Sergio wrecks in the Masters with an eight bogey on 15

From an eagle on the 15th on his way to winning the Masters last year to needing 10 more strokes in this edition of the big one! to overcome that par 5. No less than 13 strokes were needed yesterday by Sergio Garcia to sink that hole at the fearsome Augusta National. Such was the disaster, that with that score he has equaled the worst result in a hole in the history of the Masters. “It’s the first time in my entire career that I’ve made 13 strokes; it’s as simple as that,” declared the desolate protagonist. “I think I hit a lot of good shots but unfortunately the ball just didn’t want to stop. It’s just bad luck, but it is what it is.” The Spaniard signed a card of 81 strokes, the worst he has recorded in the 78 majors he has played.

Sergio sent his second ball into the water, then dropped and his four consecutive wedge shots also ended up in the water. He finally holed the eight bogey from three meters and thus avoided setting a new record for the most strokes in one hole in the history of the Masters, although equaling it at 13 was certainly no consolation for the Spaniard.

In 1978, Tommy Nakajima also made 13 strokes on another par 5 of the second round of the Masters, on the 13th hole. Tom Weiskopf perpetrated 12 strokes on a par 3, the 12th, in 1980. The previous worst record on the 15th at Augusta National was held by three players: Jumbo Ozaki (1987), Ben Crenshaw (1997) and Ignacio Garrido (1998).

Apart from Sergio’s shipwreck, the good news for the Spanish team is that Rafael Cabrera-Bello is only three strokes behind the leader, Jordan Spieth (66 strokes, -6), and one behind the surprising Tony Finau, who had dislocated his ankle the day before celebrating a hole-in-one, and Matt Kuchar. Tied at -3 with the only Spaniard who yesterday made a round under par, are among others figures of the stature of Henrik Stenson, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson or Rickie Fowler.

Jon Rham closed his first round with 75 strokes, +3, and lamented that luck had not been with him despite having hit some very good shots. Chema Olazábal played a good role and signed a card of 74.

The most mediatic figure of the tournament, Tiger Woods, absent two years from the Masters, returned to Augusta with a round of 73 strokes (+1) and shares 29th place tied with eleven other players.