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Rory McIlroy registered an opening round of even par whilst Justin Rose leads on seven under - George Walker IV/AP
If it is Thursday at Augusta National then it must be Justin Rose leading and it must be Rory McIlroy falling short.
While Rose shot a 65 to lead by three, McIlroy dropped four shots in three holes from the 15th, just when it looked as if the world No 2 was about to produce the fast Augusta start for which the game has long been waiting.
McIlroy’s level-par 72 was not disastrous, but it could and should have been so much better and the finish hardly inspired confidence that this will be the week when he finally completes the career grand slam. What he would give for Rose’s record between these towering pines.
For the fifth time, the Englishman has the advantage after the first round of Masters - and that is a tournament record. However, that is not to suggest he is a perennial flash in the Georgia pan. Rose has finished second twice at the Masters and is the only player to have led or shared the lead after each round - without winning. He truly is the National specialist without a green jacket.
Could this be the year? Beaten in a play-off by Sergio Garcia in 2017, it is fair to say these towering pines owe him one. He is 44 and does not contend as much as he used to in regular events. But show him a major title and the golfer who finished in fourth as a skinny 17-year-old amateur at the 1998 Open is reborn.
In the most recent major - at Royal Troon last July - he came second to Xander Schauffele. The 2013 US Open champion is sure that there is another biggie left in his locker and this seven-under 65 was merely the latest evidence.
He bogeyed the 18th, just as eight birdies left him poised to compile his lowest ever score in his 71st round here. But still he carries a three-shot lead into Friday over world No 1 Scottie Scheffler and Canadian Corey Connors into Friday. McIlroy is another four back and after his opening 14 holes that will hurt.
McIlroy was supremely in control for the first four hours, picking up four birdies and conceding no bogeys. At that stage, Jack Nicklaus’s words from early in the morning were ringing loud. After performing the ceremonial tee-off duties alongside Tom Watson and Gary Player, the six-time major winner marched into the media centre and predicted a McIlroy victory.
“I think it’s about time that Rory won and I sat down with him last week,” Nicklaus said. “I said ‘I know you prepared for Augusta, tell me how you’re going to play the golf course.
“We went through it shot for shot, we got done with the round, I didn’t open my mouth and I said ‘I wouldn’t change a thing’.
“That’s exactly the way I would try to play the golf course. The discipline to do that is what Rory has lacked in my opinion. He’s got all the shots, he’s got all the game. He certainly is as talented as anybody in the game, but if you go back through his history in the last few years he gets to a place and all of a sudden a seven or an eight pops up and that keeps him from getting where he needs to go
Cue a mini disaster. On the par-five 15th, his four-iron approach from 220 yards was struck too well, disappearing off the back of the sliver-like green. If that was acceptable then the manner in which over-hit his chip was not and he watched aghast as it rolled past the pin and into the lake.
He chose to play from the other side of the hazard, but could only get down in three for a double-bogey seven. He will probably not wish to know that the last occasion a golfer with a seven on their scorecards went on to win here was Craig Stadler - 43 years ago. Scheffler’s presence on the upper echelons fn the leaderboard, particularly after he added another double-bogey at the 17th.
It was an ominous start by Scheffler who is trying to join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Sir Nick Faldo as the only players who have successfully retained the Masters title. Indeed, if Scheffler is to prevail, then he would emulate Nicklaus’s achievement of donning three green jackets in four years. A 60-foot putt on the fourth and another from 40-feet on the 16th were the highlights of a bogey-less 68. He was three-under for his opening nine, the joint-best by a defending champion over the last 30 years.
“I felt pretty good,” Scheffler said. “Anytime you can keep a card clean out here, it’s a really good thing. I struggled for what felt like two pars today - I had to make two really good up-and-downs. But other than that, the golf course was in front of me most of the day, kept the ball in play, did a lot of really good things out there.”
In truth, conditions were not that tricky but the National still claimed a victim, regardless. PGA Tour winner Nick Dunlap fired an 18-over 90, including three double-bogeys and a triple-bogey. That made the 21-year-old the first player in a decade, the third under age 50 and the first aged 38 to fail to break 90.
Understandably, he did not speak to the media. His eyes were bloodshot and his face was ashen as he trudged into the scorer’s tent. Playing partner Bob MacIntyre - the Scot who signed for a 75 - was full of sympathy.
“I’ve played with him a few times this year, and what a great player, what a great guy,” the Scot said. “He was struggling out there today, but his attitude was solid. He didn’t get in the way. He didn’t lay off anything that was going to affect his two other playing partners because we’ve got a job to do. I feel for him today, but he’ll come back.”
12:22 AM BST
Final group finishes up
Theegala is the best-placed of this last group at even par. His second shot has missed to the left and he lets it roll down the slope and this is a pretty terrific effort to set him up for the chance of a par. He gets the par putt and finishes even par for his first round.
Burns’ birdie putt slides past the left edge and he finishes on one over.
Straka secures a par on the last and ends his first round on six over.
That is it for round one at The 2025 Masters and Justin Rose leads by three after the first round. We will back for round two.
12:15 AM BST
Ludvig Aberg (-4) speaking to Sky Sports
12:14 AM BST
Rahm’s frustrating day ends
The 2023 Masters champion finds the bunker to the right of the green and plays a sublime shot to get out of it. He had to hit out miles away from the pin and let it run down the slope towards the hole. He lands the par putt and that is a three-over 75 for the Spaniard.
Wyndham Clark finishes with a par to finish on four over.
Tommy Fleetwood also ends with a par and it is a one-over 73.
One group to finish.
12:06 AM BST
Birdie for Theegala
He responds to a double bogey on 16 with a birdie on 17. That means the final group on this opening round heads to the last tee.
12:03 AM BST
DeChambeau ends first round on three under
DeChambeau has a birdie putt on the last to potentially move to four under but it slides past the hole. It is a par to finish for Bryson
Lowry finishes up with a birdie and ends his opening round on one under.
Matsuyama also has a chance to finish with a birdie but the putt goes all the way round the hole and he finishes on one over for the day.
11:52 PM BST
Trouble for Theegala at 16
As soon as Sahith Theegala hit his tee shot at 16, he knew it was in trouble and rightly so as it ends up in the water. He ends up with a double bogey on 16, ruining his birdie on 15, to drop to one over.
