Russell Henley was the first off in the first round of the Masters on Thursday, playing in conditions better suited for windmills at a miniature golf course than for those trying to win the season’s first major at Augusta National.
Still, by keeping the flight of his ball below tree line the former Georgia standout seemed satisfied to shoot 1-under 71.
“I felt like I could go low today,” he said. “Obviously I won last week so I was feeling confident that I could go out there and play.”
Despite winds hammering the flags on the scoreboard to his right, Henley said he thinks someone could post a score as low as 6 under.
“It’s tough, but it’s doable,” he said.
He said the only time the wind really affected one of his shots came on his second at the par-4 11th. In the fairway off the tee and standing at a point high above the green, his 200-yard approach ballooned to the right, 25 yards past the pin. He made bogey.
He said the wind was coming from the west, straight into them. He thought he hit his 5-iron solidly.
“I don’t know what happened there,” he said. “It’s just tricky around those trees. Around Amen Corner it’s tough.
His birdies came at No. 2, 4, 12, 13 and 14 with bogeys at Nos. 3, 10, 11 and 17. He just missed a birdie at 18.
Henley qualified for his fourth Masters by winning the Shell Houston Open last week. His previous best finish at Augusta National was 21st in 2015. He finished tied for 31st in 2014 and missed the cut in 2013.
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