Masters 2012: How Last Year's Major Winners Fared in Opening Round at Augusta

For all the publicity that Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson get at the Masters, it's easy to forget that those two PGA Tour stalwarts combined for as many Major championships last year as you and me.

Those two figure to be in the hunt on Sunday, even after finishing Thursday at even par and two-over, respectively.

But how did those four swingers with big wins from 2011 fare on Day 1 at Augusta National?

Charl Schwartzel

Charl Schwartzel kicked off his Green Jacket defense in somewhat subdued fashion. The 27-year-old South African alternated birdies and bogeys all afternoon to finish the day at even par, five strokes off the pace set by Lee Westwood.

Schwartzel's been on a solid roll this season, notching two top-10s in five tournaments, and figures to sneak up on the field as the weekend goes on, even though he won at Augusta last year.

Rory McIlroy

It wasn't quite the seven-under start that he got off to last year, but Rory McIlroy's one-under 71 was a solid way to kick off his reckoning at the Masters nonetheless. McIlroy's bid for a Green Jacket began with a double bogey on the very first hole, but managed to fight back with a birdie on No. 2.

The 2011 US Open champ hit another rough patch on the back nine, with bogeys on 11 and 13, before finishing strong with birdies on the final two holes. All things considered, Rory can't be too disappointed to find himself four strokes back of the lead, especially after his tragic collapse in his most recent round at Augusta before Thursday's.

Darren Clarke

Darren Clarke came close to missing the Masters entirely. The reigning British Open winner injured his groin at the Houston Open last Friday and was among the last players to arrive at Augusta this week.

Clarke didn't appear to be much worse for wear, as he entered the clubhouse at one stroke over par by way of a birdie and a pair of bogeys.

Not bad for a guy playing with an injury in his first trip to Augusta since 2007. 

Keegan Bradley

Keegan Bradley continued his rise through the ranks of golf with a one-under 71 at Augusta on Thursday. The 2011 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year and PGA Championship victor bounced back from a double bogey on No. 1 with four birdies over his next 12 before closing out the day with a bogey on the treacherous final hole.

How Bradley fares over the next three days is anyone's best guess, seeing as how this is his first crack at the Masters in his young pro career.

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