11:49 PM BST
Bogey for DeChambeau
He had been on a bit of a charge but Bryson has registered a bogey on 17. He will go down the last on three under.
11:47 PM BST
McIlroy finishes with a par
He nearly chips in but will have to settle for a par on the last. It is an even-par 72 and will wonder how he slipped from four under to even par in the final four holes.
Aberg nails his birdie putt and that is a really strong round of four under from the Swede.
Bhatia makes it back-to-back birdies to finish with an opening round of two under.
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Frustration for McIlroy - Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
11:37 PM BST
Hovland ends in the red
The Norwegian lands his birdie putt on the last to finish his opening round with a one-under 71. Schauffele pars the last to finish on one over.
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Viktor Hovland under par after his first round - Ashley Landis/AP
11:34 PM BST
Another double bogey from McIlroy
More misery for Rory. He has now dropped four shots in three holes with a double bogey on 17 to follow up the double bogey on 15. He has gone from four under to even in just a few holes.
Bhatia lands a lengthy birdie putt and he is now into the red. He is now at one under.
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Rory McIlroy’s round faltering in the final stages - Michael Reaves/Getty Images
11:27 PM BST
Birdie for DeChambeau
A fairly simple birdie putt on 16 and that is back-to-back birdies to climb to four under alongside Corey Conners and Scottie Scheffler.
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Bryson DeChambeau rising up the leaderboard - David J. Phillip/AP
11:26 PM BST
More difficulty for McIlroy
Another mistake from McIlroy as he goes over the back of the 17th green. Aberg meanwhile is getting stronger as the round goes on and he will have the chance of another birdie. One man probably wants his round to end, the other wants it to keep going.
11:23 PM BST
Even day for Fleetwood
Fleetwood has not had his best day but he nearly gets an eagle on the par-five 15th. The eagle putt slides just past but it is an easy birdie to take him back to even par. He still has three to play in this opening round.
11:19 PM BST
Another birdie incoming for Bryson?
Not long after Bhatia’s stunning tee shot on the par-three 16th, DeChambeau says “whatever you can do I can do better!” Surely back-to-back birdies for DeChambeau, who would move into a share of second on four under with a birdie.
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Bryson on the rise? - Michael Reaves/Getty Images
11:18 PM BST
Justin Rose speaking to Sky Sports
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Justin Rose shot a seven-under 65 - George Walker IV/AP
11:16 PM BST
DeChambeau up to -3
The 2024 US Open champion birdies the 15th not long after Rory McIlroy’s double bogey on the same hole and he is now three under.
Up on 18 Fitzpatrick has a chance of a birdie to close out his opening round but he pushes it past the left edge.
11:14 PM BST
Par for McIlroy
Rory has made sure he has not compounded one error with another. A solid tee shot is followed up by a solid putt, which leaves him a simple par putt to remain at two under.
Aberg’s birdie effort slides just past the right edge of the hole and he stays at three under. Bhatia, who has got closest to the pin today on 16, has a simple tap-in for his birdie. They move on to 17.
11:08 PM BST
Can McIlroy hit back on 16?
McIlroy has a similar tee shot to Aberg on 16 and will have an outside chance at a birdie.
Bhatia is just a couple of feet away from a hole-in-one. Sublime tee shot!
11:05 PM BST
Double for McIlroy
What an incredibly disappointing 15th for Rory. Just beyond the green in two yet walks away with a double bogey to drop him to two under.
Aberg secures a birdie to move to three under.
10:58 PM BST
What have you done McIlroy?
Oh no Rory! He has just done a Patrick Cantlay. His chip from the back of the green has far too much on it, rolls quickly past the pin and rolls down the hill into the water on front side of the green. Huge mistake from McIlroy. He opts to go to the drop zone before the water and his chip is not fantastic. This could be a double bogey for the world number two.
Back on 14, Fleetwood, on one over, misses his birdie putt to the right and remains at +1.
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What was Rory thinking? - Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
10:50 PM BST
Over on 15
McIlroy’s second shot to the 15th green is right on line but has slightly too much on it and rolls off the back. It was a pretty good shot and he is safe, unlike Bhatia’s second, which goes into the water in front of the green. Aberg follows McIlroy over the back of the green.
10:48 PM BST
Rose’s card
10:40 PM BST
Rose finishes with bogey
After an errant tee shot, Rose has to chip out sideways and his third shot is not bad but leaves him a lengthy par putt. It slides past the left edge and has to settle for a bogey. It is still a fantastic seven-under 65 to begin his 2025 Masters campaign and he holds the clubhouse lead.
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Stunning first round from Justin Rose - Pilar Olivares/Reuters
10:31 PM BST
McIlroy misses birdie chance
The putt slides past the hole so Rory has to settle for par. He remains at four under and in a tie for second place.
Bhatia does get his birdie and gets back to even par.
10:28 PM BST
McIlroy in good position once more
McIlroy has driven brilliantly today and his iron/ wedge game has complemented it well. He has another birdie chance coming up at 14.
Back on 13 Matsuyama has registered a double bogey after his trip into the creek. DeChambeau though gets his birdie to make up for the bogey on 12.
Up on the last Rose has gone right off the tee and has an incredibly tough second shot incoming.
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What will Rory McIlroy finish up on after the end of round one? - CJ Gunther/Shutterstock
10:26 PM BST
Good finish for Tai
Amateur Hiroshi Tai, who is the first man from Singapore to play at The Masters, birdies the last to finish one over. Top effot from the amateur!
10:25 PM BST
Water and more water
Patrick Cantlay is having an absolute nightmare on the 15th as he has hit the ball into the water twice in exactly the same fashion. Around Augusta things can fall apart very quickly; he was one under going to the tee at 15 and is is facing a triple bogey.
10:22 PM BST
Rose heading to the last
When the Englishman went to the first tee earlier, I do not think even he could have imagined a better start to his 2025 Masters. He knocks in his par putt on 17 and heads to the 18th tee on eight under with a four-shot lead.
Back on 13 Matsuyama hits the pin and the ball ricochets back into the creek. How’s your luck (or lack of!)?
