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.
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.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Thanks for joining me on The Roar. An interesting day all round. Jordan Spieth once again looked in ominous form, and was able to keep it all together as some of the big names struggled for consistency. Jason Day will hope to string 18-holes together to climb back up the leaderboard, while Adam Scott and the other Aussies will be aiming to make the cut first and think about the weekend later. I'll be back tomorrow for the second round action. Hope you can join me then.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
OTHER NOTABLES Z. Johnson EVEN Oosthuizen EVEN Mickelson EVEN D. Johnson EVEN Kaymer +2 B.Watson +3 Kuchar +3 Schwartzel +4 Fowler +8
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Rory McIlroy finishes with a bogey. He records a -2, 70. END OF FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD Spieth -6 Lee -4 Lowry -4 Casey -3 Rose -3 Poulter -3 Kjledsen -3 Garcia -3 Horschel -2 Piercy -2 Willett -2 McIlroy -2 Streelman -1 Hoffman -1 Westwood -1 Grillo -1 Matsuyama -1 Fitzpatrick -1 Snedeker -1 Walker -1 Australians Day EVEN Leishman +2 Smith +2 Scott +4 Bowditch +7
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Shane Lowry narrowly avoids taking outright second spot after brushing the side of the cup for birdie on the 18th. He finishes his round -4, two behind leader Jordan Spieth. Just the final group of McIlroy, Kaymer and Haas left on the course now. McIlroy (-3) faces a difficult third shot on the 18th finding a plugged lie in the greenside bunker. He's done as well as he could there but he's a long way from the hole for his par attempt.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Sergio Garcia in the clubhouse after an impressive 69 (-3). He's tied for fourth with a host of players including Casey, Rose, Poulter, McIlroy and Kjeldsen.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
McIlroy birdies the 15th to go to -4 and a tie for second with Danny Lee and Shane Lowry. Current leaderboard Spieth -6 (F) Lee -4 (F) Lowry -4 McIlroy -4 Casey -3 (F) Rose -3 (F) Poulter -3 (F) Kjeldsen -3 Willett -3 (F) Garcia -3
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Jason Day taps in on the 18th with a par to finish Round 1 with an EVEN par 72. It really was a tale of two nines for the Australian. A 31 on the front nine followed by a disappointing 41 on the back.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Meanwhile, Sergio Garcia has kept under the radar. Not much TV time for the Spaniard but he's looking good at -2 with three to play after three birdies in a row. Make that four birdies in a row. Sergio on fire!
Scott Pryde
Expert
That would be the one! Had no idea what it was called haha. It did make sense!
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Another bogey for Jason Day on 17. He now drops back to EVEN par for the tournament. Follows it up with a rusty drive on 18 but with a bit of luck went through the bunker. He really needs to get into the clubhouse without any more damage to the scorecard.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Yep, not getting any better unfortunately.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Hey Scotty, you talking about the Benny Hill theme? Good shout.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Jeez Day lost the plot in the last few holes by the sounds of that.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Morning Conks, Reckon even I could have hit one of those! Need to speed that video up (and I cant find a link here) but put it with that music that you use to make fun of things in a high speee video. You know duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duhda-do-diddy-doody-da-da. Or dont you know? That probably doest explain it all. Ill just go and sit in the corner and pretend that never happened.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Current leaderboard Spieth -6 (F) Lee -4 (F) Lowry -4 Casey -3 (F) Rose -3 (F) Poulter -3 (F) McIlroy -3 Horschel -2 (F) Piercy -2 Walker -2
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Ouch that hurts. Jason Day records a triple bogey 6 on the par-3 16th to drop back to -1. Meanwhile Rory McIlroy just EAGLED the 13th to go to -3. Swings and round-a-bouts here in Round 1.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
For those who missed Ernie Els' horror seven putt on the first. Poor Ernie. http://www.theroar.com.au/tv/ernie-els-makes-a-horror-start-at-the-us-masters/
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Oh no! Jason Day finds water on his tee shot on the par-3 16th. Looking at another bogey here at the very least.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Day bogeys 15th after a three-putt. Current leaderboard Spieth -6 (F) Lee -4 Day -4 Lowry -4 Casey -3 (F) Rose -3 (F) Poulter -3 Horschel -2 (F) Walker -2 Willett -2
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Day decided to lay up on the par-5 15th. His pitch shot into the green was not his best and he's left himself with some work to two-putt.