There have been four players in tourney history who have scored an “8” on the first hole, one that played among the top three most difficult holes of the day through 3 p.m., including Olin Browne and Scott Simpson in 1998, Billy Casper in 2001 and Jeev Milka Singh in 2007.
Els’ 10 isn’t close to the worst Masters hole score in competition. Tom Weiskopf once made “13” at the par-3 12th in 1980 and Tommy Nakajima matched that at the par-5 13th in 1998.
In 74 previous Masters’ rounds on the first hole, Els had never scored worse than a double-bogey “6” once, while making seven birdies, 56 pars and 10 bogeys. And he previously had only one hole with worse than a double bogey in his 21 previous Masters.
Els has won 19 times on the PGA Tour and four majors, two British Opens and two U.S. Opens.
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