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Justin Rose in a terrific position - Pilar Olivares/Reuters
10:15 PM BST
Birdie for McIlroy
That was a tough right-to-left eagle putt for McIlroy but he leaves himself an easy birdie putt, which he takes, so he moves to four under up into a tie for second place.
Aberg gets a birdie and moves to two under. Back-to-back birdies for the world number five. Bhatia also birdies and is one over.
10:10 PM BST
Eagle chance incoming for Rory
McIlroy’s second into the par-five 13th is sublime and he will have a decent opportunity for eagle. Bhatia and Aberg also play excellent second shots and we could see a few eagles in quick succession on the 13th green.
Up on 14 Fitzpatrick has got a birdie and is now two under.
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Rory McIlroy has already won twice this yea - David Cannon/Getty Images
10:00 PM BST
Rose extends lead
Yet another birdie on the day for Justin Rose and is up to eight under so he holds a four-shot lead over Scottie Scheffler and Corey Connors. What a round from the 44-year-old!
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Justin Rose on fire - Andrew Redington/Getty Images
10:00 PM BST
Difficulty for DeChambeau
DeChambeau went over the back of the 12th green with his tee shot into the bunker and his shot from the bunker is not great. His tricky par putt slides past the left edge and it will be a bogey to drop back to -1.
Also a bogey for Matsuyama as he drops to one under.
Up at the last two-time Masters champion Watson lands a par putt to finis hos opening round on one under.
On 16 more cheers go up for our leader.
09:52 PM BST
Par for McIlroy
McIlroy misses his birdie attempt so has to settle for a par.
Aberg lands his birdie putt and is now one under.
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Good first round so far from Rory McIlroy - George Walker IV/AP
09:48 PM BST
Birdie for Rose
Who would have predicted this at the start of the day? Maybe Justin Rose’s family! He birdies 15 to move seven under and open up a three-shot lead at the summit of the leaderboard.
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What a day for Justin Rose - Mike Blake/Reuters
Behind on the 11th green DeChambeau salvages a par with a clutch putt.
09:47 PM BST
McIlroy ticking along nicely
On 12 McIlroy has found the green safely on the par three. A sensible tee shot that presents him an outside chance of a birdie.
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Could Rory McIlory secure the career Grand Slam this week? - Brian Snyder/Reuters
Up ahead on the 15th green our leader’s great round continues...
09:41 PM BST
Another dropped shot for Rahm
The Spaniard’s day goes from bad to worse as his par putt slides past the left edge and he puts his head in his hands. He is now three over.
09:35 PM BST
Torrid time for Rahm
The 2023 champion has just begun his back nine at two over and his second towards the 10th green misses out to the left. He has not looked comfortable at all out there today.
Up ahead on 11 McIlroy comes very close to adding his fourth birdie of the day but he settles for a solid par as he gets one part of Amen Corner out of the way.
09:24 PM BST
Rose saves par
Our current leader looked like he may have been struggling to make par on the par-four 14th but he remains bogey-free on his opening round and stays at six under.
Meanwhile back on 12 his fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick has registered a bogey and dropped back to one under.
Another 2023 European Ryder Cup player has dropped a shot as Shane Lowry has made bogey on 10.
09:13 PM BST
McIlroy salvages par
That is a sensational bunker shot from Rory that nearly goes in. He saves par and remains at three under. There have been a few pressure moments when on another day he may have dropped a shot but today has saved it. Amen Corner awaits.
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Sublime play from Rory McIlroy - Pilar Olivares/Reuters
09:09 PM BST
DeChambeau moves to two under
The 2024 US Open champion finishes his up-and-down front nine with a birdie and is two under heading onto the back nine. Shane Lowry also birdies the ninth and he too is two under.
Up ahead on ten McIlroy’s second is wayward, landing in the bunker and it will be a difficult up-and-down for par.
2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm has had a tough day so far, currently two over, and his tee shot on nine goes way right, leading him to nearly snap his driver in half.
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Bryson DeChambeau reaches the turn at two under - CJ Gunther/Shutterstock
09:02 PM BST
Breaking news
08:56 PM BST
McIlroy on the move
McIlroy’s second into the ninth green is sublime, leaving him a birdie opportunity from within ten feet. The putt goes into the centre of the hole and McIlroy lands his third birdie of the day to reach the turn at three under. He has already won twice this year; The Players Championship and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and he has looked in good touch so far today.
08:51 PM BST
Hatton finishes up
A par on the last gives Tyrrell Hatton an opening round of three under. He had gone 16 holes without a bogey before his dropped shot on the 17th but still a good round for the Englishman. As it stands he is three shots off the lead currently held by Justin Rose.
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Opening-round 69 for Tyrrell Hatton - Mike Blake/Reuters
08:42 PM BST
Birdie for McIlroy
It will not be an eagle for Rory on eight but it is an easy birdie, which moves the Northern Irishman to two under.
08:40 PM BST
Scheffler finishes up
The defending champion’s tee shot landed in a bunker but a superb second shot gives him a birdie chance. His putt though slides just past the right edge but it is still a good round of four under. A bogey-free round for Scheffler.
Thomas lands a birdie to finish up with a one-over 73.
Amateur José Luis Ballester, who is coached by Sergio Garcia’s dad Victor, had a very shaky start to his round but has settled down. He has a birdie chance of his own on the 18th green but it goes past the left edge so he has to settle for a par and a four-over round.
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Scottie Scheffler starts his defence off well - Andrew Redington/Getty Images
08:34 PM BST
Bogey for Hatton
Scheffler managed to save his par on 17 but behind him Hatton cannot do so, dropping a shot with a bogey as he heads to 18. Hatton is now three under, three shots off the lead, with one to play.
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Tyrrell Hatton’s first drop shot of the day comes on 17 - David J. Phillip/AP
08:31 PM BST
McIlroy on eight
McIlroy has smoked his tee shot on eight nearly 350 yards. His second takes a lovely kick off the right edge and, once he makes his way up the green, will see there is a good eagle chance waiting for him.
Up on 18 Australian Jason Day completes his day with a par to finish up on two under.
08:24 PM BST
One hole to go for defending champion
Scheffler lands a par on the 17th so he will head down the last on four under, two off Rose’s lead. One hole behind him Hatton has also stayed at four under after a good par save on the par-three 16th.
