Fri Apr 10 13:00:00 UTC 2026: # McIlroy and Weir Experience Starkly Different Fortunes at Masters Opening
The Story: The opening round of the 90th Masters Tournament at Augusta National saw contrasting performances from past champions. Rory McIlroy, the defending champion, delivered a strong showing, firing a 5-under 67 to tie for the lead with Sam Burns. However, Mike Weir, the 2003 champion, struggled significantly, shooting a 9-over-par 81, placing him near the bottom of the leaderboard and likely missing the cut.
Key Points:
- Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1 with a 5-under 67.
- Mike Weir shot a 9-over 81, tied for 86th place.
- Weir’s round included double-bogeys on the 3rd and 17th holes, and a bogey on the 18th.
- Weir, age 55, plays on the PGA Tour Champions Tour.
- This is Weir’s 27th appearance at the Masters.
- Tony Finau, a Utahn who has played in the Masters the past eight years, did not qualify this year.
Key Takeaways:
- The Masters Tournament can present vastly different challenges and outcomes for golfers, even past champions.
- Age and current tour affiliation (PGA vs. Champions Tour) can significantly impact performance at major championships.
- Qualifying for the Masters is a continuous challenge, as evidenced by Tony Finau’s absence.
First Piper 