Jacob Bridgeman gets Masters rookie treatment in first time at Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. ― It’s been 47 years since a Masters Tournament rookie left Augusta National victorious.

Jacob Bridgeman understands why.

“I can't figure it out in one year,” the Clemson graduate said.

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Although Bridgeman made the cut in his first Masters appearance, he limped home to a Sunday 76.

The 26-year-old finished the week at 2 over.

“I kind of thought I understood how the course was playing and clearly didn’t today,” Bridgeman said. “I was completely confused on pretty much the whole round.”

Jacob Bridgeman tees off on the fifth hole during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Bridgeman, who won the 2026 Genesis Invitational at Riviera, admitted to struggling on Augusta’s greens. In all, he needed 125 putts over the four rounds.

“I really struggled on the greens with speeds and kind of noticing how putts break when there's not much grass where they've baked it out,” he said. “Then how putts break a lot where they've watered it.”

When asked for a bright spot, Bridgeman said, “I had always thought the tee shots were a little bit more intimidating than I guess they were this week.”

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Jacob Bridgeman now sees why Masters rookies usually struggle