Hatton’s fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick has closed out his front nine with a birdie to leave him on two under.
08:22 PM BST
Rose for the win?
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Could 44-year-old Justin Rose claim his first Green Jacket? - Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
08:15 PM BST
Bogey on the last for Morikawa
As he left the 14th green, Collin Morikawa was on three under but by the end of his first round he is back down to even par after three bogeys in his last four holes, including one on the last.
08:08 PM BST
Rose extends lead
Another terrific hole for the Englishman. He reached the turn at five under and immediately makes a birdie at the start of the back nine. Great tee and second shots present Rose with a good opportunity of a birdie and he takes it to improve to six under par, two clear of Conners, Scheffler and Hatton.
08:01 PM BST
Scheffler one off the lead
The defending champion has just landed an incredible 42ft putt on the par-three 16th to secure a brilliant birdie to move within one shot of our current leader Justin Rose. That is now a few long-range putts Scheffler has sunk today and the world number one has looked in good touch so far today.
Justin Thomas sinks a birdie putt of his own to move to one over.
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The defending champion looking ominous - Mike Segar/Reuters
07:53 PM BST
Back-to-back bogeys for Morikawa
The American dropped a shot on 15 and he has now done so on 16, going from three under to one under in the space of two holes. This is what this course can do to you in a very short space of time.
Meanwhile back on six no birdie for McIlroy but a solid par to remain at one under.
07:49 PM BST
Rose storms to the top of the leaderboard
44-year-old Justin Rose could not have dreamed of a better front nine to start the 2025 Masters. A birdie on nine takes him to five under and he now holds the outright lead. The question now is can he maintain that on the back nine? We saw Aaron Rai earlier reach the turn on -4 and Amen Corner hit hard.
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Justin Rose flying along - Harry How/Getty Images
07:46 PM BST
Birdie chance upcoming for McIlroy
That is a pretty good effort on the sixth tee from McIlroy. The pin position is a tricky one on six, with it being place right at the back on a tier and he gets it up to that tier. We have seen a lot of players come up short of that tier and have a challenging attempt at a two-putt for par.
Meanwhile up on nine we have a new leader...
07:39 PM BST
Another big save from McIlroy
After a stunning drive on the fifth, McIlroy’s second is not his best and, on a tough green, it is not an easy two-putt. His first effort comes up a decent way short, leaving him a tricky part putt but he gets it to remain at one under. One of his playing partners, Ryder Cup teammate Aberg, narrowly missed a birdie putt.
24 players are currently under par but there are not far off 20 players at even par.
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Solid start from Rory McIlroy - Ashley Landis/AP
07:32 PM BST
Couples brilliance at 65
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Fred Couples was the 1992 Masters champion - Pilar Olivares/Reuters
07:27 PM BST
Rose and Conners join Hatton on four under
Two Englishmen now share the lead at the top of the leaderboard. It has been a stunning start to Justin Rose’s round as a birdie on the eighth takes him to four under, level with Tyrrell Hatton.
Make that a three-way lead at the top. Canada’s Corey Connors has birdied the last two holes to move to -4.
07:25 PM BST
Morikawa drops shot on 15
The American pays the price for going long over the back of the 15th green. His par putt goes just past the right edge and the bogey drops him to two under with three to play.
07:22 PM BST
McIlroy saves par
That will be a big relief for Rory. His tee shot was ok on the par-three fourth but a long way left off the pin. We saw Scheffler nail a long-distance putt from a similar spot but had it not gone in the ball would have raced on. McIlroy’s birdie putt goes past the hole and leaves him a tricky putt back but he nails the putt to not drop shots. How many times in recent years have we seen McIlroy drop shots on holes like that with the par putt sliding past the hole.
Not so much fortune for Aberg though, who drops the shot he made up on the previous hole.
07:15 PM BST
Jon Rahm not off to best of starts
This is not the start for the 2023 Masters champion would have wanted to his round. He has registered a bogey at the second to drop to one over. He finished in a tie for 45th last year, his worst finish at The Masters.
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Jon Rahm has dropped to number 80 in the world rankings - Pilar Olivares/Reuters
07:11 PM BST
Scheffler wastes opportunity at 15
After two great shots, the defending champion put himself in a terrific position to secure either an eagle or a birdie but a three-putt puts an end to those hopes. He remains at three under and in a tie for second place.
07:05 PM BST
McIlroy into the red
The Northern Irishman seeking the career Grand Slam makes no mistake from inside four feet, moving to one under. Akshay Bhatia, who competed in the finals of the Drive, Chip & Putt competition here in 2014, also makes a birdie so birdies all-round for the McIlroy, Aberg, Bhatia group.
07:05 PM BST
Ludvig Aberg chips in on the third
The Swede, who finished second here last year on his major debut, has just chipped in for birdie to move to one under. Meanwhile McIlroy has a short putt to make his first birdie of the day too...
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Could Aberg go one step better than he did here last year? - Andrew Redington/Getty Images
07:03 PM BST
Aaron Rai finishes up
The man from Wolverhampton has completed his opening round and he ends up with a two-under 70. He was at four under at the turn but Amen Corner did some damage. Rai will still probably be content with that round though.
07:00 PM BST
So much more to look forward to
Thanks Dan. Sit back, relax and enjoy all the golf left today on day one of the 2025 Masters. The 2022 and 2024 champion Scheffler has just found the green in two on the par-five 13th Azalea to set up a possible eagle chance. Scheffler is one off the lead currently held by Hatton.
06:57 PM BST
Tyrrell Hatton takes the sole lead
So much is said about course form at the Masters but the man with Augusta form figures reading CUT-T44-T56-CUT-T18-52-T34-T9 is our leader. A two to cherish on the par three 12th moves Hatton to four-under.
That’s all from me today, I’ll hand you over to Kieran Crichard for the evening session.
06:52 PM BST
McIlroy tidies up for par at the second
Only fractions out with his wedged third which landed on the downslope the other side of the front bunker which meant the backspin came too late. It could have been a kick in birdie but he settles for a five. Alongside McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg makes a birdie to move into red figures.
