Brian Harman has completely ejected himself from contending at Augusta National, thanks to a horrifying back-nine.
After making the turn with a 2-under 34, Harman closed with an 11-over 47. Yes, you read that right. Harman nearly posted a 50 through nine holes, probably more reminiscent to a weekend golfer’s scorecard than a professionals.
His 9-over 81 marks his worst score ever in a major. Harman’s major championship debut came at the 2012 U.S. Open, and he has played in 29 more since.
Before his first round this year, Harman’s worst score at The Masters came a year ago, when he opened with a 5-over 77. He went on to miss the cut.
Harman’s troubles this year began Thursday evening on the 11th hole, where he could not get up-and-down from well right of the green to save par.
The problems continued on the next hole, the par-3 12th, as Harman dunked his tee shot into Rae’s Creek. He managed to save a bogey there, but then officials suspended play due to darkness.
He went to bed hoping that when he arose, he could make up for those lost shots on the par-5s on Augusta’s back-nine. But that proved not to be the case.
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Brian Harman hits his tee shot on the 18th hole during the continuation of the first round at The Masters.
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
In fact, it went from bad to worse. And fast.
Harman laid up short of the 13th green and faced a 79-yard shot for his third. He then spun it off the green and into Rae’s Creek, a disaster of epic proportions. Consequently, Harman made a double-bogey seven on the first hole of his day on Friday, which served as a harbinger of things to come.
The former Georgia Bulldog made pars at 14 and 15, but disaster struck again on the par-3 16th. His tee shot caromed off the bank and into the pond adjacent to the green, leading to a triple bogey six.
Two more double bogies followed at 17 and 18, and by the time Harman woke up from his nightmare, he sat at 9-over par for the tournament.
You rarely see professionals card a 47 on nine holes. But you see recreational players shoot 47s all the time. Augusta National—and the swirling winds—made Harman look like one of us, and unfortunately for him, he looks well on his way to missing the cut.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
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