The opening round of the Masters is always packed with excitement, nerves, and big expectations—but for South Africa’s trio of hopefuls, Thursday at Augusta National turned out to be a bit of a struggle.
With fans back home watching closely and cheering them on, Charl Schwartzel, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, and Thriston Lawrence all had a tough time trying to get into rhythm on one of golf’s most iconic courses.
Schwartzel Hangs On After a Gritty Round
Charl Schwartzel, who famously won the green jacket back in 2011, managed to keep things somewhat steady despite a few bumps along the way.
He wrapped up his first round with a 2-over par 74, which puts him in a tie for 51st place.
It wasn’t a disastrous round by any means, but on a day when others were going low, it definitely leaves him with work to do if he wants to climb the leaderboard and make it into weekend contention.
Bezuidenhout Battles Augusta’s Challenges
Christiaan Bezuidenhout had an even tougher outing. The 30-year-old signed for a 4-over par 76, landing him in a tie for 73rd.
Augusta can be unforgiving, especially if you’re just slightly off your game, and it looked like Bezuidenhout struggled to find any real momentum.
He’ll be hoping to turn things around in Round 2 and sneak inside the cut line before it’s too late.
Lawrence Slips Behind After a Difficult Start
For Thriston Lawrence, it was a particularly rough introduction to the Masters stage.
The 27-year-old posted a 7-over par 79, leaving him tied for 90th out of the 95-player field.
It’s a harsh reality check at one of the most demanding courses in the world.
While a turnaround from here won’t be easy, Lawrence will be aiming to keep his head up and play with pride when he heads out again on Friday.
Tee Times and Cut-Line Pressure Ahead of Round 2
Looking ahead to Round 2, the pressure is on for all three South Africans.
Lawrence is scheduled to tee off at 14:02 (SA time), followed by Bezuidenhout at 14:24 and Schwartzel at 14:35.
The cut will include the top 50 players and ties, along with anyone within 10 shots of the leader after 36 holes.
With only one round left to make that mark, every shot counts.
Justin Rose Sets the Pace in Augusta
Meanwhile, Johannesburg-born Justin Rose is making the most of his time at Augusta.
He fired an incredible 7-under par 65 in Round 1, seizing the solo lead and showing the field how it’s done.
Rose is three shots clear of a chasing pack that includes Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg, Canada’s Corey Conners, and current world No. 1, Scottie Scheffler from the United States.
What’s Your Take on the Masters?
Where does the Masters rank on your list of favorite sporting events? Is it a must-watch every year, or do you catch up on highlights?