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Rory McIlroy plays out of a fairway bunker on the second - Getty Images/David Cannon
06:44 PM BST
Eagle for Morikawa on the 13th
A snaking putt down the hill on the par five, breaking sharply from right to left. Morikawa deserved that for the quality os his second shot which was all over the pin from a hanging lie. Morikawa jumps to three under alongside Rose, Scheffler and Hatton.
06:43 PM BST
Scheffler scares the hole on the 12th
Oh so close to four under, but it is another hole negotiated without any stress. His tee shot on the dangerous hole was right into the heart of the green, never a question of flirting with water.
06:39 PM BST
Fred Couples with a moment of magic to go to one under
06:37 PM BST
Poor drives from Rahm and Fleetwood on the first
The Spaniard over-cuts a three wood into the fairway bunker, while Fleetwood his a pull-hook into the trees on the left. They will be all of 70 or 80 yards apart.
06:32 PM BST
McIlroy finds sand on the second
That will take the green out of range in two on the par five. Just failed to turn the drive enough from right to left.
Over at the 11th, Scheffler showed his short-game skill to get up and down for a par to stay at three under.
At the fifth, Justin Rose holed a lengthy par putt to stay in the same score.
06:26 PM BST
McIlroy’s birdie putt slips by
His effort on the left-to-righter lacked a hair of speed and the ball dived across the cup. Still, a sound start from McIlroy with two very solid shots on the opener.
06:21 PM BST
Super approach from McIlroy
Distance control with the wedges was a problem for McIlroy for a while, but he looks dialled in now. Pin high, and will have a birdie putt from around 10 feet for the ideal start.
06:19 PM BST
The 2023 Open champion is on the first page of the leaderboard
06:14 PM BST
Rory McIlroy is on the first tee
He pulls driver, and sets up for a fade with his shoulders pointing at the treeline down the left... and that is in position A1. Lovely start from McIlroy as his ball peels back into the middle of the cut and prepared. That has sneaked beyond the bunker too, so has just 123 yards in from there.
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Rory McIlroy’s opening tee shot - Masters
06:11 PM BST
Scheffler, Rose and Hatton now share the lead
No player is better than three under after Jaegar makes a double bogey seven on the 13th.
06:09 PM BST
Safe as houses from Scheffler at the 10th
Finds the fairway, finds the green, and a well-judged lag putt means Scheffler stays at three under and a tough hole is ticked off. Justin Thomas also makes a par to stay at one over.
Ahead at the 12th, a moment of good fortunate for Morikawa, whose ball hangs up on the bank Fred Couples-style rather than rolling back into the drink. Morikawa is cruising along at one under.
06:06 PM BST
Birdie-birdie-birdie start from Justin Rose
Rose has finished second twice at the Masters, notably to Sergio Garcia in 2017, as well as several other top 10 finishes. Could he claim a first Green Jacket aged 44? He has flown out of the traps.
06:04 PM BST
Scheffler’s start in context
06:01 PM BST
Has the penny dropped for Hatton at Augusta?
Tyrrell Hatton told me last week: “I don’t really think about winning the Masters, because my record there is awful. I think more about breaking 70. Before last year’s final round [a 69] I’d had as many scores in the 80s as I’d had in the 60s - and I’d played 23 Masters rounds. I’d love to make that scoreline 3-1 in the first round.”
The Englishman is on track. Three under through eight holes.
05:57 PM BST
Tyrrell Hatton joins Scheffler at three-under
In 2022, Hatton said the course set-up at Augusta was unfair and that good shots were unduly punished.
Last year, Hatton had the following to say about the par five 15th: “I was trying not to think of 15 until I got there.
“That hole lives rent-free in my head. I hate it. I absolutely hate it. And I think it hates me with the scores that I end up producing on it. Again, I’ve played that hole in 4-over this week.”
And yet here is, three under after eight and tied with the tournament favourite in second. The only thing is he still has to play the 15th...
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Tyrrell Hatton chips onto the green of the 7th hole - Reuters/Mike Segar
05:51 PM BST
Jordan Spieth has quietly put together a good front nine
The 2015 Masters champion is two under after eight holes. It has been a rough few years, with wrist surgery at the end of 2024, but he loves Augusta and can reel off streaks of birdies when the putter is hot.
Spieth’s good pal Justin Thomas has tapped in for par at the ninth to turn in one-over 37.
05:49 PM BST
Two Englishman making strong starts
Justin Rose has birdied the first two holes while Laurie Canter has made consecutive birdies on the third and sixth to move to two under.
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Laurie Canter’s approach to the fourth - Getty Images/Harry How
05:48 PM BST
Another bogey for Aaron Rai
A three-putt bogey on one of the more gettable holes on the course the par five 13th. The early leader falls back to one-under and he is only just about on the first page of the leaderboard.
05:35 PM BST
Birdie number three for Scheffler
Rory McIlroy is going through his warm-up routines on the range, and might not want to hear about Scheffler’s rather ominous start. The defending champ is now three under and second on his own. No bogeys. We all know about Scheffler’s long game but the putter looks warm which is worrisome for the rest.
05:25 PM BST
Double bogey on the 13th for Zalatoris
The par fives at Augusta, particularly on the back nine, offer birdie and eagle chances but water is in play on both. After an ideal tee shot, Rae’s Creek gobbles up Zalatoris second before he thinned his fourth over the green. He tumbles back to one over.
05:23 PM BST
Another bogey for Aaron Rai
Amen Corner is claiming another victim; a bogey on the 12th sends Rai back to two under. Stephan Jaegar is now the sole leader at four under. Scheffler and Niemann are playing very nicely at two under.
05:21 PM BST
A day to forget for Patton Kizzire
The man who made headlines for drop-kicking his putter like Jonny Wilkinson laboured to a seven-over 79 at Augusta this morning. That was painful enough, but he’ll be looking up dry cleaners in Augusta after crawling into some bushes to asses his lie on the fourth.
05:16 PM BST
Hatotn cleaned up for par on the sixth
We doubted him, but Hatton kept his head to keep a clean card and reach the seventh tee at two under. Great start from the Englishman.
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Tyrrell Hatton on the third green - Shutterstock/Erik S Lesser
05:09 PM BST
A dropped shot for Rai
Understandably, he bailed out right on the punishing par four 11th with water lurking left but that left a devilish up and down which proved beyond him. Still, three under after 11 is a great position to be.
