Aaron Rai and Akshay Bhatia Shine at the Masters Opening Round

The opening round of the 90th Masters showcased impressive performances from Indo-British golfer Aaron Rai and Indian-American Akshay Bhatia. Rai started strong with three birdies but finished tied for 10th, while Bhatia faced challenges, ending tied for 33rd. Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns led the pack with remarkable 5-under rounds. The competition is heating up as only 16 players finished under par, setting the stage for an exciting tournament ahead.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 11, 2026, 11:28 IST

Strong Start for Aaron Rai

Indo-British golfer Aaron Rai kicked off the 90th Masters with an impressive performance, securing three birdies in his first four holes. This early success briefly placed him among the top three competitors. Ultimately, he concluded the day with a score of 1-under 71, tying for 10th place, four strokes behind co-leaders Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns, who both achieved remarkable 5-under 67s.

Mixed Results for Akshay Bhatia

Indian-American golfer Akshay Bhatia, a three-time PGA Tour champion, also participated in the Hero Indian Open, which took place in his parents' homeland. His round was inconsistent; despite a promising start, he ended with a score of 1-over 73, placing him tied for 33rd at Augusta National Golf Club.

Leaders McIlroy and Burns Excel

At the top of the leaderboard, defending champion Rory McIlroy matched Sam Burns with a stellar 5-under round. Burns surged ahead with a strong performance through Amen Corner, highlighted by a 20-foot birdie on the 12th hole and a precise approach on the 13th. A birdie on the 15th solidified his lead, marking his best Masters round in five attempts.

Despite struggling off the tee and hitting only five fairways, McIlroy managed to join Burns at the top. Historically, only legends like Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods have successfully defended their Masters titles in consecutive years.

Focus on Rai and Bhatia

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Performance of Other Contenders

Among other competitors, 2018 champion Patrick Reed shot a 3-under 69, placing him tied for 3rd, with a birdie-eagle start. Jason Day also returned a score of 69, while Xander Schauffele posted a 70. Two-time Masters winner Scottie Scheffler showed promising form with a 70, hitting 12 of 14 fairways, tying for 6th alongside Justin Rose and Shane Lowry.

Tommy Fleetwood finished just outside the top 10 with a score of 1-under 71, while Collin Morikawa struggled with a 74 in his return from injury. Bryson DeChambeau (76) and Jon Rahm (78) faced challenging rounds, with Rahm notably failing to record a single birdie. With only 16 players finishing under par, the 2026 Masters is proving to be a tough challenge.