Burns Stays High on Leaderboard Through Masters' Opening Round

The fifth-year player birdied holes 8, 12 and 13 to move into the top spot on the first day of the tournament.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:27pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, geometric painting in shades of green, brown, and blue, depicting the motion and energy of a golf tournament, with no identifiable players or course features.A cubist interpretation of the opening round action at the 2026 Masters Tournament, where Sam Burns' strong play put him atop the leaderboard.Augusta Today

Sam Burns, a fifth-year PGA Tour player, had a strong opening round at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, carding four birdies to move into the top spot on the leaderboard. Burns' hot streak came as some other top players, like Patrick Reed, struggled with the fast and sloping greens at Augusta National. The average score for the day was 3 over par, with six players tied for third place after rounds of 69.

Why it matters

The Masters is one of golf's most prestigious major championships, and a strong start can set the tone for the rest of the tournament. Burns' performance puts him in contention early, and his ability to handle the challenging Augusta National course could make him a player to watch over the next few days.

The details

Burns birdied holes 8, 12, 13, and the final par 5 of the day to move into the lead. He only missed two greens in regulation, and his game seems to be a good fit for the course. Other players, like Jason Day and Shane Lowry, found the fast and sloping greens at Augusta National to be a challenge, with Day hitting 12 greens and Lowry missing five on his way to a 2-under 70.

  • The opening round of the 2026 Masters Tournament took place on April 9, 2026.

The players

Sam Burns

A fifth-year PGA Tour player who had a strong opening round at the Masters, carding four birdies to move into the top spot on the leaderboard.

Patrick Reed

A top professional golfer who struggled with the fast and sloping greens at Augusta National during the opening round of the Masters.

Jason Day

A professional golfer playing in his 15th Masters Tournament, who hit 12 greens in regulation during the opening round.

Shane Lowry

A professional golfer who missed five greens on his way to a 2-under 70 in the opening round of the Masters.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Like I said yesterday was a dramatic difference in the way the course was playing. It was very soft, it was softer, a lot softer, a lot slower. Now you're starting to see things roll out a little bit more.”

— Jason Day, Professional Golfer

“I would like to think in my head that a lot of golf courses do, but at the end of the day, it comes down to execution. It doesn't matter if it's, you know, people would say, oh, the Valspar, it's a perfect golf course for you. It's like, well, yeah, if you execute, sure, it is. If you don't, you can shoot 75 pretty easily. So I think that's what it comes down to really to any golf course.”

— Sam Burns, Professional Golfer

What’s next

The second round of the 2026 Masters Tournament will take place on April 10, 2026, as players look to make the cut and position themselves for the weekend rounds.

The takeaway

Sam Burns' strong opening round at the Masters has put him in contention early, showcasing his ability to handle the challenging Augusta National course. However, the fast and sloping greens proved to be a test for other top players, highlighting the importance of execution and course management at this prestigious major championship.