Back on the eighth, Morikawa has opened his birdie account for the week to move to one under.
05:04 PM BST
Delightful bunker shot from Scheffler
The World No 1 got so much action on that splash shot, and he should now save par on the seventh despite a scruffily played hole. The defending champ stays at two under. Alongside him, Justin Thomas never saw the hole but his putter got him out of jail and he walks off with a par.
05:00 PM BST
A birdie chance slides by for Hatton
Now this is a test of patience for Hatton: on the par three sixth, he bolts a birdie putt from 10 feet about eight feet past. That is a tester coming back for par. There might be a few four-letter words thrown into the Georgia air if Hatton missed.
04:47 PM BST
Another par for Rai
A solid four on the 10th and he would snap your arm off for another three of those this week.
Back at the sixth, Scheffler has gone close with another birdie putt from long range. Lag putting is so important at Augusta and Scheffler looks to have the speed of the greens very early.
Alongside Scheffler, Thomas also lags well from long-range to save his par.
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Scheffler lines up his shot on the fourth hole - AP/David J. Phillip
04:39 PM BST
A par banked for Scheffler on the fifth
His second shot almost took the paint off the flagstick, and he was unfortunate that it bounded to the back edge. An easy two putt from there and Scheffler stays at two under.
Not an easy two putt from the front section though for Justin Thomas, and his par putt from 10 feet or so burns the edge and the two-time US PGA champion drops to one over par.
04:36 PM BST
Mystery solved
Early Masters leader Aaron Rai is, by nature, a reserved character and has so far managed to keep his partner’s identity a secret. But there has been a clamour to discover her name after she showed the patrons her silly swing in Wednesday’s par three. Those sleuths at Golf Monthly believe they had worked out who she is - Ladies European Tour pro Gaurika Bishnoi. Whoever she is she will be thrilled by Rai’s opening eight holes. The Wolverhampton 30-year-old is four-under.
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Aaron Rai with his wife caddying for him in the par three contest - Getty Images/Richard Heathcote
04:32 PM BST
Is has not been the best start from Morikawa
His tee-to-green play is not as precise as usual, summed up by a drive into the trees on the seventh. Morikawa has not done any damage at level par but he will want to start hitting some better shots.
Tyrrell Hatton is off to something of a flyer, two under after four. He has a lot of the skills required at Augusta but has not always seemed a fan of the place.
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Collin Morikawa plays from the bunker on the second hole - AP/George Walker IV)
04:23 PM BST
Langer under par at the turn
04:20 PM BST
Scheffler drains a putt from 62 feet for birdie!
That is a bonus for Scheffler, and two under after four is now a really strong start. In another boost, Scheffler has split the fairway on the brutal fifth and stayed well clear of the bunkers on the left. A serene beginning for the defending champion.
04:11 PM BST
Another birdie for Aaron Rai
Back-to-back birdies for Aaron Rai and he is four under on the ninth tee. A dream-like scenario on the first day of the Masters.
Niemann bogeyed the very difficult fifth, so Jaeger is the only player within a shot of Rai as things stand.
Ahead at the ninth green, Will Zalatoris has made birdie to turn in one-under 35.
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Aaron Rai hits his shot into the fourth - Getty Images/Harry How
04:08 PM BST
Pars for Thomas and Scheffler at the third
Both boomed drivers within 50 yards or so of the green, but neither makes birdie. Scheffler set up a chance at least, but his putt broke across the whole. Thomas played a very sketchy pitch, half-thinned through the back of the green, but his next one was a better effort. Three pars for Thomas, but his short game is looking shaky. Iffy contact on two pitch shots.
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Justin Thomas on the second green - Reuters/Pilar Olivares
03:57 PM BST
Good start for Bob MacIntyre
The left-handed Scot is one under after four holes. Also on the same score as he walks down the ninth is Bernhard Langer which is impressive going for a 67-year-old.
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Robert MacIntyre speaks his caddie Michael Burrow - Getty Images/Harry How
03:52 PM BST
Scheffler opens his birdie account for the week
The defending champion played a sporty pitch to within six or seven feet on the par five second, and converts the putt to move into red figures. Not so good was Justin Thomas’ pitch, which came up well shy and cost him the chance of birdie. Par-par start for Thomas.
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Justin Thomas plays his pitch shot on the second - Reuters/Pilar Olivares
03:50 PM BST
Niemann joins Rai on three under
Niemann has produced the most impressive start of any player so far with three birdies in his first four. His next hole, the fifth, is fiendish, but after that there are more birdie chances. What a platform to most a score in the mid 60s.
03:48 PM BST
The Hojgaard rollercoaster continues
Nicolai is over par again after a double-bogey six on the 10th. The Dane has had everything from a two to a seven on his scorecard this morning.
03:43 PM BST
New leader: Aaron Rai reaches three under
A birdie three on the par four seventh means the Englishman leads the Masters on his own at this early stage. At the Par Three Contest yesterday, Rai’s wife attracted plenty of compliments for her smooth swing with a wedge.
03:39 PM BST
Morikawa cleans up for a par on the third
It looked like being a birdie chance with just a short pitch left for his second, but it ran away from him off the back of the green. That looked frighteningly quick around the hole, the greens are drying out in the sun. Morikawa then showed great touch to trickle a fairway wood down to within a few inches.
03:32 PM BST
Pars for Scheffler and Thomas to start with
No alarms for Scheffler, while Thomas was fortunate to find a route to the green from the trees on the right but he took full advantage by finding the putting surface.
Across at the ninth, Nicolai Hojgaard bogeyed the ninth after missing the fairway and green right but to reach the turn at one under is still some going after that bogey-double bogey start.
03:27 PM BST
A very popular opening birdie from Fred Couples
03:22 PM BST
Another birdie for Niemann
A cracking start for the Chilean LIV player, two under after two. Niemann spread-eagled the field at Riviera a few years ago, a course which has proven a strong indicator of Augusta success over the decades.
Just a par for Morikawa, but no damage done.
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Chile’s Joaquin Niemann - Reuters/Pilar Olivares
03:17 PM BST
Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas now driving
Not a cloud in the sky at Augusta, the players could not wish for more receptive conditions.
Scheffler seems happy enough with his opening tee shot, as well he should be. Straight down the middle of the fairway, with the customary slide of his right foot through impact.
