If history is any indication, Thursday’s scoring feat at The Masters will be short-lived. Red numbers dotted the leaderboard during the opening round of the 2011 Masters at Augusta National, with two competitors -- Rory McIlroy and Alvaro Quiros -- posting low rounds of 65. But with no significant moisture in sight and tournament organizers cutting holes in even more mischievous locations over the final three rounds, Augusta National will begin to show its teeth, and par should become a highly sought-after goal.
Masters 2011: Weather, Course Conditions Should Cause Scores To Jump
Friday’s forecast calls for partly cloudy weather with a small chance of precipitation, hardly enough to slow down a course that’s been set up to play faster as the week progresses. Those undulations on fairways and greens will become even more severe, placing a larger importance on shot-making. As the course dries out, hitting a green becomes a feat in itself, let alone placing a ball in the right spot to leave a makable putt. Just as the green jackets are a tradition at The Masters, so is a course that flirts with the edge of control, testing the world’s best golfers.
After the first round, Quiros and McIlroy lead the way, with Y.E. Yang and K.J. Choi lurking two shots back. Phil Mickelson sits at 2-under for the tournament after spending much of his round exploring every corner of Augusta while Tiger Woods sits at 1-under after his ball developed an allergic reaction to the bottom of the cup. You can view the full leaderboard here
Check back with this StoryStream for updates. And for more on the PGA Tour, check out SB Nation’s golf blog, Waggle Room. To get a local look at the tournament, head over to SB Nation Atlanta.
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