Masters furore erupts over 'very obvious' act from Brooks Koepka's caddie
Brooks Koepka has downplayed a moment caught on camera involving his caddie during the first round of the Masters.
Brooks Keopka and his caddie have downplayed a furore over Masters rules regarding playing partners consulting or receiving advice from one another after day one of the prestigious tournament. Koepka's caddie, Ricky Elliott, had been seen on camera mouthing the word 'five' to caddie for playing partner Gary Woodland.
The controversy took an interesting turn when former golf pro turned commentator Paul McGinley suggested it was 'common practice' among many golfers - but the clear video footage showing Elliott directly indicating a five iron had been used to Koepka's rival made cracking down a difficult prospect. He said the clear evidence likely meant officials would have to crack down, but said many players 'hand on heart' would admit to similar indiscretions.
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Though a possible explanation could have been that Elliott was letting the broadcast know what had just been hit, the angle clearly showed him directing the message to Woodland's caddie. While fellow commentator Brandal Chamblee disagreed with the suggestion it was a widespread issue, Koepka himself said Woodland had asked him what he hit as the walked the fairway of the 15th hole.
“Yeah, we looked at it when we got back in. GW (Woodland) and Butchie (his caddie) had no idea what we were hitting,” he said. “They didn’t even know because — I know that fact because GW asked me what we hit walking off, when we were walking down. So that’s all I can give you.”
After round one, Koepka was tied for the lead with Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland after firing a seven-under 65 to start the tournament on a high note. The Masters Tournament Committee conducted a brief investigation, advising later that “All involved were adamant that no advice was given or requested".
“It’s very obvious,” McGinley said on the broadcast. “Anybody looking at those pictures, it’s very obvious what happens. It’s staggering that they denied it because the video evidence is there.”
“It’s very clear there. Maybe an incident like this where the evidence is so overwhelming, if the rules authority want to stamp it out and come down on this, make an example of it.
“A lot of players in the field, hands on hearts — there’d be a lot of penalties out there today with what went on in other groups. We just happened to see it (with Koepka’s caddie).”
Aussies commence Masters charge with Day, Scott at front
Meanwhile, Jason Day and Adam Scott have raised hopes of another famous Australian Masters triumph with career-best starts to the season's opening major at Augusta National. Day holed a clutch par putt at the last to close out a bogey-free first-round 67 to be tied fourth, two shots behind the leaders.
Scott is three shots off the pace in a share of sixth after marking the 10th anniversary of his landmark 2013 victory with a stylish four-under 68. British Open champion Cameron Smith rounded out an exciting opening day for the Australians with a 70 to also be in the mix.
"It's great," Day said. "I had a chat with Scotty yesterday. He was on the way to the gym to go throw the weights around pretty hard, and I was sitting on a golf cart just eating food - so a little bit different.
"But Scotty's been a good mate of mine, so it's nice to see him play well. I know that he's got off to a little bit of a slow start this year, but things can change in major championships.
"And Cam Smith, that's a nice start. With how little those (LIV) guys have played, coming in, especially Cam, it's nice to be able to see him do that."
Aussie young guns Min Woo Lee and amateur Harrison Crowe both have work to do to make the halfway cut following opening rounds of three-over 75. Teeing off earlier in the morning, Scott wound back the clock with a vintage display of ball striking and could easily have shot even lower with a touch of luck.
After recording back-to-back birdies on the second and third holes, he reeled off 10 consecutive pars before bursting to life late on the back nine. He birdied the par-4 14th, then eagled the par-5 15th after a breathtaking six-iron approach over the water.
Scott was desperately unlucky not to ace the par-3 16th, his ball spinning back and missing the cup by centimetres. But he missed the birdie putt, then another short attempt on No.17 before making his only bogey of the day on the last.
With AAP
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