Alongside him is Justin Thomas, who leaks his drive to the right, beyond the bunker. Much will depend on whether he is blocked out by branches, but he could have a good angle to a pin on the left of the green.
03:05 PM BST
Another birdie for Nicolai Hojgaard
A two-putt birdie on the par five eighth, and Hojgaard makes it five birdies in six holes to grab a share of the lead at two under. Playing alongside his twin Rasmus, Nicolai is flying. He just needs to hang on around the turn because there are some tough holes to come.
03:03 PM BST
Lovely start from Aaron Rai
The Englishman is two under and is in the middle of the fifth fairway in ideal position.
Up at the eighth, Nicolai Hojgaard’s fairwood wood comes to rest pin high, 30 feet right of the pin and he will have that putt for eagle.
On the first green, Niemann rolls in his birdie putt while it is a solid par to start with for Morikawa.
02:56 PM BST
Fairway and green found on the first from Collin Morikawa
The two-time major winner is considered a serious contender this week, and he has made an assured start on the first finding the green in regulation. Morikawa is playing alongside Min Woo Lee and Niemann.
02:47 PM BST
Hojgaard’s golden run continues
From three over on the third tee to one under on the eighth! A pin-point wedge shot up the hill on the seventh sets up a fourth birdie in five holes, and the Dane is in red figures. His topsy-turvy start is the story of the morning so far.
Hojgaard has also just smoked a drive 328 yards straight down the fairway at the par five eighth. A presentable chance for another birdie.
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Nicolai Hojgaard plays his approach on the third - Getty Images/Harry How
02:45 PM BST
Sound start for Danny Willett
The 2016 Masters champion is one under after four. Willett’s last PGA Tour top 10 came at Torrey Pines in January, but when he wins he tends to win big.
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Danny Willett on the first green - Getty Images/Andrew Redington
02:36 PM BST
No blazer today for Cam Smith
A bit like Phil Collins, he decided there was no jacket required for round one.
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Australia’s Cameron Smith - Reuters/Pilar Olivares
02:29 PM BST
Some eye-catching groups starting over the next hour
2.36pm
Robert MacIntyre, Billy Horschel, Nick Dunlap
2.47pm
Collin Morikawa, Joaquín Niemann, Min Woo Lee
2.58pm
Phil Mickelson, Jason Day, Keegan Bradley
3.15pm
Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Jose Luis Ballester (A)
3.26pm
Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, Tyrrell Hatton
02:21 PM BST
The lead stands at two-under
Zach Johnson and Chris Kirk are the players on that mark. Speaking on Sky Sports, Butch Harmon tells us that conditions are “perfect” at Augusta with barely a breath of wind. He expects some low scores this morning.
02:20 PM BST
Things getting even better for Hojgaard
Bogey-double bogey-birdie-birdie-birdie start. The latest birdie came on the brutal fifth from this very unlikely spot indeed:
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Hojgaard’s second shot on the fifth - Masters
02:10 PM BST
Nicolai Hojgaard bouncing back
After a horrible start, back-to-back birdies on the third and fourth drags the Dane back to one-over. The second of those birdies was set up by a cracking long iron down the hill on the tough par three. Nicolai is playing alongside his twin brother Rasmus.
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Nicolai Hojgaard hits from the bunker on the first hole - AP/Ashley Landis
02:04 PM BST
Bernhard Langer starts with a par
The 67-year-old German is incredibly accurate with the hybrid clubs, and one such shot found the first green. Langer’s drive travelled just 246 yards; he is playing a different game to the youngsters this week.
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Germany’s Bernhard Langer hits his approach to the first - Reuters/Mike Blake
02:01 PM BST
A couple of former Masters champions under par
Mike Weir and Zach Johnson, and they stand testament to the fact you do not need to be a bomber off the tee to win around here (thought it may be more important than ever). It was fast and running when Johnson won in 2007, when he famously laid up on each of the 16 par fives he played across the four rounds.
01:53 PM BST
A bogey on the first for Will Zalatoris
The American is in better health these days and his tee-to-green excellence is the reason for an impressive Augusta record. But he has started with a bogey after missing a four-footer on the first. Those putting gremlins have not gone away, especially on the short ones.
01:44 PM BST
A couple of players have joined Riley under par
They are Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas and American Michael Kim
01:39 PM BST
A horrible start for Nicolai Hojgaard
The Dane is three-over after two holes after a double-bogey seven on the second. That is a birdie hole, so more like two-and-a-half to three shots given back to the field. His trouble started with this hoiked tee shot with a fairway wood, which finished in a hazard in the left trees.
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Nicolai Hojgaard’s tee shot on the second - The Masters
01:31 PM BST
Some of the next groups off
1.35pm
Bernhard Langer, Will Zalatoris, Noah Kent (A)
1.52pm
Cameron Smith, JT Poston, Aaron Rai
2.03pm
Fred Couples, Harris English, Taylor Pendrith
2.14pm
Corey Conners, Brian Harman, Stephen Jaeger
2.25pm
Patrick Reed, Max Greyserman, Beyong Hun An
01:27 PM BST
Nicklaus gave McIlroy a shot-by-shot guide to Augusta
Interesting revelation from Jack Nicklaus after he performed the ceremonial tee-off duties. He had lunch with Rory McIlroy last week and the six-time winner took him through playing Augusta, shot by shot. Nicklaus believes the aspect that has held back McIlroy has been the discipline to stick to an Augusta gameplan.
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Nicklaus before hitting his ceremonial tee shot - Getty Images/Andrew Redington
01:19 PM BST
The first player in red figures
Davis Riley is now under par after a birdie at the par five second. Shots should feed down to the front-left pin position on that hole today, so we could see several eagles. Players receive a nice piece of crystal for every eagle they make at the Masters. Ideal for decanting some of the vintages Augusta National hold in their legendary wine cellar.
01:08 PM BST
Another bogey on the first
This time from Nicolai Hojgaard. The Dane is a supreme talent but is going through a lean spell. He played ever so well here last year and was briefly in the lead on Saturday.
12:57 PM BST
The first scores are on the board
Davis played a lovely low hooking shot from the trees to find the first green and escape with par. Not so for Kizzire, whose errant drive costs him a bogey five. The opener always plays over its par; you are beating the field if you card four fours across the week.
