Augusta, Ga. — There was a moment in the second round of the 2024 Masters when Scotty Scheffler and Rory McIlroy were only a few feet apart in the literal sense. They were separated from the world in a figurative sense. On top of Hill No. 11, peering into the surface below, the two stood around Amen Corner as if the wind had been blown away, amidst the day of wild and unfriendly scores.
Schaeffler escaped his approach to green fat and left at par. McIlroy’s attempts swelled into the high sky. He could see it sink into a watery grave, his green jacket took his chance with it. McIlroy signed 77. Schaeffler continued to win his second green jacket just a few days later, three years later.
McIlroy was standing on the same hill on Thursday, in a leaderboard topped with the same man. McIlroy, who was only removed for just a year from his latest disappointing start to Masters Quest, saw the world away from his own version of that version until he didn’t.
Augusta National is full of blissful memories for some, and nightmares for others, but sometimes forgotten is who can change you. That can make you think. That can make you.
That version of McIlroy seemed to have been gone for a long time – at least that was suggested by the first three months of the 2025 season. It reappeared on a Thursday evening at its worst.
The Northern Irishman opened the 2025 Master with a uniform 72 to sit a seven-stroke behind first-round leader Justin Rose. On paper, the score actually improved his first round scoring average during his career Grand Slam quest, marking the third time he’s been playing a party on Thursday since 2018.
However, the game is not played on paper, especially as it relates to Master McIlroy.
The four-time major champion was as deep as 4 under, making it seem as if he wasn’t wrong. Turning 3 under, he sailed through the Amen Corner with his expert thanks to a beautifully flying Medium Iron from the top of Hill No. 11, and then a short iron covered with a demonic wise saw.
He lets the distance be spoken around the par 5 13 days of bend, cementing his game during that short three-hole stretch that was no longer what his final ten walks were. The physical tools are different. Course management is even more so. The slower ones start blocking with them.
And then the confusion continued. After three hours of reminding us of what Augusta National can do, we reminded us of what Augusta National can do.
The perfect first 14 holes turned into pathological works of art in 30 minutes. The brush strokes were no longer light and free to flow, but were filled with past anxiety, violence and thoughts. The canvas remained pristine, but the artists were no longer the same.
Standing on the 15th fairway, McIlroy was pinned at 4 under. Walking from the 18th green, he fell to an even number.
After passing his approach to Green on the par 5 15th and seeing it roll over the back edge, McIlroy must have been thinking of four. Instead, he met the seven as he chipped his third in the water and failed to move up and down from the other side of the water due to bogies.
Certainly there was some damage, but still standing at 2 under, McIlroy was far from the frame. And although he may still have a chance in all fairness, after what happened on the 17th, it felt like his tournament had been washed away.
Finding the first cut of the tee, McIlroy finds reasons to suggest that many people won’t miss the greenery for too long. His approach passed the backpin position and matured beyond beneath the surface. Too much mustard gave me an offensive chip. His par is the same. The putt dripped after 6 feet. That led to six people and another double bogey.
The final par put McIlroy’s final touches on a disappointing day, resulting in a score that improved his score by nearly two strokes above the field average. Most tournaments, he will find comfort in it. He did bad things and knew there were still 54 holes. This 2025 version of himself can chase anyone from seven. This version of Rory is different.
But with the master? At Augusta National Golf Club? Do you have the opportunity to complete a career grand slam?
Maybe this isn’t Rory.
Rose rolls back the watch
Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player combined to win 13 masters. After the first round, there were many times none of the leads or co-leaders as Rose. The British were simply sensational around Augusta National on Thursday. Especially on the greens that reached 8 under on the first 16 holes before the final 16 holes and acquired over five strokes on the field.
Rose should not wank that green jacket. Yes, the first round lead is noteworthy, but the 2017 playoffs with Sergio Garcia will reach the heart’s peak. He knows how to walk the path around this property and knows that his game is enough to win a major championship at the age of 44.
As Rose admitted following his round, there may be few opportunities, but most importantly, they are still coming. The former US Open Championship was not one but two major championships highlighted by the results of Zander Schaufele’s runner-up finish in the Royal Troon Open Championship last year.
