After firing an opening-round 7-under 65 Thursday to share the early lead at the Masters with Alvaro Quiros, Rory McIlroy gave a shout-out to the reigning U.S. Amateur champion.
“Watching the end of the masters coverage on ESPN,” McIlroy tweeted a few hours after taming Augusta National Golf Course. “I love Peter Uihlein’s golf swing!”
Massachusetts native Uihlein, playing with defending Masters champ Phil Mickelson, returned the favor.
“I like yours more Rory! Great round out there today,” Uihlein tweeted back, after knocking in a birdie on the 18th to card an even-par 72 in his first-ever Masters.
Competing at the highest levels is nothing new for the son of Wally Uihlein, chief executive of Acushnet Co., maker of Titleist golf gear. The Oklahoma State University junior is the top-ranked amateur player, was a member of the winning 2009 Walker Cup team, and twice earned American Junior Golf Association Player of the Year honors.
The Masters, however, was a novel experience for the 21-year-old. “I’m excited….Playing in the Masters is obviously pretty special, and to be here as the Amateur Champion, it’s even more special,” Uihlein told reporters Tuesday. “I’m excited. I’m nervous and I’m definitely looking forward to this week.”
In addition to taking his first competitive swings at Augusta, Uihlein had an army of fans and reporters following his every move since he was grouped with Mickelson. It’s a Masters tradition for the current holder of the green jacket and U.S. Am champ to tee it up together on Thursday and Friday.
The pressure did not seem to faze Uihlein, who navigated his way around Augusta without any blow-ups and closed just two shots back of Mickelson.
Lefty, by the way, posted his only bogey of the round on the 18th, but could have been on his way to a missed cut were it not for his scrambling abilities. Mickelson, who told Golf Channel that his 2-under 70 was “just okay,” bottomed out in driving accuracy for the day, hitting just four of 14 fairways.
“I didn’t shoot myself out of it,” he said.
As for Uihlein, the pride of New Bedford would obviously like to contend on Sunday and finish as the low amateur, but his immediate goals were more mundane.
“Just try and get off the first tee I guess,” he said.
(Emily Kay is a regular contributor to New England Golf Monthly. Check her out on the Waggle Room, Boston Golf Examiner, National Golf Examiner, and GottaGoGolf websites. You may also follow Kay on Twitter @golfexaminer.)
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