Bryson DeChambeau sets pace at Masters with first-round 65

Bryson DeChambeau acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

In 2020, we were primed for the age of Bryson DeChambeau. The US Open had been claimed, Augusta National was supposedly a par of 67 rather than 72 and golfers the world over were trying to imitate the bomb and gouge approach of this wacky Californian.

DeChambeau polarised opinion but was a genuine needle-mover in a sport where vanilla is the prominent flavour. DeChambeau’s peculiar habit of rubbing people up the wrong way masked the fact he always seemed to mean well. The Mad Scientist helped to sell sport to the masses. He had an extended feud with Brooks Koepka and publicly berated his own equipment manufacturer in between winning eight times on the PGA Tour. Being Bryson seemed exhausting.

Amazingly, DeChambeau had rather disappeared from view until planting himself at the top of the leaderboard on day one at the 88th Masters. A superb 65 – is that seven under par, or two? – served as a timely reminder of his talent. DeChambeau’s switch to LIV has played a part in the lowering of his profile. Who knew, for example, he shot 61 and 58 when winning on the rebel tour last August?

A post-round media conference at Augusta was colourful. DeChambeau was asked, for example, whether he idolises prominent YouTubers. “I don’t idolise anyone but God,” he said. “I love God.” The almighty is going to have a tricky decision to make over who should don a Green Jacket. Scottie Scheffler, whose faith is routinely stated, edged ominously to within touching distance of DeChambeau before close of play.

Scheffler is hiding in plain sight after a 66. Any backing of the field against the strong pre-tournament favourite may have been unwise. Scheffler holed out from a bunker behind the 12th green for the marquee moment of his day. Equally significant, perhaps, was a brave two-putt from 80ft to save par at the last. Scheffler’s putting is about the only thing giving hope to the other 88 players in this field.

This, however, felt like DeChambeau’s day. He birdied the first three holes then, instead of hanging tight, continued to press on the accelerator. A back nine of 31 ensured DeChambeau’s finest Augusta performance. It came after back-to-back Masters missed cuts.

“I’m a very passionate individual and some people can take that in a pretty negative way,” he said. “Others can take it in a way of, ‘Wow, he’s trying to pave his own path.’ I think it’s a pretty big misconception, that I’m divisive. I’m really not. I don’t try to be. It may come off that way because I’m passionate about certain things and certain subjects. That’s up for interpretation and opinion. I respect everybody’s opinion and what they think. I understand the pathway that I pave is going to be viewed in multiple ways.”

This is, DeChambeau insisted, “the golf phase. I’d say the golf phase for sure. Trying to be the best golfer I can be.” Greg Norman, LIV’s commissioner, watched the Masters leader from outside the ropes.

Danny Willett’s prominence is extraordinary. The Yorkshireman left the PGA Championship at Wentworth last September and headed straight for shoulder surgery. Doctors predicted Willett would not play again for between 12 and 18 months. By January, the 2016 Masters champion felt he could return to Magnolia Lane. Yet it was only on Sunday that he made a firm decision to take his place in the draw here. So far, so good; Willett rolled in a birdie putt at the last to complete a 68. “I think I might take the next six months off,” Willett said with a broad smile. “I had no idea what to expect, so it’s obviously always nice to come in having shot a decent score. I could have shot 80 but it was still nice to have the ability to peg up and not be in pain. From where I was, to be able to play pain-free is a pretty nice thing.”

Ryan Fox reached minus five but shipped two shots in his closing six holes. Joaquin Niemann has thus far justified the special invitation given to him by Augusta National after posting a 70. Niemann was actually one over after 12. Matt Fitzpatrick went in the other direction after dropping shots at the 14th, 17th and 18th from a strong position of four under. Jon Rahm began his defence with a 73.

Thunder storms predicted to batter Augusta overnight into Thursday failed to arrive but there was sufficient rain for the start of play to be delayed by two and a half hours. The knock-on effect from that will see a batch of players – including Tiger Woods – return to complete their opening rounds on Friday morning.

Twenty years on from his first Masters success, Phil Mickelson opened with a 73. Mickelson’s thoughts turned to DeChambeau, for whom he has been something of a career-long mentor. “He’s one of the smartest people I know, he’s one of the most talented players I know and probably one of the hardest working,” said Mickelson. “He has found a way to play golf that’s different and unique from anybody I’ve ever seen. He believes and knows that it gives him opportunities and advantages, and he’s got the commitment and the self-assurance to not care what anybody else says but to go down this path that he knows is right for him.” Three more days of this and DeChambeau will have penned his most epic story yet.