Jose Maria Olazabal and Aldrich Potgieter experienced completely contrasting rounds on day one of The Masters.
Olazabal won his first Masters title 10 years before Potgieter was even born.
The Spaniard, 60, is one of the most highly-respected players in the game, while the 21-year-old South African is just starting off on his golfing journey.
Olazabal posted an impressive opening round of 74 at The Masters – one that could have been so much better had he avoided making a double bogey on the 15th hole.
Meanwhile, Potgieter struggled terribly on Thursday, and ended up shooting a round of 12-over par 84 at Augusta National.
The South African’s round included five bogeys, four double bogeys and a solitary birdie.
How Jose Maria Olazabal found playing with Aldrich Potgieter at The Masters
It must have been incredibly hard for Olazabal to find any kind of rhythm when playing alongside Potgieter on Thursday at Augusta National.
So a round of 74 from the Spaniard was more than acceptable in the end.
Olazabal was asked how he found playing with Potgieter at Augusta National on Thursday.
“I mean, you just have to stay focused on your game,“ the Spaniard said.
“You cannot be distracted about that. You know, we have a job to do. You have to apply your game, simple as that. I mean, stay focused on what you have to do.
“Obviously you enjoy it and you’re mesmerized when you see the ball fly that far for that long, but obviously, you know, you have to stay focused on the job at hand.“
Olazabal then responded when asked whether Potgieter is the longest hitter he has ever played with.
“Probably, yeah. Yeah, probably,“ he replied.
Jose Maria Olazabal sparks rules controversy on day one of The Masters
On the second hole, the two-time Masters champion was involved in a questionable incident.
Just before punching out of the trees with his second shot, he clipped a branch with his practice swing and that caused leaves to fall from the tree.
In rule 8.1 a, the USGA highlight how players must not remove a ‘growing or attached natural object’ in their practice swing.
Now, Olazabal clearly fell foul of that rule during his first round of The Masters on Thursday.
In no way are we accusing him of intentionally improving his conditions that affected his stroke. He may not have known.
However, it will be interesting to see a Masters rules official explain what happened there.
Olazabal himself responded after his round when asked about the incident.
“No, I didn’t notice anything, no,“ he said.
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