Rickie Fowler fights through to get on track in first round

Experience is considered a huge positive at Augusta National.

Patience, however, is a trait generally touted at U.S. Opens.

Rickie Fowler had both in his bag during Thursday’s opening round of the Masters Tournament.

“I really didn’t have a birdie look until 11, as far as one that was maybe flat or uphill that you actually tried to make,” he said after opening with a 2-under-par 70.

Prior to the par-4 11th, Fowler recorded nine pars and, on the third, a three-putt bogey. He birdied the par-4 11th from 30 feet and converted from 4 feet at the par-3 12th.

Early-week rain and its byproduct – softer grounds – saved Fowler on the par-5 15th, where his second shot landed between the fronting pond and the green and stayed there.

He chipped to  four feet and made his final birdie before finishing with three pars.

Fowler’s recent Masters memories are quite positive. He put together a 65-67 weekend last year to finish second to Patrick Reed. On Thursday, however, he was forced into counter-punching mode.

“This golf course, you’ve got to respect it,” he said. “It can tear you apart really quickly if you’re not careful. You get some downhill putts out here and, yes, you can make them, but for the most part you’re just trying to get good speed and if it happens to go in, it goes in.”

Fowler is paired with Rory McIlroy and Cameron Smith for the first 36 holes. That threesome draws today’s final tee time at 2 p.m. Fowler doesn’t have to look far to find where a lower number is available for Round 2.

“I shot 2 under today and I birdied one of the par 5s, so I didn’t take care of the par 5s,” he said. “And that’s where you can at least turn a good round into a really good round. You can save a bad round with playing the par 5s well here. So I’m happy with where we’re at, having room for improvement on the par 5s.”

Along with patience and experience, Fowler started the 2019 Masters with momentum, courtesy of last year’s final 36 holes. That, too, appeared to play a role Thursday.

“I lean on the past nine years here, playing and understanding how to play this golf course and how I play it,” he said. “Not everyone plays it the same way, and I have to play to my strengths.

“I felt like I did a good job. Kind of hanging on in the front and then playing a good back nine. Like I said, it would’ve been nice to play the par 5s better, but we’re off to a good start and that’s what Thursday is about.”