The opening round of the Masters produced two very different storylines for golfers with Utah ties at Augusta National. Rory McIlroy set the early pace with a 5-under 67, while former BYU standout Mike Weir faced a difficult path after an opening 81 left him far outside the projected cut line.
Weir, the only golfer in the 91-player field with strong Utah connections, struggled from the start and likely needs an unusually strong second round to extend his stay. The 55-year-old left-hander, who won the Masters in 2003, sits tied for 86th after a round that featured two double bogeys, one birdie, and a late bogey.
Weir’s Round Quickly Fell Apart
Weir’s scorecard turned in the wrong direction early on the par-4 third hole, where a double-bogey 6 pushed him to 3 over. He later added another double bogey on the par-4 17th and closed with a bogey on 18, preventing any late recovery.
His only birdie of the day came at the par-5 13th, a brief bright spot in an otherwise difficult round. With conditions described as favorable for scoring, his 9-over total stood out as one of the tougher opening efforts of the day.
McIlroy Sets the Standard
McIlroy, the defending champion, took advantage of ideal conditions and posted a 67 to share the lead with American Sam Burns. The contrast highlighted how much easier Augusta National played for the leaders compared with players who battled mistakes and missed opportunities.
McIlroy’s performance gave him an early position near the top of the leaderboard, while others, including Weir, were left trying to avoid the cut. In a major where momentum matters, the opening round created a sharp divide between contenders and survivors.
What Weir Faces Next
Weir is scheduled to tee off at 6:02 a.m. MDT Friday alongside former U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark and Argentine amateur Mateo Pulcini. Clark opened with a 72, while Pulcini also posted an 81, matching Weir’s score.
A simple look at the group’s opening rounds shows the range of difficulty across the Masters field:
- Rory McIlroy — 67
- Sam Burns — 67
- Wyndham Clark — 72
- Mike Weir — 81
- Mateo Pulcini — 81
This is Weir’s 27th Masters appearance, a reminder of his long relationship with Augusta National and one of golf’s most memorable championship runs. The Canadian became the first left-handed major champion since Bob Charles when he won the Masters in 2003, a victory that remains a defining moment in his career and in Canadian golf.
Weir now competes on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, but Augusta still presents a familiar challenge at one of golf’s most demanding venues. His second round will determine whether another Masters weekend is possible or whether his latest return to Augusta ends after 36 holes.
