CLEMSON, S.C. — Former Clemson All-American Jacob Bridgeman (Inman, S.C./Chapman) shot an opening round 71 at The Masters on Thursday and is in a tie for 10th place, just four shots off the lead. Bridgman will begin his second round on Friday at 9:07 a.m.
This is Bridgeman’s first Masters and his 71 tied for the best first career round among Clemson’s 14 former golfers who have played in the tournament. Chris Patton had an opening round 71 in his first round at the 1990 Masters. Bridgeman and Patton are the only two former Tigers to play their first career round at Augusta National under par.
Bridgeman finished with three birdies and just two bogeys in scoring one-under-par 71 on a day when the field scoring average was 75. The 2022 Clemson graduate is four shots behind the lead held by Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns.
Bridgeman hit 15 of 18 greens and 12 of 14 fairways in his opening round, among the best in the 91-player field in both categories. The number-one putter on the PGA Tour averaged 1.78 putts per hole.
A three-time All-American at Clemson, Bridgeman was one-over-par on the front nine as he had eight pars and one bogey, a five on the par four fifth hole when he hit his drive in the woods. He shot a 34 on the back nine thanks to birdies on the 13th, 16th and 18th holes. The highlight of his round came on his last shot of the day when he chipped in from off the green from 54 feet away.
Bridgeman will attempt to make the cut on Friday. If he does he will be the first former Clemson golfer to make the cut at the Masters in his first tournament since Jonathan Byrd in 2003. Byrd went on to finish eighth that year, the best finish by a former Tiger at The Masters.