The uber-tough Masters is like the U.S. Open — and that’s a good thing

Are you not entertained?

Are you not entertained?

I know I am. Yes, there was a lot of weird, wild golf on Thursday in the first round of the 2021 Masters — a putt for eagle that went into the water, some shots that might have sat on wetter greens but instead rolled off like they were hit onto a hardwood floor, brown greens everywhere, and just 12 (!!!) players who were under par.

I also happen to love the U.S. Open, with its similarly torturous conditions that inevitably lead to complaints from golfers and fans alike. Let’s see what happens when the world’s best are really put to the test and have to grind it out. How do they adjust? Can they adapt?

It led to quotes like this:

That’s how tough it was. It felt like a boxing match to these dudes!

Yes, there have been years when Augusta has been a paradise for the biggest names in the game — Dustin Johnson took home the green jacket last year at 20-under.

But let’s remember Danny Willett won in 2016 thanks to a 5-under in four rounds with just five other players with red numbers. Zach Johnson won in 2007 at 1-over. Those were still years when we enjoyed the ride, even if the scores resembled those you’d see at the U.S. Open.

Plus, even with absurdly fast greens, there’s no guarantee the Day 1 leader — Justin Rose, whose ball-striking brilliance seems perfect for these conditions — will be able to hang on for the next three days.

See? Even if putts are rolling into water and chips are going from one side of the fringe to the other, it’s going to be a wild ride. Let’s see if this struggling group can turn it around Friday and on the weekend.

https://youtu.be/BcYr2ualrOo