AUGUSTA -- The word of the day Thursday was "patience" for Bryson DeChambeau in the first round of the Masters Tournament.
Yes, that Bryson DeChambeau. The same Bryson DeChambeau who has famously gone through his mad scientist phase followed by his hyper-aggressive basher phase, neither of which led to his desired level of success at Augusta National Golf Club.
He said Thursday he's entered into his golfer phase, and Bryson DeChambeau the golfer set a tough pace to follow during a windswept first round of the Masters.
A shot back is the World No. 1.
His opening-round 65 is his lowest in eight starts at Augusta National, and it's one clear of Scottie Scheffler with a good chunk of the field returning to the course Friday morning to finish a first round that was delayed 2½ hours by bad weather.
"It's always great getting off to a hot start, 3 under through the first three holes kind of gets you settled," he said following his round. "I knew it was going to be a tough day today with the wind and even tomorrow. So a lot of patience is required around this golf course and making sure you're just stroking on your line, putting it good, hitting good iron shots and driving it well. In order to win major championships, you've got to - especially out here, you've got to do everything well."
DeChambeau, who missed the cut last year, got off to a much better start thanks in large part to a measured approach during an afternoon that had wind gusts exceeding 30 mph.
He started his tournament with three consecutive birdies, then after a bogey on the par-4 ninth he birdied five of his last seven. He got away with a "scary" second shot on the par-5 15th, which he joked only clipped four instead of five pine needles and reached the green to set up a birdie.
What's scary for the rest of the field is how Scheffler started. The overwhelming favorite to add a second green jacket to the one he won two years ago, Scheffler didn't have a blemish on his scorecard in a round of 66 that's his first career bogey-free round at Augusta National.
"Well, it's always nice getting around here bogey-free," he said. "I did a good job of staying patient today. We kept the golf course in front of us. And, I mean, I executed some really nice up-and-downs to keep the round going."
Scheffler turned in 2 under, then birdied four of five holes from 12-16. He overcame a scary moment of his own with his second shot on the par-5 13th. He heard another player make contact with a ball during his swing and lost focus, and he nearly paid a dear penalty for it. His ball appeared bound for the tributary to Rae's Creek in front of the green, but it stayed dry on the pin side of the water. He escaped with a birdie.
Those two aren't the only ones who got off to hot starts despite the wind, which is expected to continue Friday to further dry out a course that received some overnight rain before Thursday's round could begin.
Nicolai Højgaard made four birdies in a seven-hole stretch and was at 5 under through 15 before play was called for the day, and Max Homa (through 12) and Tyrrell Hatton (through 14) were each at 3 under on the back nine.
Danny Willett, the 2016 champion who is several months ahead of schedule in his return from shoulder surgery, got into the clubhouse early with a round of 4-under 68. Ryan Fox (69) played the first nine in 5 under before cooling off down the stretch, and Cam Davis (69) joined him at 3 under.
Several other players reached 4 under, including Matt Fitzpatrick after birdieing his way around Amen Corner, before dropping some shots late.
Friday will be a long day for the 30 players who didn't finish their first round, including Tiger Woods. Woods started with a birdie on the first hole and hung in to leave the course at 1 under through 12 holes, including three consecutive up-and-down saves on 10-12. To set a new record with his 24th consecutive made cut at the Masters, he'll have to endure a marathon Friday.
Defending champion Jon Rahm (73) finished his day bogey-bogey, while Rory McIlroy (71) began his 10th attempt at completing the career Grand Slam with a slightly better first round than in recent years.
They'll all start Friday in pursuit of DeChambeau, who called Thursday's round one of the best he's played in a long time. He's not losing sight of the fact that there's still three rounds to go, though he's certainly in a better position not having to play any more than 18 holes Friday.
