Christiaan Bezuidenhout may have felt like he was playing a "completely different golf course" to the Augusta National where he made his Masters Tournament debut five months ago but the South African still shot an excellent 70 to put himself in a strong position on day one.
The traditional first Major Championship of the season became the final one in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and softer November conditions played their part as scoring records were shattered in Georgia.
Back in its traditional springtime slot, Augusta National was baring its teeth once more as firm, fast conditions made scoring difficult but Bezuidenhout was up to the challenge.
After finishing in the top 40 on his debut in November, the 26-year-old carded three birdies and a bogey in his fifth competitive Augusta round, but he admitted he learned more from his playing partners than his first four.
"November played soft, it played long," he said. "Like now there's some places where you can't even hold a green with a seven iron in your hand, where November you're going for flags with a four iron in your hand.
A fine day's work Christiaan ✍️@Workday | #TheMasters pic.twitter.com/BHxtcP1Q7U
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 8, 2021
"It's a completely different golf course. Different course management. You have to give those holes respect and just take a ball on the holes and go. When you are in position for the birdies, then you can make birdies.
"Lovely to play with Sergio (Garcia) and Webb (Simpson) today, two great guys. Yeah, learned a lot from them."
Bezuidenhout went right with his second on the par five fifth but got up and down beautifully as he holed from 14 feet and another birdie came at the next thanks to a wonderful 25 footer.
Another excellent up and down brought a close-range birdie on the par five eighth but he dropped his only shot of the day as he missed the green at the 14th.
It's a completely different golf course. Different course management. You have to give those holes respect and just take a ball on the holes and go
"It was good out there today," he said. "It played quite firm and it firmed up during the day. It's a lot firmer already.
"There's quite a few greens that dried out a lot that you have to be respectful with but overall I was hitting it great. Pleased with the day.
"I've always been a guy that just plays to my strengths. My short game's pretty good. I always rely on my short game. I'm a good putter.
"So overall, I've been playing well over the last couple of months but I've been struggling to put four rounds together. So hopefully, I can turn that around this week and put four decent rounds together and then see where I finish off."
