AUGUSTA, Ga. — Nick Dunlap is only 21 years old, but Thursday’s first round in the Masters may have aged him.
Making is second Masters start, Dunlap struggled mightily all the way around Augusta National Golf Club, carding an 18-over par 90 that was the day’s worst round by a whopping 11 strokes.
It’s the worst round Masters round since two-time winner Ben Crenshaw opened with a 91 in 2015. Crenshaw, however, was 63 and playing his last Masters.
Dunlap struggled from the start, making bogeys on the first, third and fourth holes before a triple-bogey 7 on the fifth. He made seven bogeys in all along with five doubles and that triple. He finished his round double bogey-bogey-double.
Dunlap, who won on the PGA Tour in January 2024 as an amateur, did not speak to reporters after his round. His playing partner, former McNeese State standout Robert MacIntyre, did.
“He was struggling out there today, (but) his attitude was solid,” said the Scottish golfer, who shot 75. “He didn’t get in the way.
“I feel for him today, but he’ll bounce back.”
Burns battles
Former LSU All-American Sam Burns, trying to break a slumping streak of three straight missed cuts, battled back from a pair of double bogeys to shoot a 1 over 73.
Burns doubled the par-4 fifth to fall to 3 over, but birdied the sixth, seventh and ninth to make the turn at even par. A bogey-double bogey stumble at 10 and 11 again put him at 3 over, but Burns played the final seven holes in 2 under with birdies at the famous par-3 12th and the tough par-4 17th.
The Shreveport native has missed the cut in two of his three Masters starts and has only broken par in two of his nine rounds at Augusta National.
Zurich Masters
The first round was a mixed bag for the Zurich ambassadors who represent the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Collin Morikawa bogeyed 18 to shoot an even-par 72, as did Sahith Theegala. Two-time Zurich champion Billy Horschel didn’t have a birdie and slogged to a 5 over 77.
Morikawa and media
Morikawa’s controversial decision not to speak to reporters after losing to Russell Henley at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and his continued stance that he is not obligated to talk to reporters drew comment from two-time Masters champion Tom Watson.
Speaking at a news conference after the ceremonial tee shots to start the tournament, Watson said players have an obligation to speak to the media.
“I do remember one time at the New Orleans Open I was asked to go to the pressroom,” said Watson, who won in 1980-81 at Lakewood Country Club. “It was getting dark after my round, and I had a bad round, and I said, ‘I have to go to the practice tee, but I’ll be there after I hit balls.’ I had to do it, and maybe that wasn’t the right way to do it, but I did go to the pressroom afterwards.
“It’s our responsibility to help you with your job. That’s the way I feel about it.”
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