Masters Round 1: Leaderboard Updates From Augusta National

The 88th Masters got underway Thursday after a weather delay.

Apr 11, 2024; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Bryson DeChambeau tips his hat after putting on no. 2 during / Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Network

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The 88th Masters began Thursday after a two-and-a-half hour weather delay, and Bryson DeChambeau took advantage of a softer Augusta National. 

The 2020 U.S. Open winner shot 7-under 65 to take the early clubhouse lead, having gone out in the fifth starting time of Round 1. Scottie Scheffler, the 2022 champion and world No. 1, sits one shot back after a bogey-free 66.

DeChambeau, who infamously said in 2020 that Augusta National was a par-67 for him instead of a par-72 because of how his length was an advantage on the par-5s, indeed birdied three of the four including Nos. 13 and 15. He also birdied both par-3s on the second nine along with a birdie at the par-4 17th to fire 32 coming in. He also birdied the first three holes of his round and had just one bogey, at the par-4 9th.

Historically the Masters has been a perplexing major for the 30-year-old, as DeChambeau has missed the cut the last two years and his best finish is only a T21, when was an amateur in 2016.

DeChambeau plays in the LIV Golf League as the captain of the Crushers GC team and had the logo of his team on his hat and shirt, and his caddie carried a dark green Crushers bag.

Defending Masters champion Jon Rahm plays for LIV Golf (he joined at the end of 2023) and DeChambeau was asked Monday about the state of LIV Golf/PGA Tour unification talks and whether another win by a LIV player would change anything.

“I think the negotiations are going on with or without a win,” DeChambeau said. “I think if a LIV player were to win, including myself, I think we'd all be extremely excited and happy for whoever that individual is."

Danny Willett, the 2016 winner at Augusta, shot 68 to sit three shots behind Scheffler. Ryan Fox shot 69 with a front-nine 31, tying a Masters record.

The Augusta area received more than a half-inch of rain overnight and Round 1 was unable to start as originally scheduled at 8 a.m. But Augusta National’s SubAir system takes moisture out of the turf and allows play relatively quickly, so the field began play at 10:30 a.m. on a slightly less fiery course though the winds picked up as the day went on.