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Jacob Bridgeman, a former Clemson Tiger, ensured that his first round at Augusta National Golf Club was anything but quiet.
Bridgeman shot a 1-under 71 in his Masters debut on Thursday, finishing with a 50-foot birdie shot on the 18th hole that sent him into a tie for 10th and gave Clemson fans a moment to hold onto. It wasn’t a flawless round, but it was one that showed exactly why his game translates so well to a stage like Augusta.
He opened with an early birdie on the par-5 second and settled into a rhythm through the front nine. That rhythm was tested on the fifth hole when a tee shot drifted into the trees and beyond the gallery, forcing him into a scramble that resulted in his first bogey of the day. Bridgeman's confidence didn't spiral after that moment, however, as he answered with controlled golf the rest of the front side, making the turn at even and keeping himself within reach of the top of the food chain.
The back nine brought forward some golf that you only see at the highest level in Augusta, Georgia. On the par-5 13th, Bridgeman delivered one of his sharpest shots of the day, setting up a birdie that pushed him back under par and gave him real momentum. That was short-lived momentum, however, as a missed short putt on the 14 hole gave that shot right back, and one hole later, things nearly unraveled when his second shot on 15 found the trees. Instead of allowing the situation to deteriorate, he managed to recover and secure a par, a moment that, while not prominently displayed on the scorecard, held equal significance to all his actions throughout the day.
That response carried over immediately. Bridgeman stepped onto the par-3 16th and converted another birdie, climbing back to even and positioning himself in the middle of the pack heading into the final stretch. A composed par on 17 set the stage for one last chance on 18, where he stood at even par with an opportunity to either finish solid or find something more.
What came next was the swing of the round without a doubt. From roughly 50 feet, Bridgeman rolled in a birdie shot that most players, when they play, try to get close to the hole with. But alas, the putt dropped, the crowd reacted, and in one swing, the entire tone of his round changed. Instead of walking off with an even par at 72, he posted a 1-under, 71, and jumped into the top 10, turning a steady rookie debut into a statement finish.
For Clemson fans, it was a familiar kind of performance. Not perfect, but tough, composed, and opportunistic when it mattered most. Bridgeman didn’t just survive Augusta on Thursday; he showed he belongs there. Sitting just a few shots off the lead heading into Friday, he is not only playing his first Masters but also positioning himself as a potential threat later down the line.
Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Former Clemson golfer Bridgeman hits 50-footer, finishes -1 at Masters
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Bridgeman shot a 1-under 71 in his Masters debut on Thursday, finishing with a 50-foot birdie shot on the 18th hole that sent him into a tie for 10th and gave Clemson fans a moment to hold onto. It wasn’t a flawless round, but it was one that showed exactly why his game translates so well to a stage like Augusta.
He opened with an early birdie on the par-5 second and settled into a rhythm through the front nine. That rhythm was tested on the fifth hole when a tee shot drifted into the trees and beyond the gallery, forcing him into a scramble that resulted in his first bogey of the day. Bridgeman's confidence didn't spiral after that moment, however, as he answered with controlled golf the rest of the front side, making the turn at even and keeping himself within reach of the top of the food chain.
The back nine brought forward some golf that you only see at the highest level in Augusta, Georgia. On the par-5 13th, Bridgeman delivered one of his sharpest shots of the day, setting up a birdie that pushed him back under par and gave him real momentum. That was short-lived momentum, however, as a missed short putt on the 14 hole gave that shot right back, and one hole later, things nearly unraveled when his second shot on 15 found the trees. Instead of allowing the situation to deteriorate, he managed to recover and secure a par, a moment that, while not prominently displayed on the scorecard, held equal significance to all his actions throughout the day.
That response carried over immediately. Bridgeman stepped onto the par-3 16th and converted another birdie, climbing back to even and positioning himself in the middle of the pack heading into the final stretch. A composed par on 17 set the stage for one last chance on 18, where he stood at even par with an opportunity to either finish solid or find something more.
What came next was the swing of the round without a doubt. From roughly 50 feet, Bridgeman rolled in a birdie shot that most players, when they play, try to get close to the hole with. But alas, the putt dropped, the crowd reacted, and in one swing, the entire tone of his round changed. Instead of walking off with an even par at 72, he posted a 1-under, 71, and jumped into the top 10, turning a steady rookie debut into a statement finish.
For Clemson fans, it was a familiar kind of performance. Not perfect, but tough, composed, and opportunistic when it mattered most. Bridgeman didn’t just survive Augusta on Thursday; he showed he belongs there. Sitting just a few shots off the lead heading into Friday, he is not only playing his first Masters but also positioning himself as a potential threat later down the line.
Follow us @Clemson_Wire on X and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Former Clemson golfer Bridgeman hits 50-footer, finishes -1 at Masters
Continue reading...