12:45 PM BST
The Masters is now under way
There will not be much conversation between Davis Riley and Patton Kizzire down the first fairway: Riley is in the left trees, with Kizzire in the forest way right. Military golf. Kizzire is known to have a temper and that will be tested at an early juncture it seems.
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Davis Riley pulls his drive left on the first - Getty Images/Harry How
12:43 PM BST
The ceremonial tee shots in full
12:32 PM BST
Time for the ceremonial tee shots
Gary Player hits the first drive, followed by a kung-fu kick. Alongside him are six-time Masters winner Jack Nicklaus and two-time Masters winner Tom Watson, who is fair bit younger that the other two. It is between Watson and Player for longest drive, but I think Watson prevailed.
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Gary Player tees off - Reuters/Mike Segar
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Jack Nicklaus after hitting his honourary tee shot - Getty Images/Richard Heathcote
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Nicklaus’ final Masters win came in 1986 - Getty Images/Harry How
12:25 PM BST
The effects of Hurricane Helene
As explored by James Corrigan in this piece, there is a different look to Augusta National this year after the devastation wreaked by the worst tropical storm to hit the United States since Katrina in 2005. Nothing much has changed about the holes themselves, but around 1,000 trees were felled. It changes the course visually, and some of the targets players used to aim at have now gone. There is more room on some holes, such as the tough par four 10th.
12:17 PM BST
ICYMI
There was a heart-warming moment in the Par Three Contest yesterday when Rory McIlroy’s four-year-old daughter poppy drained a 30-foot downhill putt with helping hand from her dad and his good pal Shane Lowry. Perhaps it is the kind of jovial moment to put McIlroy in the right frame of mind for the week.
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Rory and Poppy McIlroy celebrate with Shane Lowry - Shutterstock/CJ Gunther
12:03 PM BST
First-round tee times
12.40pm
Davis Riley, Patton Kizzire
12.51pm
Kevin Yu, Jhonattan Vegas
1.02pm
Mike Weir, Michael Kim, Cameron Young
1.13pm
Zach Johnson, Joe Highsmith, Chris Kirk
1.24pm
Danny Willett, Nicolas Echavarria, Davis Thompson
1.35pm
Bernhard Langer, Will Zalatoris, Noah Kent (A)
1.52pm
Cameron Smith, JT Poston, Aaron Rai
2.03pm
Fred Couples, Harris English, Taylor Pendrith
2.14pm
Corey Conners, Brian Harman, Stephen Jaeger
2.25pm
Patrick Reed, Max Greyserman, Beyong Hun An
2.36pm
Robert MacIntyre, Billy Horschel, Nick Dunlap
2.47pm
Collin Morikawa, Joaquín Niemann, Min Woo Lee
2.58pm
Phil Mickelson, Jason Day, Keegan Bradley
3.15pm
Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Jose Luis Ballester (A)
3.26pm
Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, Tyrrell Hatton
3.37pm
Tony Finau, Maverick McNealy, Thomas Detry
3.48pm
Cameron Davis, Rafael Campos, Austin Eckroat
3.59pm
Angel Cabrera, Laurie Canter, Adam Schenk
4.10pm
Jose Maria Olazabal, Thriston Lawrence, Brian Campbell
4.21pm
Bubba Watson, Mathieu Pavon, Evan Beck (A)
4.38pm
Tom Hoge, Matt McCarty, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
4.49pm
Charl Schwartzel, Denny McCarthy, Hiroshi Tai (A)
5.00pm
Max Homa, Justin Rose, JJ Spaun
5.11pm
Dustin Johnson, Nick Taylor, Justin Hastings (A)
5.22pm
Sergio Garcia, Lucas Glover, Daniel Berger
5.33pm
Patrick Cantlay, Rasmus Hojgaard, Matt Fitzpatrick
5.50pm
Brooks Koepka, Russell Henley, Sungjae Im
6.01pm
Adam Scott, Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland
6.12pm
Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg, Akshay Bhatia
6.23pm
Hideki Matsuyama, Bryson DeChambeau, Shane Lowry
6.34pm
Jon Rahm, Wyndham Clark, Tommy Fleetwood
6.45pm
Sahith Theegala, Sepp Straka, Sam Burns
11:59 AM BST
Pin positions for first round
11:59 AM BST
Is this the year Rory McIlroy cracks the Augusta code?
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the first round of the 89th Masters from Augusta National, with Davis Riley and Patton Kizzire starting the tournament proper at 12.40pm.
Rory McIlroy is among the later starters, teeing off at 6.12pm, as he embarks on another pursuit of a first Green Jacket and the career grand slam. There is a strong case to be made that McIlroy has never driven down Magnolia Lane in better shape, with two PGA Tour wins at Pebble Beach and TPC Sawgrass already this season. His short-game looks razor sharp, he is holing putts and his driving looks as irrepressible as ever bar a minor blip in the first few rounds of the Players. Crucially, he is scrambling well and posting good scores while not necessarily having his A-game, a skill McIlroy has not always possessed. McIlroy has seven top-10 finishes at Augusta National and has the length and high ball flight to thrive, it all comes down to the six inches between his ears.
The Northern Irishman is not the tournament favourite, though. That honour goes to two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler. The World No 1 is looking to emulate Jack Nicklaus by winning a third Green Jacket in four years, but is without a victory in 2025. Scheffler was peerless when winning this comfortably last season, but things have felt a little flat although his hopes were boosted by a runner-up finish at the Houston Open a fortnight ago.
Collin Morikawa leads the PGA Tour for Strokes Gained: Approach the Green, which explains why he is strongly fancied on a second-shot golf course. Justin Thomas has four top-10 finishes this year plus a course-record 62 at Sawgrass and is another glorious iron player, but he has not lifted a trophy since the 2022 US PGA Championship. Xander Schauffele won two majors last season but has been hampered by a rib injury.
Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau lead the LIV Golf charge, while Britain and Ireland’s best non-McIlroy chances are likely to be Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood, with Scottish left-hander Bob MacIntyre also capable of getting in the mix. MacIntyre has only played in two Masters, but made the cut on both occasions on the way to finishing a creditable T12 and T22.
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