Patrick Reed becomes the sixth player in Masters history to open with back-to-back birdies on holes one and two during the first round.
Patrick Reed has joined an exclusive group in Masters history after opening his first round with consecutive birdies, following an eagle on the second hole during the opening 18 holes at Augusta National.
The achievement places Reed among an elite collection of players who have managed the same feat at golf’s most prestigious tournament. The birdie-eagle start represents an exceptional beginning to any round at the Masters, where the notoriously difficult Augusta National course has challenged the world’s best players for nearly a century.
Historic Company at Augusta National
Reed now stands alongside five other players who have accomplished this rare start in Masters tournament history. The most recent players to achieve the same opening sequence were Sam Burns and Sam Bennett, both in 2023, demonstrating that while uncommon, this hot start has occurred in recent years.
Looking back further in Masters lore, Jay Haas and John Schroeder both recorded birdie-eagle openings in 1983, while Lew Worsham accomplished the feat in 1954. The span of decades between these achievements underscores just how difficult the opening holes can be at Augusta National, even for the game’s elite competitors.
Reed’s hot start on the opening holes provided an encouraging foundation as he looked to make his mark during the tournament. Such an aggressive opening can build momentum heading into the rest of the first round, though Augusta National’s challenge extends well beyond the opening stretch.
The Masters continues to produce memorable moments and historic milestones, with Reed’s birdie-eagle beginning now etched into the tournament’s storied record books alongside the select group of players who have started their Augusta National rounds with the same explosive opening.
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