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2016 US Masters: First round live scores, updates

7th April, 2016
Course: Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia
Par: 72
Length: 7435 yards (6799 metres)
Field: 89 players
Defending champion: Jordan Spieth (-18 winning score in 2015)
Betting favourites: Jason Day $7.50, Rory McIlroy $9, Jordan Spieth $10, Adam Scott $12, Bubba Watson $13, Rickie Fowler $17
Jordan Spieth. (Photo: AP)
Editor
7th April, 2016
24

The first golf major of the year is here, with the pristine greens and fairways of Augusta National to play host to the US Masters. Join The Roar for live updates and a blog of the opening round from 7am (AEST).

The field of 89 is decided by a specific invitation criteria. The best way to secure your spot is to win the US Masters and 16 former champions will be playing, including Australia’s Adam Scott, the first and only Aussie to win the event, in 2013.

Also flying the Aussie flag are the in-form Jason Day, Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith and Steven Bowditch.

For the second time in three years Tiger Woods won’t be playing, but that’s good news for genuine golf fans, who bemoan the Tiger-obsession US networks have, and the obsession with his rounds even when he’s not playing well.

The focus will no doubt shift to the defending champion, Jordan Spieth. It’s hard to believe the Texan is only playing his third Masters after finishing runner-up in 2014. The 22-year-old handles pressure well and this week gave an ominous warning to his rivals, saying he felt better in practice than last year.

Other than Spieth, it’s well worth watching Bubba Watson, who absolutely loves the place, having won twice in the past four years. His ability to shape shots from any angle suit the approach shots at Augusta.

Rory McIlroy can’t be discounted and neither can Rickie Fowler, who has always threatened to win a major.

As always, the green jacket will be won or lost on the greens. The fabled ‘Amen Corner’ is a stretch of three holes (11th, 12th, 13th) that all players will want to get through without too much damage to the scorecard.

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It’s a course that tends to favour those who have played it before. Only three times has a player won The Masters on their first try, and the last to do so was Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

Prediction
Top 3
Jason Day (-14), Charl Schwartzel, Rory McIlroy

Join us on The Roar from 7am for the conclusion of the first round action.

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