[Masters] An Byeonghun Starts 9th... "Expecting a Better Game"

7 Birdies and 5 Bogeys for 2-Under on Opening Day
DeChambeau Leads, Scheffler 2nd, McIlroy 17th
Woods 1-Under in 13 Holes, Play Suspended Due to Bad Weather and Sunset

Byeonghun An had a refreshing start.

Ahn Byung-hoon is teeing off at the 4th hole in the first round of the Masters.
[Augusta (USA) = AFP·Yonhap News]

On the 11th (local time), at Augusta National Golf Club (par 72, 7,555 yards) in Augusta, Georgia, USA, the first major tournament of the year, the "Masters," began. In the first round, An shot 2-under-par 70 to tie for 9th place. He recorded 7 birdies and 5 bogeys. An returned to the Masters for the first time in four years since 2020. This season, he has been on the rise, entering the top 10 three times, including one runner-up finish on the PGA Tour. Due to severe weather, the start of the competition was delayed by 2 hours and 30 minutes, and 27 of the 89 players did not complete the round.

An is also well-known as the son of Korean-Chinese table tennis stars An Jae-hyung and Zhao Zhimin. In a post-round interview, he said, "The wind was strong, so it wasn't easy, but 2-under-par is not a bad score." He added, "The greens were slippery, so putting was difficult, and I missed a few short putts, but overall it was a good round." He continued, "I'm glad to have finished the first round today," and vowed, "I will play better over the next three days."

"The Hulk" Bryson DeChambeau (USA) swept up 8 birdies and 1 bogey to take the top spot on the leaderboard at 7-under-par 65. Although he is affiliated with LIV Golf, he participated as the 2020 US Open major champion. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (USA) played cleanly with 6 birdies and no bogeys, sitting one stroke behind in second place at 6-under-par 66. He is aiming for the "Green Jacket" again after two years, having won it in 2022. Scheffler is a strong favorite, having recorded two wins and one runner-up finish in his last three tournaments.

Tiger Woods is smiling while waiting for his tee shot order on the 4th hole of the first round at the Masters. [Augusta, USA=EPA·Yonhap News]

Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), who is chasing the "Career Grand Slam," started solidly, tied for 17th at 1-under-par 71. "Golf Emperor" Tiger Woods (USA) was performing well with 2 birdies and 1 bogey through the 13th hole (par 5), tied for 17th. If he makes the cut this year, he will set a new record with 24 consecutive Masters appearances. Defending champion Jon Rahm (Spain), who moved to LIV Golf, was tied for 42nd at 1-over-par 73.

From Korea, Juhyung Kim exchanged 2 birdies and 2 bogeys over 11 holes and is tied for 32nd at even par. Siwoo Kim made 3 birdies but also had 1 bogey and 2 double bogeys, struggling at tied 54th with 2-over-par 74. Sungjae Im, who holds the best Korean record with a runner-up finish at the 2020 Masters, lost 3 strokes over 14 holes and dropped to tied 69th at 3-over-par.