Crowe Facing Battle to Make Half-Way Cut After Opening 75

Augusta, Georgia, United States: It may not have been the score he was hoping for, but Harrison Crowe will never forget his first competitive round at Augusta National.

Winner of last year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC), Australian Crowe carded an opening three-over-par 75 in the 87th edition of the Masters Tournament.

Although it placed him joint second among the eight amateurs in the starting line-up – seven strokes behind reigning US Amateur champion Sam Bennett – Crowe has his work cut out to survive the half-axe, his minimum target at the start of the week.

Heading into round two, Crowe is in a share of 63rd spot with compatriot and another AAC alumni Min Woo Lee. With only the top-50 plus ties progressing to the weekend, Crowe is likely to require a sub-par return to ensure he’s able to play all four rounds.

Despite back-to-back bogeys on 17 and 18 on day one, Crowe was still able to raise a smile.

“It was a lot of fun. It was awesome. And it was cool to share it with Min Woo,” said Crowe, whose nerves were betrayed on the opening tee when he pulled his drive on to the ninth fairway, leading to the first of five bogeys on his card. To go with that were 11 pars and birdies at the third and eighth.

Among 36 players who bettered par were three other ex-AAC participants – Australian Cameron Smith, New Zealander Ryan Fox and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.

Smith, the reigning Open Championship winner, and Fox both carded two-under 70s. The similarities did not end there with both finishing strongly, holing out for birdies on the 18th green.

For Matsuyama, however, there was a sour taste in his mouth as he walked off the final green having made an untidy bogey, the only blemish on his scorecard.

Matsuyama, who made history in 2021 when he became the first Asian player to win the Masters, began his quest for a second Green Jacket in impressive style, birdies at the second and ninth enabling his to turn in 34.

Of the other AAC alumni at Augusta, Koreans Kim Si-woo and Lee Kyung-hoon signed for rounds of 73 and 74 respectively while Japan’s Kazuki Higa had to settle for a 76 which included a triple-bogey six at the short 12th where he found water off the tee.

Meanwhile, world number three Jon Rahm of Spain, Norwegian Viktor Hovland and four-time Major winner Brooks Koepka of the US all fired 65s for the co-first round lead.

American Cameron Young and Jason Day of Australia are two shots back in tied fourth, defending champion Scottie Scheffler opened with a 68 while five-time Masters winner Tiger Woods battled to a 74 which included two three-putt bogeys.

Rahm, who has already won three times on the PGA Tour this season, had to dig deep from the get-go after a four-putt double-bogey on the first hole. The Spaniard, who holds one career Major victory, fought back magnificently with seven birdies and an eagle to match his career low score at Augusta National.

“If you're going to make a double or four-putt or anything, it might as well be the first hole – 71 holes to make it up. After that, I was focused on the fact that all the strokes were good. I just got to work and I had 17 holes to make up,” said Rahm, who holds four career top-10s at the Masters.

Woods, who has limited his tournament appearances following a car accident two years ago, drew large crowds but struggled to find his range with his iron play and putting. As a result, he’s in danger of missing the cut at the Masters for the first time since 1996.

“I didn’t have very good speed early. I had two three-putts, and consequently I’m a couple over par. I didn’t hit my irons close enough. I didn’t give myself very good looks. Need to do a better job of that going forward to hopefully get myself back in this tournament,” said the 47-year-old.