GOLF: Sam Burns torches par 5s to grab early Masters lead

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Sam Burns capitalized on Augusta National’s longest holes to fire a 5-under-par 67 on Thursday, grabbing the early first-round lead in the 90th edition of the Masters Tournament.

Burns opened his round in style, rolling in an 11-foot eagle putt on the par-5 second hole to quickly move up the leaderboard. After giving a stroke back with a bogey on the seventh, he responded immediately with a birdie on the par-5 eighth. He continued to attack the par 5s on the back nine, adding birdies on both of them, and also picked up another shot on the par-3 12th.

The performance marked the best Masters round of Burns’ career, surpassing his previous best of 68 in the opening round in 2023. In 12 prior rounds across four appearances at Augusta National, that had been the only time he had broken 70 until Thursday’s breakthrough.

“I think historically people who have success here play the par-5s really well, and we were able to do that today. So, it’s a good recipe around this golf course,” Burns said.

Patrick Reed also reached 5 under during an up-and-down round, highlighted by eagling both par-5s on the front nine to turn in 31. However, the 2018 champion slipped with a bogey at No. 10 and later found water on the par-5 15th, leading to another dropped shot.

Kurt Kitayama finished at 3-under 69 after an eventful day. He reached 4 under through 10 holes before a bogey on No. 11 and a double bogey on the par-3 12th stalled his momentum. Kitayama rebounded late with two birdies coming in to remain among the early leaders.

Bryson DeChambeau, looking to build on his career-best Masters finish of fifth last year, was even par heading into the challenging stretch of holes 11 through 13 known as “Amen Corner.” On No. 11, DeChambeau’s approach found a bunker behind the green, where he struggled to escape, ultimately taking a triple bogey on the hole.

He closed with a bogey-birdie-bogey stretch to finish the day at 4-over-par.

The tournament’s 91-player field includes 22 first-time competitors — six amateurs and 16 professionals. Each amateur is paired with a Masters champion for the first two rounds of play.

The event continues at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. -Derek Harper, Field Level Media/Reuters