The 2023 Masters has officially started following the traditional honorary tee shots from Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. The first pairings descended upon Augusta National for the tournament proper from 8am EDT / 1pm BST.
There has been much anticipation this year, even more than usual, as it is the first time the best players in the world have met to play against each other since the summer of 2022.
Viktor Hovland and Jon Rahm have set the early pace at seven-under, the Spaniard remarkably recovering from an opening double-bogey to post a 65. It wasn't so good for Tiger Woods, who laboured to a two-over 74.
Scottie Scheffler is out in the afternoon wave and got his defence off to a stunning start with an eagle on the second. Behind, Rory McIlroy has failed to get going as he bids to complete the career Grand Slam.
Keep up to date with everything happening at Augusta with our live updates below.
MASTERS 2023 LEADERBOARD
- -7 Hovland, Rahm, Koepka
- -5 Young, Day
- -4 Lowry, Schauffele, Scott, Woodland, Scheffler, Bennett (a), Burns
- Selected scores
- -3 Spieth
- -1 Mickelson, McIlroy
- +2 Woods
USEFUL LINKS
- The Masters 2023 Round 1 and 2 Tee Times
- Master Betting Picks and Predictions
- First Round Predictions for the 2023 Masters
- Masters Weather Forecast
- How to Watch The Masters
Hovland Takes The Lead
A birdie two on the 6th for Hovland gets him tied with Cam Young at the top. He got a great read from Schauffele, who putted just before him, and confidently knocked in yet another putt with good pace. Positive signs for Viktor.
Lowry joins the pile on
It's a birdie that was very nearly an eagle for Shane Lowry. It was a long, snaking putt on the 8th hole that had a little look in before sneaking by. It's a tap-in birdie nonetheless and Lowry joins the ever-growing group at two-under.
Tiger Bogeys...Again
Not going well at all for Tiger Woods this morning, he simply can't get anything going. He's barely had a look at birdie and a bogey on the 7th drops him to +3 for the day.
Lowry Joins The Lead
Three in a row for Shane to join the lead. Behind him Young has bogeyed to drop out of that tie, so it's Hovland and Lowry at the top for now.
Weather Update
The sun is out and it's around 90°...for now. Storms are in the area near Augusta National and they could hit at any time. Fingers crossed it stays away for today.
Leaderboard
As things stand with around two thirds of the field out on course, here's out leaders:
-3 Lowry, Hovland
-2 Reed, Scott, Young
-1 Smith, Matsuyama, Thomas, Schauffele, Bradley, Power, Garcia, Meronk, Stallings
Hovland Continues His Charge
Hold that thought, we've got our first man at four-under and it had to be Viktor Hovland. The way he's played this morning, I'd be surprised if he doesn't hold the clubhouse lead by the end of the day.
Birdie For Tiger
His first of the day! It comes at the par-5 8th hole and he's followed it up with a driver down the middle of the fairway on the 9th. Tiger's back to +2 for the day.
Hovland's In The Groove
This has become a Hovland-fest this morning. Sitting at four-under and one shot in the lead, he's just stiffed a 9-iron to a few feet on the 9th hole. He'll surely be five-under in a few moments time.
Schauffele Converts
Alongisde Hovland today, Xander Schauffele has converted a birdie on the 9th to move to two-under par. That's 34 shots out for Xander who is going along nicely in Hovland's shadow.
Tiger Woods, also in this group, is out in 38 - two-over par.
Fast Start For Koepka
A lot of people's favourite - and a winner on the LIV Tour last week - Brooks Koepka has just had back-to-back birdies on the 2nd and 3rd holes.
TIGER IN TROUBLE
You wouldn't put it past him but Tiger is right of the sand at the 11th and seemingly has no shot. A bogey would look good from there...
Another former champ, Freddie Couples, has just holed from off the green at the 17th and will head to the final tee at -2 for the day. At the age of 63.
JT ROLLING THEM IN
If Thomas putts well (bit of an obvious statement) then he'll surely contend. His putting this year has been sporadic at best for a player of his skills.
Speaking of which Hovland, attired in a shambolic polo (there's worse to come), drains one on the 11th and is now -6. With two par 5s to come he could go very low.
TIGER SAND SAVE
But it's for a five and he drops to +3. Couple of par 5s and he'll no doubt pull it back..
POLE COMING APART
Adrian Meronk has had an eventful day with SIX birdies and he was -2 not so long ago. But a double at the 15th and a bobey at 17 has seen him drop to one over.
