Overview
- Tommy Fleetwood raced to 4-under by the turn in the opening round before a mud-covered ball on the 10th fairway led to a bogey and halted his momentum.
- He closed with bogeys at 12, 16, and 18 and a birdie at 14 to finish at 1-under, four shots behind leaders Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns.
- Fleetwood called the episode bad luck, saying he was unlucky on 10, and he described leaning on patience and steady iron play to stay in the mix.
- Players report that mud balls still influence the Masters, especially at holes 11 and 13 where a distorted flight can bring water into play and push layup decisions.
- Jordan Spieth’s remarks last year about a reluctance to discuss the issue at Augusta highlight how a course quirk can be both sensitive and decisive.