Jordan Spieth leads the 2018 Masters Leaderboard by two shots at the end of Day One after carding a sizzling six-under 66.
It proved to an enthralling opening day's play at Augusta National, which most definitely lived up to its pre-tournament billing, with thrills and spills in abundance.
Spieth headed into the 82nd edition of the Masters as one of the favourites for Green Jacket glory, and he certainly didn’t disappoint in his quest to become a double Masters winner.
Spieth wasn’t the only big gun to enjoy a cracking opening day, with Rory McIlroy one of seven players on -3, whereas Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler (both -2) impressed, while Tony Finau and Matt Kuchar are locked on -4, two shots behind the leader.
Elsewhere Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Roser are level par, and Americans Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson are a shot further back on +1.
Woods had an up-and-down round on his Masters return, as he finished on 73 after recording two birdies on his final five holes. The four-time Masters winner will be reasonably content with that showing, but make no mistake about it he’ll be gunning to venture into the red on Friday.
However, defending champion Sergio Garcia had an absolute stinker after carding a 9-over 81 leaving him second-from-bottom of the leaderboard. The Spaniard, who won won a major at the 74th attempt at Augusta last year, found the water a staggering FIVE TIMES on the par-5 14th as he registered a shocking 13 on the hole - a course record, while it was the highest score on a hole at the Masters since 1980.
Finau had a 24 hours he’ll never forget. In the traditional Masters Par-3 event he dislocated his ankle when celebrating a hole-in-one, thus putting his participation in the Masters in severe doubt. However, he made a miraculous recovery, and went on to record a first round 68.
Birthday boy Henrik Stenson, who has never finished in the top-10 at the Masters, enjoyed a superb day, holding the lead and then the clubhouse lead, before ending Day One in T4.
Charley Hoffman loves the opening round of the Masters, and once again stayed true to his traditional quick starts after ending the day on -3, meaning he’s now played his last four Masters first rounds in 16-under-par.
And finally how’s this for a Masters debut...Doug Ghim carded not one but two eagles on his first ever round at the major, with his eagle on the 18th only the sixth in history.