VIKTOR ON FIRE
There are plenty of doubts still over Hovland's short game. Not today, colonel..
A display of skill from leader Viktor Hovland. #themasters pic.twitter.com/XjUOR0SONmApril 6, 2023
WILLY Z WD
Zalatoris, 2nd and 6th here previously, has been forced to pull out through injury. Pity.
Joins Kevin Na on the sidelines halfway through day one.
COUPLES ROUND IN 71
Freddie misses a short one at the last but he's posted a one-under 71. He's missed his last four cuts but he's right in it this year. Butch Harmon had him down as being 55 earlier (he's 63) and once again he's got the measure of Augusta National.
Defending champ Scheffler is off and running.
RICH PICKINGS
Sky pundit Rich Beem speaks about Augusta and his nightmares around the place but he actually made three of five cuts here. Me thinks the Texan doth protest too much.
LUCKY FOR SOME
There will be bundles of chatter about the 13th this week and it's standing up very nicely to the modern game. Chris Kirk very nearly makes an albatross here though but he needs a fairway wood rather than an 8-iron which makes much more sense.
HOVLAND ALL OVER IT
Here's how our favourite Norwegian made a rare three on the 11th..
He will now have a makable putt at the 13th to get to EIGHT under!
Viktor Hovland moves to six under par with a birdie on hole No. 11. #themasters pic.twitter.com/ZO6JaBjHZDApril 6, 2023
LYLE'S NIGHTMARE START
Here's Sandy on how he got his round underway on his final playing visit here. Was round in 81 shots.
'I nearly always pulled it off the 1st hole, and this time I actually hit the other shape. So the brain got in the way, blocked it to the right.
And I thought, well, it's just maybe far enough where I could be clear, but obviously I wasn't. I had a four-inch bow of a tree that comes down from somewhere, and my ball was sitting right underneath it.
I got just about enough ball before I get the tree. I thought, if I can get the left-handed 8-iron to it, not full whack, but just a short, stubby bang. Timed it perfectly and obviously hit the bow. I hit a cameraman somewhere about 15 yards away, and dropped down still in trouble.
Yeah, I mean, a helluva 5 really. Looked like it could be a 6, could be whatever. Making 5 there was quite a nice help.'
RORY'S OFF..
McIlroy is up and running in his 15th Masters. Easy to say but he'd likely be the most popular winner this week. He begins by pumping his driver through the 1st fairway.
His big pal Shane Lowry drains a monster putt at 16 and is now at -4 and three off his Ryder Cup team-mate Hovland.
McILROY SAVES PAR AT 1ST
He chips out wide right of the green and plays a magnificent chip to two feet. An absolute pearler....
We mustn't get too excited by Rory
We mustn't get too excited by Rory
We mustn't get too excited by Rory
We mustn't get too excited by Rory
GREAT SCOTTIE
If we needed an early reminder of what a superstar Scheffler is, then we've just got it at the 2nd. With his feet dancing everywhere he slams a long iron in to just a couple of feet. A ridiculous talent.
Amateur Sam Bennett, playing with Scheffler, eagles to go to -3 thru 2. Madness. Bennett is the current US Amateur champion.
THAT SCHEFFLER EAGLE
Not bad on your title defence.... those feet!
Scottie Scheffler begins his title defense with an eagle on No. 2. #themasters pic.twitter.com/vf6UNHXWVmApril 6, 2023
HOVLAND PAR SOMETHING ELSE
Having double-crossed himself at the 14th he played a sublime chip from a horrible spot. The par keeps things ticking over very nicely as the putt drops dead centre.
A WORD TO THE WISE..
The short 16th, with the right shape, is very doable for a hole-in-one. It's cut on the front and, if you can draw one in, and use the slope then we could see an ace on day one.
PHIL THE THRILL
Remember Phil Mickelson? He's a very respectable level par after seven having picked up an astonishing birdie at the 2nd. His driver off the pine straw bounced around a path and he then flopped a wedge to a few feet and walked off with a four.
LOL. pic.twitter.com/M5DMqRKL0mApril 6, 2023
THE BIG GUNS ARE FIRING
It's far too early to say but this has been a spectacular start for the fancied stars. Jon Rahm, remember, double-bogeyed the opening hole and he's just headed to the 14th tee at -4.
