The Masters
November 13, 2020
On a day which started with a 3-hour monsoon delay the pre-tournament favourite Bryson Dechambeau was unable to tame his much talked about driver, Casey set the pace with a dazzling display (-7) and a certain Tiger Woods was looking sharp with a bogey free round of 4-under par.
But the story of the day was 62-year old Lawrence Hogan Mize, better known as Larry earns the most valuable player for round 1 in this year’s final major. He is well known for his play-off win in the 1987 Masters after he holed a chip from the right of the 11th green to earn his one and only Major victory and lifetime membership to Augusta National and the lifetime playing rights for the most sort after invitation in golf. Now that is a chip you’d never forget and it is well worth a watch.
At the end of the day Larry signed for a two-under par round of 70, leaving him in a tie for 14th place. Mize’s last PGA Tour victory came back in 1993, predating the life of reigning U.S Open Champion Bryson Dechambeau. On a day which saw low scores after the mornings deluge made it ‘easier’ to tame the famous undulating greens. Spare a thought for The 1987 Masters champ, Larry Mize who averaged just 247 yards off the tee, 87 yards behind DeChambeau at 334 Yards. Despite the gap the pair were tied at the end of the day with Mize managing 1 more birdie (six) than his younger, longer counterpart.
Tempting as it may be to claim that length isn’t everything….it’s perhaps a better indicator of the advantage of having the course knowledge. Mize’s had been studying the course long before he won here. He was born in Augusta, spent his teenage years as a scoreboard operator at the masters and studied for his degree just up the road at Georgia Tech.
So it fitting that Mr Augusta takes the crown of round 1 MVP but will he have the stamina to make it to the weekend and collect one more masters paycheck? There’s only one way to find out I’ve just cracked open my first beer as I settle into the sofa for the start of round 2.
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