AUGUSTA, Ga. — Only 18 holes into the 90th Masters and the tournament is already shaping into a stern test. A favorable forecast has firmed Augusta National; fast, bouncy fairways and drying greens are primed to separate pretenders from contenders over the weekend.
After one round the leaderboard is stacked with elite players and those who have thrived here before. Five of last year’s top 10 are again inside the top 10, and four of the world’s top five sit among the 18 players under par. With the course likely to get tougher, here’s what to watch heading into the second round.
Who can stay near the top?
Rory McIlroy opened with a 5-under 67 to share the lead and is trying to become the first back-to-back Masters winner since Tiger Woods in 2001. McIlroy himself said the score felt almost undeserved — he hit only five of 14 fairways and thought he should have been around 2 under — but his short game and confidence after completing the career grand slam last year have him loose and dangerous.
“I said this when I came in on Tuesday: I think winning a Masters makes it easier to win your second one,” McIlroy said. “I think it’s easier for me to make those swings and not worry about where it goes when I know that I can go to the Champions Locker Room and put my green jacket on and have a Coke Zero at the end of the day.”
Scottie Scheffler managed a C-game 2-under 70 and remains a threat, while Justin Rose’s 70 following his near-miss last year shows he knows how to grind around Augusta. Patrick Reed, a 2018 champion who opened with 3-under 69, has found strong form this year with wins on the DP World Tour and plenty of Masters experience. Xander Schauffele’s quiet 70 shouldn’t be ignored; despite a down 2025 he’s shown excellent Augusta form historically and has three top-10s in 2026.
How the course played and what’s coming
Firm fairways meant heavy roll on drives — debutant Chris Gotterup averaged around 363 yards off the tee — and high afternoon temperatures with low humidity will only dry the course more. Predicted mid-80s and dropping humidity point to baked-out conditions that make greens less receptive and force more precise distance control and tactical thinking.
Evidence came at the par-5 13th. McIlroy, earlier in the day, produced enough spin on a 60-yard pitch to hold the green and convert a birdie. Later, Scheffler and Gary Woodland hit similar-length pitches and watched the balls bounce off the firmer, less receptive surface, turning birdie chances into par saves. Players warned that with the greens firm, thinking about the best miss and controlling distance will be crucial.
“There’s going to have to be a lot of patience,” Reed said. “You know it’s going to get fast, and it’s going to take a lot of patience. You’re going to have to hit the ball solid and put the ball in the right spots.”
Who disappointed in round one?
Jon Rahm entered with momentum from recent LIV results but carded a 6-over 78, 11 shots behind the leaders. Rahm’s iron play and putting were both off — he lost more than a stroke to the field with his irons and three-putted four times — leaving him effectively shot out of contention after 18 holes despite the potential to regroup.
Bryson DeChambeau, coming off wins on LIV and a strong Masters history, also struggled. After reaching the turn even, he imploded at the par-4 11th by finding a right greenside bunker and taking three swings to escape for a triple-bogey 7 in an opening 4-over 76. DeChambeau said some misjudged yardage and softer-than-expected sand compounded the damage.
What players must fight to make the cut
The projected 36-hole cut sits around 4 over. Several notable names hovered near or beyond that line after round one. Bubba Watson, Sungjae Im, Nicolai Højgaard and DeChambeau were around the projected cut line. Patrick Cantlay, Harry Hall and Maverick McNealy sat at 5 over. Min Woo Lee, Fred Couples and Jon Rahm were 6 over. Brian Harman was 7 over and Robert MacIntyre 8 over.
Hall said he planned equipment changes — experimenting with two drivers and a new putter — and adjustments to his ball and iron setup to try to create more spin and better distance control. Others will similarly need low, clean rounds Friday to advance.
Bottom line
Augusta is poised to get tougher as the week goes on, emphasizing precision, spin control and tactical misses. McIlroy’s fluid start and belief after last year’s win make him a favorite to remain near the top, while proven Augusta players like Scheffler, Rose, Reed and Schauffele should be in the mix. Meanwhile, several top names who faltered Thursday face a must-go-low Friday to have any shot at seeing the weekend.
