The first round of the 2023 Masters is now complete and we have a three-way tie for the lead at -7. There you can find Norway’s Viktor Hovland, four-time major champion Brooks Koepka of the United States and Jon Rahm of Spain, the 2021 United States Open champion. Koepka’s major titles came at the 2017 and 2018 United States Open championships and the 2018 and 2019 PGA Championship.
In the opening round, Rahm became the first golfer in Masters history to have the lead after the first 18 holes when having a double bogey on the first hole. Rahm bounced back nicely with an eagle on the eighth hole. Hovland also had an eagle in his round, as he shot a three on the par five second hole.
There are nine other golfers in contention and within three strokes of the lead. Australia’s Jason Day and American Cameron Young are tied for fourth place at -5. Day is a major champion from the past as he won the 2015 PGA Championship.
There are another seven golfers at -4 and three strokes back of Hovland, Koepka and Rahm. There you can find 2019 British Open champion Shane Lowry of Ireland, reigning Olympic gold medalist Xander Schauffele of the United States, 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott of Australia, 2022 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler of the United States, American amateur Sam Bennett, reigning World Matchplay champion Sam Burns of the United States, and 2019 United States Open champion Gary Woodland of the United States.
The next three days of Augusta are expected to be filled with rain and inclement weather. A Monday or Tuesday finish for the first major of the year is a genuine possibility.
