GOLF: Golf-Olazabal turns back clock at Masters with vintage Augusta masterclass before late stumble

AUGUSTA, Georgia - For a significant stretch of the opening round of the Masters on Thursday, two-time champion José María Olazábal turned back the clock at Augusta National Golf Club, briefly taking control of the leaderboard before late trouble dropped him to a two-over-par 74.

The 60-year-old Spaniard, whose game no longer relies on power, instead leaned on precision and elite short-game touch to challenge a younger field. He birdied the second and third holes and reached the turn at two-under par, becoming one of the few players aged 60 or older to achieve that mark through nine holes in Masters history.

Playing in the third group alongside South African power hitter Aldrich Potgieter, who leads the PGA Tour in driving distance, Olazábal showcased vintage course management at the iconic Augusta National Golf Club.

For a brief moment, he even found himself alone at the top of the leaderboard.

“I saw I was two under and thought, ‘I’m leading the Masters,’” Olazábal said, reflecting on the surprising position.

After a steady run of 10 consecutive pars, his round unraveled on the back nine. A costly three-hole stretch included a double bogey at the par-five 15th after his approach spun off the green and into the water, ending his bid for a remarkable opening-round lead.

“I didn’t think I mis-hit the shot,” he said of the 15th. “It just came up a couple yards short. That’s Augusta.”

Despite the late collapse, Olazábal finished well ahead of his playing partner, who endured a more difficult round in his second Masters appearance.

The contrast between the two highlighted Augusta National’s enduring challenge: distance alone is not enough, with precision and strategy often proving decisive.

Olazábal, a two-time Masters champion, leaned heavily on his decades of experience at the course.

“I’ve played here for many years,” he said. “You have to think your way around, choose the right misses, and rely on your short game. That’s what keeps you in the tournament.”

At Augusta National Golf Club, experience once again proved invaluable—even if only for a few fleeting holes. -Reporting by Frank Pingue in Augusta, GeorgiaEditing by Christian Radnedge/Reuters