Former Tiger Bridgeman sinks 50-footer, ends Round 1 of Masters at -1

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.