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BLOOMING EARLY
April 21, 2008
Until this year, no first-round leader had won the Masters since Ben Crenshaw in 1984, although none have missed the cut. Mike Donald followed his opening 64 with an 82 in 1990, but made the cut by three strokes. Lanny Wadkins has the distinction of being the first-round leader with the worst finish, starting with a 65 in '92 but coming in 48th. Between Crenshaw and Trevor Immelman, only eight first-round leaders have had a top-three finish. This year Immelman and Justin Rose (left) held the opening-day lead. For Rose, it was his third Thursday head start, but he wilted to a tie for 36th, 15 shots behind Immelman. Rose is one of five players to get out to a fast start on multiple occasions, yet come up empty.
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April 21, 2008

Blooming Early

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Player Year Score Finish
Justin Rose '07 69 T5
Chris DiMarco '05 67 2
Justin Rose '04 67 22
Davis Love III '02 67 14
Chris DiMarco '01 65 T10
Davis Love III* '99 69 2
Larry Mize '94 68 3
Larry Mize* '93 67 21
Lanny Wadkins* '92 65 48
Lanny Wadkins* '91 67 T3

Until this year, no first-round leader had won the Masters since Ben Crenshaw in 1984, although none have missed the cut. Mike Donald followed his opening 64 with an 82 in 1990, but made the cut by three strokes. Lanny Wadkins has the distinction of being the first-round leader with the worst finish, starting with a 65 in '92 but coming in 48th. Between Crenshaw and Trevor Immelman, only eight first-round leaders have had a top-three finish. This year Immelman and Justin Rose (left) held the opening-day lead. For Rose, it was his third Thursday head start, but he wilted to a tie for 36th, 15 shots behind Immelman. Rose is one of five players to get out to a fast start on multiple occasions, yet come up empty.

MULTIPLE FIRST-ROUND LEADS
[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]

FIRST-ROUND LEADS/TOP-THREE FINISHES
[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]

* Shared first-round lead. Stats since 1984.

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