroy would become the first top-ranked winner of the Masters since Woods in 2002 and the first European winner at Augusta National since Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal in 1999.
And McIlroy would also become the first reigning major champion to capture a Masters title since Phil Mickelson in 2006. First man out Hoffman, a 38-year-old American who ended a five-year PGA win drought last November, fired a five-under par 67 in perfect playing conditions at Augusta National to seize the early clubhouse lead. — AFP.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter