Byrd shoots 72 to lead Clemson contingent in Masters

Lucas Glover didn’t expect to spend Thursday night talking golf with his friend and fellow former Clemson Tiger, Jonathan Byrd.

“It’d probably be just a bunch of complaining if I called him,” Glover said.

A more likely scenario was getting together over dinner and getting “away from golf.”

A golf-free conversation is not easy for anyone to do in Augusta on Masters Week, and even harder when you’re playing in the tournament. Glover, though, wasn’t complaining about his first round Thursday, when he shot 3-over 75 in his fifth Masters.

“I hit it OK. I didn’t putt any good. I didn’t fold up shop, either,” said Glover, 32. “I played OK on the back. I wouldn’t say good. Not terrible, not great.”

He made two birdies – on Nos. 13 and 15 – but considered those missed opportunities, as he couldn’t convert 12- and 6-foot putts for eagles. He said he “over-read” greens during the round.

“I burned a lot of edges, hit a lot of good putts and hit a fair amount of good shots, so I got some good vibes for tomorrow,” Glover said.

Byrd, 34, has no shortage of good vibes after his wife gave birth to their third child, a girl, on Friday. With the expansion of his own family, he came to Augusta National Golf Club and met up with his Clemson family, including Glover, Kyle Stanley and amateur Corbin Mills, a junior at the university. Mills’ caddie this week is Byrd’s brother Jordan, an assistant coach at Clemson.

“Getting to go out there on Tuesday this week and play with Lucas and Corbin, and be out there with my brother was a great experience,” Jonathan Byrd said. “I always like playing with Lucas any week, but to play this course seems pretty extra special.”

Byrd said he played Augusta National during his junior and senior years in college. Like Glover, he played in four previous Masters. He tied for eighth in his debut in 2003, then missed three cuts. Byrd birdied Nos. 6 and 13 on Thursday en route to a 72.

His supporters were easy enough to spot in their distinctive Clemson orange.

“You see so many Clemson people on the golf course. I can’t tell you how many ‘Go Tigers!’ I heard,” Byrd said.

While Byrd had a Tigers club headcover, Mills had a Clemson bag. Mills, who turns 22 on April 30, qualified for the Masters by winning the 2011 U.S. Amateur Public Links championship.

His first Masters has been surreal, he said.

“I was kind of in a dream out there all day. It was a lot of fun,” Mills said. “I kind of got caught in the moment a couple of times today, just realizing and just being thankful for being here. It’s awesome.”

Asked about his highs and lows of his first-round 74, Mills responded, “I think I was on a high all day.”

The first tee was nerve-wracking, he admitted, but noted that walking down after that tee shot was a moment this Masters sank in. Playing in the Par-3 Contest on Wednesday with Ben Crenshaw and Tom Watson was another highlight.

“I think that helped a lot with the nerves today,” Mills said. “I was pretty nervous yesterday. It was exciting.”

Stanley, 24, also is in his first Masters, and he seemed to keep his emotions in check after posting 75.

“I’m not happy with it,” Stanley said. “I feel like I’m waiting on a pretty good round. I haven’t been playing very well for the past month and a half, but I feel like the game’s there. I’ve got to keep being patient. I really love this golf course. I think it sets up well for me.”

Stanley notably rebounded from a near-victory this year at the Farmers Insurance Open to capture the Waste Management Phoenix Open for his first PGA Tour title. He is taking a pragmatic approach to this tournament.

“I’m not sure I have a lot of expectations this week,” Stanley said. “The game hasn’t really been there.

“I’m just waiting on good golf. It’s there. I just have to put it together.”