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"It was hard. It was windy," said 57-year-old Couples after
returning a very solid one-over 73. "I've never seen it like
this."
Couples, the 1992 Masters champion, was not alone.
From first time visitors to Masters veterans the feeling was the
same, the howling winds bending flag sticks and Georgia pines
were the wildest ever experienced at the year's first major.
Even for European golfers like Britons Justin Rose and Danny
Willett, who grew up playing on windswept links courses, the
conditions were among the most challenging they had faced.
"You beat the golf course today, you can be pretty proud of
yourself," said Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open champion who carded an
opening round 71. "It was certainly very, very tough out there.
"I haven't played this course in a heavy wind like this before,
or certainly nothing this heavy. And there's no respite out
there.
"Even simple tap ins aren't simple."
Willett, the reigning Masters champion, opened his title defense
with bogeys on the first two holes but eventually came to grips
with the punishing conditions, which he considered borderline
playable.
"Today was as strong of a wind as I've seen around here with it
being playable," said Willett, who rallied from his early
stumble to card a 73.
"We always know Augusta for having quick greens and if it was
any windier out there today I think they would have probably had
called it a little bit."
While many of the world's top ranked golfers were left baffled
by the winds others, like three-times Masters champion Phil
Mickelson and his fellow American Rickie Fowler, embraced the
wild winds.
"You're not going to try to squeeze much out of the round
today," Rickie Fowler. "Anything under par today was good and
even par is still a good score and one over's not terrible.
"I love playing in the wind, this golf course is fun to play,
you got to hit shots and quality golf shots especially in the
wind, so the tournament's far from over."
(Editing by Nick Mulvenney)
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