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Mize opens Masters Tournament with 74
Larry Mize made his feelings clear after carding an opening round 74 at the 81st Masters Tournament.
“I’m happy I’m done,” he said, laughing.
As wind swirled through Augusta National Golf Club, Mize shot even par on the second nine, highlighted by a birdie on the par-3 16th. For the round, the Augusta native hit 13 of 14 fairways but countered that by hitting only eight of 18 greens in regulation.
When asked how he ranked Thursday’s conditions, Mize said, “They rank up there. In ’88, the year I was defending, we had a really tough first round and I shot 79. This is when this place plays really hard. The wind swirls, club selection is tough and you want to be accurate with your irons into these greens.”
Mize, the 1987 Masters champion, started slow Thursday – carding bogeys on Nos. 1 and 6 before recording nine consecutive pars from holes 7 to 15. On No. 16, despite being in-between clubs, Mize choked down on a 5-iron and holed a 15-foot putt for his only birdie of the round.
“That putt below the hole on 16 breaks hard right to left and I always miss it low,” Mize said. “Today, thank goodness, I didn’t.”
Overall, Mize said he was pleased with Thursday’s round but feels a better score was a realistic possibility.
“I’m pleased with (74), but the competitor in you knows I had a few shots get away,” he said. “My three bogeys, I feel like I could have made pars on those holes.”
Mize, who’s paired with Brian Stuard and Stewart Hagestad, will tee off at 11:40 a.m. Friday.
Masters Record
Year | Place | Score | Round | Earnings | |||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||
2016 | T52 | +13 | 76 | 73 | 78 | 74 | $ 24,900 |
2015 | T80 | +7 | 78 | 73 | $ 10,000 | ||
2014 | 51 | +16 | 74 | 72 | 79 | 79 | $ 22,680 |
2013 | T62 | +5 | 73 | 76 | $ 10,000 | ||
2012 | T65 | +7 | 76 | 75 | $ 10,000 | ||
2011 | T82 | +6 | 73 | 77 | $ 10,000 | ||
2010 | T49 | +4 | 76 | 72 | $ 10,000 | ||
2009 | T30 | -1 | 67 | 76 | 72 | 72 | $ 46,575 |
2008 | 91 | +14 | 77 | 81 | $ 10,000 | ||
2007 | 90 | +17 | 83 | 78 | $ 10,000 | ||
2006 | T42 | +8 | 75 | 72 | 77 | 72 | $ 25,900 |
2005 | T74 | +9 | 78 | 75 | $ 5,000 | ||
2004 | T58 | +6 | 76 | 74 | $ 5,000 | ||
2003 | T58 | +8 | 78 | 74 | $ 5,000 | ||
2002 | T46 | +4 | 74 | 74 | $ 5,000 | ||
2001 | T59 | +4 | 74 | 74 | $ 5,000 | ||
2000 | T25 | +4 | 78 | 67 | 73 | 74 | $ 37,567 |
1999 | 23 | +2 | 76 | 70 | 72 | 72 | $ 41,600 |
1998 | T58 | +8 | 73 | 79 | $ 5,000 | ||
1997 | T30 | +6 | 79 | 69 | 74 | 72 | $ 17,145 |
1996 | T23 | +3 | 75 | 71 | 77 | 68 | $ 25,000 |
1995 | T56 | +3 | 76 | 71 | $ 1,500 | ||
1994 | 3 | -6 | 68 | 71 | 72 | 71 | $ 136,000 |
1993 | T20 | E | 67 | 74 | 74 | 73 | $ 17,000 |
1992 | T6 | -7 | 73 | 69 | 71 | 68 | $ 43,829 |
1991 | T17 | -5 | 72 | 71 | 66 | 74 | $ 18,920 |
1990 | T14 | E | 70 | 76 | 71 | 71 | $ 20,650 |
1989 | T26 | +5 | 72 | 77 | 69 | 75 | $ 8,240 |
1988 | T45 | +16 | 78 | 71 | 76 | 79 | $ 3,400 |
1987 | 1 | -3 | 70 | 72 | 72 | 71 | $ 162,000 |
1986 | T16 | -2 | 75 | 74 | 72 | 65 | $ 12,000 |
1985 | T47 | +10 | 71 | 75 | 76 | 76 | $ 2,115 |
1984 | T11 | -4 | 71 | 70 | 71 | 72 | $ 13,200 |