Early course conditions lead to low scores

Augusta National Golf Club is rarely described as “for the taking,” but Tom Wat­son was among the morning golfers who found course conditions favorable Thursday.

Several players with early tee times in the opening round went low as Augusta Na­tional lacked wind and its greens ran softer before both changed with the warm afternoon sun.

“No wind, greens are very soft. It was there for the taking, the golf course,” Watson said. “There were a lot of good scores early, and the wind is maybe going to come up and throw some elements of the weather and wind into this golf course.”

Watson, who teed off at 8:07 a.m. and shot 1-under-par 71, was one of many to take advantage of the conditions.

Charley Hoffman went off in the day’s first group at 7:45 a.m. and finished 5-under. Justin Rose, who also shot 5-under, went off at 9:24 with Bubba Watson, who shot 1-under. Russell Henley, in the 8:29 grouping, shot 4-under.

“There’s chances to birdie a few of them (on the front nine),” Bubba Watson said. “The greens are a little bit firmer with the heat and the sun. It’s tougher in the afternoon.”

Patrick Reed, who teed off at 9:02 and finished 2-under, agreed that the course began to firm up midday as temperatures got hotter.

“It seemed like, with that morning tee time, the greens were a little bit more receptive in the beginning,” he said. “But they seemed to get progressively firmer …”

Reed, like both Watsons, proved prophetic by predicting tougher conditions Thursday afternoon. Kevin Streelman, who went off in front of Reed at 8:51, observed the wind for the first time on the 15th hole, so most morning competitors were able to avoid gusts at Amen Corner. It showed in the scores, as 16 of the 32 competitors to tee off before 10 a.m. finished even par or better.

Bubba Watson offered a word of caution:

“Now, for four days doing that? It’s a major championship. It’s always hard doing that.”