Larry Mize seeking more birdies after sluggish start

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Larry Mize reacts after missing a birdie putt on No. 8 during the first round. The 1987 Masters champion bogeyed six of the second nine holes to close at 78.
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Robert Mize and his girlfriend, Shea Wilby, watch as his father, Larry Mize, walks down the No. 9 fairway during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 9, 2015.
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Larry Mize drives from No. 9 during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 9, 2015.

Augusta native Larry Mize carded 41 on the second nine en route to an opening round 78 at Augusta National Golf Club.

“I hit it bad, I putted bad and I made some bad decisions. Other than that, it was a pretty good day,” Mize said. “In all seriousness though, I’ve really been struggling and I’m trying to get it turned around. I was hoping to get something going this week, but it was definitely frustrating out there today.”

Mize, who teed off at 7:56 a.m. with Danny Willett and Byron Meth, opened with six consecutive pars and made the turn at 1-over. The second nine was more of a struggle for the 1987 Masters champion as he made bogey on Nos. 10, 11, 14, 16, 17 and 18.

Mize’s lone birdie came on the par-5 13th.

“I played the first nine in plus-1, but it was deceiving,” he said. “I still struggled and was just able to make some par putts. I had a good up-and-down at No. 4 and did my best to hang in there.

“On the second nine, my ball-striking got worse and I had some putts I could have made but didn’t,” he said. “It’s just tough when you’re constantly having 8-footers for par out here.”

As for today’s game plan, Mize has one goal in mind.

“I have to make birdies,” he said. “The course is in great shape; you just have to put the ball in the right position to get scores.”