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The Masters always generates stories. This year, we have a real doozy on our hands as Tony Finau is right in contention after the opening round at Augusta, 24 hours after dislocating his ankle during the par 3 contest.
Finau's participation during Thursday's opening round was plunged into doubt when he went over on his ankle while celebrating making a hole-in-one during the traditional curtain raiser.
However, after getting the all-clear following an MRI scan, the 28-year-old made sure he capitalised on a tremendous slice of good fortune.
Finau stormed into contention after posting a spectacular run of four birdies between the second and ninth holes after opening with a bogey to turn in 33. He picked up further birdies on the two par-5s on the back nine, the 13 and 15th, either side of a dropped shot at 14 to leave him at -4. From there, Finau battled commendably, sinking impressive putts for par at 17 and 18 to ensure he stayed atop the leaderboard.
https://twitter.com/JasonSobelTAN/status/981992946965843969
When he finished, Finau was looking down on Henrik Stenson, Adam Hadwin, Patrick Reed and Charley Hoffman, who all carded 69s.
Also in that group on -3 is China's Li Haotong. The 22-year-old prodigy, who edged out Rory McIlroy at the Dubai Desert Classic earlier this year, skipped to the turn in a respectable 35 before he caught fire. After bogeying 10, Li posted a hat-trick of birdies around Amen Corner, making light work of the course's most daunting stretch.
His momentum was momentarily stalled with a 5 at the par-4 14th, before bouncing back with another two birdies at 15 and 16.
Li signed for an impressive 69, after finishing with a dropped shot.
https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/982005610546855937
