AUGUSTA, Georgia — Brandon Holtz said he had “already won” simply by reaching Augusta National Golf Club, even as the 39-year-old amateur endured a difficult opening round in his Masters debut on Thursday.

Holtz, a real estate agent from Illinois, earned his place in the field by winning the U.S. Mid-Amateur last September at Troon Country Club. Despite the challenging scorecard, he said the experience met every expectation he had of golf’s most iconic stage.

“The experience as a whole is incredible. This is a dream come true, really,” Holtz said after opening with a nine-over-par 81, a result that left him near the bottom of the leaderboard. “Definitely not what I wanted to do on the golf course today, but I had a lot of fun.”

Holtz acknowledged that his round was defined by costly mistakes, particularly finding himself out of position on a course that heavily penalizes errant shots. Augusta National’s demanding layout proved unforgiving throughout his first competitive round at a major championship.

Still, he remained reflective and appreciative of the moment, emphasizing the significance of competing on golf’s biggest stage.

“I’m 39, chasing a dream, and here we are,” he said. “But at the same time, I’m not happy with how I played. But we’ve got tomorrow, so let’s see what happens.”

Nerves, he admitted, were a major factor early in the round. Walking to the first tee and facing the atmosphere of patrons and playing partners brought a feeling unlike anything he had experienced before, even during his victory run at the U.S. Mid-Amateur.

“It was a little jittery for sure,” Holtz said. “It was something I’ve never felt before.”

His father served as his caddie, adding an emotional layer to the occasion while helping him stay composed during difficult stretches. Holtz said his father provided steady support throughout the round.

“He was pretty solid,” Holtz said with a smile. “He talked me off the ledge a couple of times.”

Holtz also revealed a unique equipment storyline ahead of his round, saying he received an older driver on Thursday morning after it had been sent to the USGA Hall of Fame. However, he opted not to put it in play despite ongoing struggles off the tee.

“I didn’t feel like it was fair to myself to try to hit it, so I stuck with the original one,” he said, adding that a switch ahead of Friday’s second round was unlikely.

Beyond the score, Holtz embraced the full Masters experience, praising the patrons, volunteers, and tournament staff. He also took in one of the event’s most cherished amateur traditions by staying at the historic Crow's Nest.

“It’ll be hard to go to work next week for sure,” he said. “But I’ve got kids and a family to feed.”

Even after a challenging start, Holtz insisted he is not ready to close the book on his week in Augusta, with another round ahead and future goals still in view, including aspirations tied to the U.S. Open. -Reporting by Rory CarrollEditing by Christian Radnedge/Reuters