MASTERS 2017: The most interesting numbers from day one

On a blustery day at Augusta National which saw the world’s best player withdraw and Jordan Spieth make a NINE, here are some stats you need to know on a tough opening day at the Masters…

The scoring average for the day was 74.978, nearly a full shot higher than 2016’s 74.1 and one and half more than 2015’s tally of 73.4. It wasn’t close to being as high as 2007’s first round of attrition however, when the field average was 76.19 – that was the year Zach Johnson won in a week of increasingly inclement weather.

There are only 11 players under par and a further seven at level. That means 75 are over par. There were only 223 birdies but 441 over par holes – including 10 worse than double bogey.

Defending champion Danny Willett made one of only three eagles on the first day when he made quick work of the 13th. Phil Mickelson and Martin Kaymer made the others, at the 2nd.

The two-shot 1st ranked first in difficulty (4.458), followed by the par-4 18th (4.452) and the par-4 11th (4.452). Of the 93 attempts, only one player made birdie at the opening hole – James Hahn. The American drained his putt from the left side of the tricky green. 

Jordan Spieth’s nine helped the 15th, traditionally one of the easier holes at Augusta, rank ninth in difficulty on day one. The field averaged 5.215 to play it with no eagles and just 14 birdies. Playing into the wind, Spieth’s nine was one of four scores worse than double bogey…

Charley Hoffman’s approach shots were the key to his opening 65. The American found just half of the fairways off the tee but then hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation (second only to Justin Thomas) and to an average of 27ft 1in – the best in the field. 

Hoffman also topped the strokes gained stat, comfortably too, with a 6.126 mark that was way ahead of all but William McGirt in second on 4.505. Oh, and the Putts in GIR category… and the number of putts (25, along with Billy Hurley and Jeunghun Wang).

Rory McIlroy hit just five fairways in his opening 72 and was without a birdie for 12 holes before his ball snagged in the bank on the par-5 13th to allow him to get up and down for a four. Two more birdies followed in three holes after that to get his Masters going.

Thomas Pieters owned the front nine with a 32 that was two better than anyone else on the outward half while Lee Westwood matched Hoffman’s back nine tally of 31. 

Veteran American Steve Stricker hit every fairway and his even more season compatriot Larry Mize, champion here 30 years ago, found 13 (as did Soren Kjeldesen). Seriously impressive efforts given the strength of the wind. 

Sergio Garcia made just one birdie, but he was the only man in the field to card a bogey-free round on the first day. The Spaniard is still searching for his first major, and come Sunday it would be extra special if he were to wear the green jacket given that it would have been Seve Ballesteros’ 60th birthday.