The Masters 2022: Sungjae Im claims first round lead from Cameron Smith after Tiger Woods brilliance
As Woods reminded the world of his greatness, the 2020 joint runners-up combined to sit first and second after 18 holes at Augusta National.
In the first half of the day Tiger Woods wowed the galleries and the watching world with an astounding round of 1-under-par 71, reminding us yet again that the 15-time Major Champion, who spent last April in a hospital bed following a car crash and has never played since, can never, ever be discounted.
Australia's Cameron Smith, a two-time winner this year, was the first to set an imposing clubhouse target.
He just keeps making birdies.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 7, 2022
Cameron Smith leads by 2. pic.twitter.com/V4qkOHzjFg
The 28-year-old has opened his campaign with a double bogey-6, and he ended his day in exactly the same fashion, but in-between those errors he was deadly with his approach work, setting up eight birdies to carded a 4-under-par 68.
That total was surpassed late in the day by Sungjae Im, who shared second with Smith at the 2020 Masters.
Eagle on No. 13 and the co-lead for Sungjae Im. #themasters pic.twitter.com/v2aj0TihFz
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 7, 2022
Cameron Smith's short game 💯 pic.twitter.com/kWraI2RcKB
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 7, 2022
In a final replay of past Masters, Rory McIlroy failed to break par in the first round for a fourth consecutive year, his 73 following the 73-75-76 he has carded in the last three editions.