Does the closing window add more pressure…or does it add appreciation?
Rose – Rose, the leading winner and former world No. 1, owner of the Olympic gold medal, says he’s all about the advantages from here.
“I think you always feel self-pressure and definitely add. I feel like I can make a statement about how well I played the backend of my career,” Rose said. “But for me, it’s a great opportunity, not pressure. I think I’ll answer your question. Yeah, I’m looking at it all up now. I think my resume is well rounded. There are some big, notable gaps.
“So, there are plenty of opportunities to do things I’ve never done before, but the main headlines are all in place for me. So, you have to use it as freedom, take these opportunities, use them like a freewheel, and use them all as upside.”
The champion is here
Augusta National loves past champions and, following the opening of Schaeffler on Thursday morning on the 68th, that could not be made clear any more. Knowing the timing to systematically pick up his spots, ease gas and trust different areas of the game, the world’s No. 1 made his 4-under performance look like a score he likely signed.
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When dad sounds like he’s making a bad joke, it’s stunning and puts him in to do something he’s never done before. Schaeffler is aiming to become the first golfer since Tiger Woods and the fourth consecutive golfer at Augusta National. He also wants to join Jack Nicklaus and become the second player to slide his green jacket three times in the windows for four years.
“This is a fun golf course with lots of opportunities,” Schaeffler said he’s close to Reid. “There are a lot of opportunities on the weekends. There are a lot of opportunities where they put their pins on Sundays. I’m a bit surprised it’s something like that, but I’m not saying I can’t.”
Å boy, I’ll go here again
The end of LudvigÅberg may have been greatly exaggerated. The Swedish superstar, who finished runner-up in his ANGC debut last year, shouted in terms of form at this year’s tournament, but clearly lacked confidence. Fresh from two missed cuts, Åberg didn’t miss the beat in his opening refrain.
He played the first 11 holes in pars, then set the fire on stretches. Oberg hit beautiful tentacles on both 12-13 to set up the birdie, up and down from the surface right after Patrick Cantrey did the same in the end mise of McIlroy. The final birdie served as a good reminder. This child is different. (To call him a child may be disrespectful at this point.)
“Augusta is where experience plays a big role and knows where to leave it,” Åberg said. “You’ll see some different winds and pins until last year, so if you do, it will be a more experience bank. Yeah, I look forward to gaining more experience on the golf course.
Hatton or hat off?
The grouping of Tyrrell Hatton, Jordan Spieth and Tom Kim rose to third place in short Par-4 with varying degrees of stress. Speith was fidgeting (par on the course), while Kim was tidying after a tee shot rolled down and bouncing off his spotter’s shoes. Hatton seemed to have just received the worst news of his life as his hat had been removed and rubbed over the top of his head.
The news turned out to be a one understart.
The British kept his hat in his hand between shots, which continued to work for him. A year after lamenting about the setup and conditions (face value of courses like Spieth), Hutton has a great opportunity to overcome the manufactured demons after age 69.
“I don’t know if I’m working on my patience. I think it depends on either side of the bed I get a little out. If I don’t have a little, Hutton said, and last year, obviously my best finish and I said that I felt that I couldn’t drive a ball that was far better than what I did that week.
“It was good to get out there today and do a pretty solid round. Naturally, I’m disappointed to make a bogey at 17. I don’t think I made a big mistake there, but I think it’s kind of like this place.
Big things
Preseason first round leader Bryson Deccanbeau is back. Although not the 65 of 2024, his opening 69 puts him in that thickness. He’s far from a one-trick pony, and should be building confidence in Deccanbo’s camp with his entire bag, working as the last guy in the practice area on Thursday nights.
Whether or not there will be rain towards Friday morning may not be a big deal for some, but it may be worth noting for two-time major champions. He struggled significantly with and around the Greens last year’s Championship weekend. I saw this place on Thursday as this is stiff, fast and smooth as players have already commented. Green moisture will be a distant memory of late Saturday and Sunday, but it will be a decanbeau hand.
