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Mitchell's dream round faded quickly
Breakout performance marked sole outing at National
Posted: Tuesday April 08, 2003 6:54 PM
Updated: Tuesday April 08, 2003 10:42 PM
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Jeff Mitchell shot a 6-under-par 66 in the opening round of the 1980 Masters Tournament, ending in a three-way tie for first place. But his game declined over the next three days, and he finished 38th. File/AugustaChronicle |
By David Westin
The Augusta Chronicle
All Jeff Mitchell wanted to do in his 1980 Masters Tournament debut was fire at least 72 in the opening round and par the first hole.
The Texan, a PGA Tour rookie at age 25, got much more than that.
He shot a bogey-free, 6-under-par 66 in a stiff and swirling wind at Augusta National Golf Club. It earned him a tie for the lead with David Graham and Seve Ballesteros, the eventual winner.
"It's almost like a dream come true," Mitchell said of his play, which included birdies on the final two holes.
"I didn't know what to expect my first time in the Masters," Mitchell said. "Boy, I wanted to par that first hole."
Everyone thought Graham and Ballesteros would be the first-round leaders until Mitchell, in the final group of the day, caught fire.
He birdied Nos. 5, 7, 9, 13, 17 and 18 to claim a share of the lead.
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