Nobody has won The Masters a year after putting on a Green Jacket since Tiger Woods in 2002.
But Scottie Scheffler looks determined to change that after an imperious start to his tournament.
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Scheffler is the man to beat on early formCredit: Getty
The two-time champion hit a monster 62-yard putt to card his second birdie of the day on the par-three fourth and ignite his challenge for a third Green Jacket in four years.
He hit the turn three-under — the joint-best score by a defending champion over the last 30 years.
There have only been four other instances — and one of them was Scheffler himself.
He also drained a 40-footer for birdie on 16 to move four-under.
“Every time I watch Scottie Scheffler, it gives me Jokic vibes. Both make it seem so effortless and will make an amazing shot & you’ll get zero reaction out of them,” said one NBA fan.
“Congratulations Scottie Scheffler,” joked another, getting slightly ahead of themselves.
Per golf statistician Justin Ray on X, Scheffler gained three strokes putting — his best for a single round at Augusta.
A missed birdie chance on the 18th saw Scheffler shoot a four-under 68 — his fourth straight opening round in the 60s.
It placed him in a share for the clubhouse lead with Canadian Corey Conners, although Justin Rose was looking strong after going six-under through 10 holes.
“Anytime you can keep a card clean out here, it’s a really good thing,” he said after his round.
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Scheffler and caddie Ted Scott celebrate a job well doneCredit: Getty
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The world No.1 helps compatriot Justin Thomas look for his ballCredit: Getty
“I struggled for what felt like two pars today. I had to make two really good up-and-downs.
“But other than that, the golf course was in front of me most of the day, kept the ball in play, did a lot of really good things out there.”
Scheffler is the betting favorite but honorary starters Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson all think it is finally Rory McIlroy‘s year.
“I think it’s about time that Rory won and I sat down with him last week,” Nicklaus said. “I said ‘I know you prepared for Augusta, tell me how you’re going to play the golf course’.
“We went through it shot for shot, we got done with the round, I didn’t open my mouth and I said ‘I wouldn’t change a thing’. That’s exactly the way I would try to play the golf course.
“The discipline to do that is what Rory has lacked in my opinion. He’s got all the shots, he’s got all the game.
“He certainly is as talented as anybody in the game, but if you go back through his history in the last few years he gets to a place and all of a sudden a seven or an eight pops up and that keeps him from getting where he needs to go.”
Nicklaus, Player, Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen and Woods are the only players ever to complete a Grand Slam of all four Majors.
McIlroy is one short and Player is desperate for him to get there.
“I hope he does, because it will give golf a great boost to have another winner of the Grand Slam,” he said.
Footage captures Scottie Scheffler’s reaction to Min Woo Lee’s winning put