AUGUSTA
Indo-British star Aaron Rai weathered a neck injury and a difficult back nine to remain firmly in the hunt at the 90th Masters. After a blistering start that saw him birdie three of his first four holes, Rai finished with a 1-under 71. He sits four shots back from co-leaders Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns, who both carded 5-under 67s.
For McIlroy, the pressure of history is building. Only three legends, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Nick Faldo—have ever successfully defended an Augusta title. Despite hitting just five fairways, McIlroy used a sharp short game to match Burns, who mastered “Amen Corner” with critical birdies on the 12th and 13th.
Indian-American Akshay Bhatia had a more turbulent day. The three-time PGA Tour winner looked strong early, turning at 2-under par, but Augusta’s treacherous back nine bit back. A double-bogey on the 17th derailed his momentum, forcing him to settle for a 1-over 73. He currently sits tied for 33rd.
The course proved to be a brutal test, with only 16 players finishing under par. While veterans like Scottie Scheffler and Patrick Reed stayed close to the lead, others faltered significantly. Former champion Jon Rahm suffered a nightmare round of 78 without a single birdie, while Bryson DeChambeau struggled to a 76. With the leaderboard tightly packed and the greens firming up, the weekend at Augusta promises to be a battle of survival for the world’s best.
