The Masters Tournament kicked off on April 10, 2025, at the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, a 7555-yard, par-72 course. Among the competitors was Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 champion, who was aiming for his second victory at this iconic event after a four-year hiatus. However, the first round proved to be a challenging one for Matsuyama, as he finished with a score of 1 over par, placing him tied for 38th.
Matsuyama's day began with a steady performance, as he managed to start with a par on the first hole. He faced a tough field, playing alongside Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 U.S. Open champion, and Shane Lowry, the 2019 Open champion. Despite some early challenges, Matsuyama found his rhythm on the front nine, where he recorded two birdies without any bogeys, finishing that segment with a respectable score of 34.
His first birdie came on the 7th hole, a par 4, where he hit a solid second shot from 188 yards that landed just 3 meters from the hole. He confidently sank the putt, igniting hopes for a strong finish. Following this, he capitalized on a par 5 at the 8th hole, where after navigating a right-side bunker, he recovered beautifully, landing his third shot from 90 yards onto the green and sinking a 4-meter putt for another birdie. This brought him to 2 under par as he headed into the back nine.
However, the back nine would not be as forgiving. Matsuyama faced a series of unfortunate events starting with the 10th hole, where he had a solid approach shot that left him with a 3.5-meter putt for birdie, which he narrowly missed. He managed to save par on the 11th hole, but the 12th hole was where his troubles began. After hitting his tee shot into a bunker, he made a great recovery but missed a 1-meter putt for par, resulting in his first bogey of the day.
The real heartbreak came on the 13th hole, a par 5, where Matsuyama’s third shot struck the pin but ricocheted back into a creek, leading to a devastating double bogey. Reflecting on the incident, he expressed his frustration, saying, “I had a good approach, so it was a real 'ouch' moment. When a good shot ends up like that, it’s tough to switch gears.” This unfortunate sequence brought his score to 1 over par.
Despite the setbacks, Matsuyama remained composed and continued to focus on his game. He managed to par the remaining holes, including the 14th through 17th, and finished with a par on the 18th after a well-placed second shot that landed just 1 meter from the pin. However, he missed the birdie putt, ending the round with a score of 73.
After the round, Matsuyama shared his thoughts in a post-game interview, expressing disappointment in his performance but also a determination to improve. “I wanted to play better golf, and I’m disappointed with the result, but I’m looking to bounce back tomorrow. I need to focus on making more birdies,” he stated, looking ahead to the second round.
Leading the tournament after the first day was Justin Rose from England, who had an outstanding round, finishing at 7 under par with a score of 65. Matsuyama found himself eight strokes behind the leader, facing a significant challenge to catch up. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler was also in the mix, finishing the round at 4 under par, putting pressure on Matsuyama as he aimed to close the gap.
The Masters is known for its unpredictability and the potential for dramatic comebacks, and Matsuyama has proven in the past that he can rise to the occasion. As he prepares for the second round, all eyes will be on him to see if he can turn the tide and make a run for the title.
With the tournament still in its early stages, Matsuyama’s experience and skill could very well lead to a turnaround. Golf fans around the world will be eager to see how he performs in the coming rounds.
