The opening day of The Masters was so vicious that former major winners compared it to going 12 rounds with Mike Tyson or Evander Holyfield

The opening day of The Masters was so vicious that former major winners  compared it to going 12 rounds with Mike Tyson or Evander Holyfield |  Business Insider India

Former champion Sergio Garcia voiced what many of the world’s best golfers were probably thinking Thursday after a brutal opening round at The Masters.

Augusta National bared its teeth on the opening day of the first major of 2021, humbling many of the top players on tour.

So tough was the course on the day that Garcia compared it to fighting boxing icon Evander Holyfield.

“I fought hard, but I feel like I just came out of the ring with Evander Holyfield, like a 12-round match,” said the 2017 champion, who shot a four-over-par 76.

“I need to go home and rest.”

Garcia wasn’t the only player who had a tough opening round, with 2019 US Open winner Gary Woodland also using a boxing analogy to describe his struggles, comparing it to fighting Mike Tyson.

In total, only 12 golfers broke par, led by Justin Rose with his seven-under-par 65, while there were five scores in the 80s.

There were also 12 scores of triple bogey or worse, including a seven at the par-four ninth hole by America’s Jordan Spieth.

Elsewhere, Rory McIlroy shanked a shot so badly at the seventh hole he managed to hit his father in the leg.

—PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 8, 2021

“I should ask for an autographed glove,” McIlroy’s father joked after the moment.

High-scoring on the opening day was largely caused by Augusta’s notoriously undulating greens, which were at their savage best Thursday.

As Insider’s Tyler Lauletta put it, the greens “proved extremely punishing” on the day — something that is likely only going to get worse as the tournament progresses and the putting surfaces dry out even more, making them even faster.

The brutal nature of Augusta this year contrasts with the unusually placid set up of the course at 2020’s tournament, where more than 50 players went under par on the opening day, more than four times as many as Thursday’s total.

Related Posts

Graham Linehan admits throwing trans activist’s phone after she ‘took photos of people’s faces’

TV writer Graham Linehan is back in court following allegations he harassed a trans woman and damaged her phone following an alleged incident in Westminster last year…

Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden reunite as party goes ‘off the rails’

Piers Morgan and his former Britain’s Got Talent co-star Amanda Holden recently reunited in Hollywood as the broadcaster continued celebrating the release of his book, Woke Is…

Shirley Ballas’ ex fiancé gushes over new flame after ‘vanishing’ from Strictly star

Strictly Come Dancing star Shirley Ballas told the Mirror her ex fiancé Danny Taylor vanished one night, causing her to end their romance as he’s now moved…

Conor Maynard mocks Charlotte Chilton’s ‘fake tears’ as bitter paternity feud continues

Conor Maynard took a brutal jibe at Charlotte Chilton after the Traitors star doubled down on her claims that the Can’t Say No singer is the father…

Exclusive: Coleen Nolan splits from boyfriend as she reveals heartbreaking reason

Singer and television presenter Coleen Nolan has opened up about splitting from her partner Michael Jones, who she had dated for three years and shared the sad…

Prunella Scales’ health woes as she ‘didn’t understand husband Timothy West’s death’

Faulty Towers star Prunella Scales was diagnosed with vascular dementia over a decade ago as her son revealed she was ‘not well enough’ to understand her husband…