|
|
| Friday Apr 10, 2026 |
Reigning champion Rory McIlroy has a share of the first-round lead after firing a 67 (-5) Thursday. He is just the seventh Masters champion to have at least a share of the lead at the end of the first round of the following Masters. He joins Jordan Spieth (2016, finished T2), Jose Maria Olazabal (1995, T14), Jack Nicklaus (1966, won), Gary Player (1962, lost in playoff), Arnold Palmer (1961, T2) and Jack Burke Jr. (1957, T7). McIlroy, who hit just five of 14 fairways, is just the second player in the last 10 years to shoot 67 or better in a Masters round despite hitting five or fewer fairways. Hideki Matsuyama hit only five fairways in the third round in 2021 en route to shooting 65 and eventually winning the tournament.
MASTERS CHAT
The First Call is hosting a daily chat thread on its The First Call | Extra Substack platform. If you are already a The First Call | Extra subscriber on Substack, you will receive an email invitation each morning. If you would like to sign up for The First Call | Extra, simply click here.
POLL
▪️ Who should be the 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup captain? | Vote
▪️ Previous: Should Tiger Woods captain the 2027 U.S. Ryder Cup team? | Results
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
▪️ What changes to Augusta National Golf Club or the Masters would you make? | Respond
▪️ Previous: What are your expectations and predictions for the 2026 Masters? | Read
| | |
| | |
| | |
|
For decades we have heard the tune that opens CBS' Masters coverage, but how much do we really know about it? Well, here is the backstory.
|
RECENT DROPS
🎧 ROAD TO AUGUSTA
Lawrence Bennett’s life at Augusta National
Guest: Lawrence Bennett, lifelong Augustan and longtime Augusta National Golf Club employee.
Listen | Archives
🎧 ROAD TO AUGUSTA
The Nicklaus files
Guest: Jack Nicklaus II, son of and caddie for 1986 Masters champion Jack Nicklaus.
Listen | Archives
🎧 GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Alan Shipnuck: The book on Rory McIlroy
Guest: Alan Shipnuck, author of "Rory: The Heartache and Triumph of Golf’s Most Human Superstar."
Listen | Archives
🎧 DRIVER$: INSIDE THE GOLF INDUSTRY
Golf course operations in the land of 8:30 p.m. tee times
Guests: Settlers Bay Golf Course's Amos Stephens (superintendent, partner and general manager) and Vicky Urbina (executive director, partner and operator).
Listen | Archives
| | |
| | |
▪️ Rory McIlroy opens Masters title defense with 67 after Jack Nicklaus touts his chances to repeat
[Steve Reed | Associated Press | Read]
▪️ Bunker blowup at Amen Corner sends Bryson DeChambeau to a 76 on the 1st day of the Masters
[Noah Trister | Associated Press | Read]
▪️ History says the Masters is already down to just 16 players
[Jamie Kennedy | Golf Digest | Read]
▪️ At the Masters, the player/coach relationship is crucial. And different
[Michael Bamberger | Golf.com | Read]
▪️ Five things to know from Thursday’s first round at the masters
[Nick Pietruszkiewicz | Masters.com | Read]
▪️ The Masters and the men of eetters
[Keith Van Valkenburg | The Fried Egg | Read]
▪️ Bryson DeChambeau's week in Augusta could be over early if this historic stat holds true
[Ryan Herrington | Golf Digest | Read]
Augusta National Golf Club: Masters
Site: Augusta, Georgia.
Course: Augusta National GC.
Television [ET]: Friday, 1-3 p.m. (Prime Video), 3-7:30 p.m. (ESPN); Saturday-Sunday, noon to 2 p.m. (Paramount+), 2-7 p.m. (CBS).
GCSAA Fact Sheet
MAY
4-6: National Golf Day, Washington, D.C. | Info
5-7: Golf Business Technology Conference, Belfast, Ireland | Info
15-16: British Golf Show, Marlow, England | Info
To submit events for the calendar, please include the event name, date, location and informational link to info@firstcallgolf.com.
| | |
| | |
