Players to buy and sell after the first round of the 2026 Masters

On the 11th hole, it took DeChambeau three shots to get out of the greenside bunker, leading to a triple bogey. His driving and putting won't save him if his iron play and short game are going to be this bad. 

Buy: Kurt Kitayama

Kitayama shot a 3-under 69 in the first round, but it should've been an even better day. The 33-year-old led the field in strokes gained on approach (+5.01) and ranked seventh in strokes gained from putting (+2.96) on Thursday. But he, like Aberg, hit a chip over the green and into the water on 12 and made a double bogey. 

Kitayama has been striping his irons all season, so his impressive approach performance in the first round shouldn't be much of a surprise. The American typically plays well on firm and fast golf courses, so he's poised to stick around through the weekend.

Sell: Patrick Reed

Reed is in good shape to record another top finish at the Masters after his 3-under 69, but he won't win if he continues to play like he did on Thursday. The 2018 Masters champion made an eagle putt from off the green on the second hole and drained another eagle putt from nearly 60 feet on the eighth hole to go out in 5-under 31. Once the flukes cooled down, he shot a 2-over 38 with no birdies on the back nine.

Reed gained 3.52 strokes from putting in the first round to rank second in the field. He's unlikely to keep up that pace, and his tee-to-green stats were pedestrian at best. The long putts will eventually stop falling for Reed; in fact, they already have.