And Rory is now in red figures, having two-putted the 2nd.
SERGIO STRUGGLE
Garcia was going along nicely on the front nine, out in 34, but he's home in 40. He very nearly aced the 16th but then missed the birdie putt and he's already well off the pace at +2.
COUPLES: I WAS GETTING WITHIN 20 YARDS OF THEM
Freddie Couples on his opening 71 and the problem of getting old...
'When I get pumped up, I can drive it far enough where it gets them all excited because last year I played -- I was really almost a cripple, and I was popcorning it. This year I felt pretty good. So I got it within 20 yards of them a few times, which is good.
I don't really know my clubhead speed, no. It's not a whole lot. I'm going to say I think I did a couple years ago, and we were laughing. I think I'm 106 or 107 club head speed.
I had a 6-iron into No. 7 with a decent drive, and 11 played -- I don't know what I had. I just laid up to the front of the green. I had 240, I think, to the pin, but I didn't make par.'
TIGER ROLLS ONE IN
The 15th could tell a few stories about Tiger. This time he rolls in a lovely putt to get back to +2 after a wayward pitch.
FAST START FOR LOWRY
Big Shane has only once broken 70 on day one and he's round in 68 after a closing birdie. Was third last year, he's getting the hang of the place.
COURSE RECORD REMINDER
Nick Price and Greg Norman have both shot 63s around Augusta – Hovland has a 15-foot birdie putt on 16 to get to -8.
GREAT SCOTT (AGAIN)
Former champ Adam Scott has surged into second place with a birdie at 14 and eagle at the next. Needless to say he's wearing brown which won't go with green at all.
Rory bogeys the 3rd as the short par 4 trips up another big name.
HERE COMES TIGER..
Sort of. Anyway, he leaves himself a 10-footer on 16 and he pops that one in as well. For much of the day it's been a bit of a battle but he's now back to +1. He's been limping and hitting it nowhere but he's a class act at getting it round.
MY EYES!
If you haven't had a chance to watch the coverage this is Hovland's outfit today. There's more to come too.
Who cares? He's got two pars for a 65.
TOUCH OF CLASS, BABY
Not many players will go through the back of the extended 13th. And even fewer will make a birdie from the back bunker. This was one of the shots of the day..
Jon Rahm closes out Amen Corner with a birdie on No. 13 #themasters pic.twitter.com/TSlvQMROL2April 6, 2023
WE CAN PUT A MAN ON THE MOON ETC ETC
We're in that weird lull of very little live coverage so Sir Nick Faldo is manfully keeping the coverage ticking along with his insights. A bizarre character who gets a lot better with age and he's always a good listen. In a few minutes we might get to see some more live golf.
Still not sure why they can't just cover the whole thing but there we go.
GARCIA: YOU GUYS NEED TO STOP IT
Here's what Sergio had to say after his round (where he came back in 40).. more fun and games.
Q. How normal did it feel coming back here and playing and concentrating on your game?
SERGIO GARCIA: Totally normal. You guys need to stop it. You guys are making a big deal out of this, and it's you guys.
Q. No, it's not.
SERGIO GARCIA: Yes, it is. I've had nothing but great things from every single player I talk to. So please stop it and talk about the Masters.
Q. I think actually, in defence, I think actually I was thinking you haven't had as many reps as sometimes you normally would. How did you feel coming in and playing this golf course because of that?
SERGIO GARCIA: I don't think you meant that, but I did play -- I played one, two, three, four -- I played five tournaments coming in here. So it's pretty good. There's been times where I probably maybe haven't played that much coming into here.
TIGER, TIGER
Tiger has a stinker of a lie on 18 with his ball coming up just shy of Lyle's bunker. Has a precarious lie with one foot in the bunker but he smashes one off the back foot and advances it to the greenside bunker. Doesn't show any pain, inside he must be screaming.
HOVLAND MASTERCLASS
The Norwegian's short game has been spectacular at times, notably at 10 and 14. At the 18th he takes his medicine, to some degree, and he plays it out to 10 feet. Tiger has twice that distance for his par.
AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE
Along with Scott going well, JDay is out in 34. The former PGA champ is many people's fancy here this week and he's joined on -2 by none other than Philip Alfred Mickelson.
HOVLAND ROUND IN 65
Viktor knocks his par putt in dead centre and that is a fantastic start. An eagle, five birdies and no blemishes. Hovland has played 12 rounds here before and his previous best was a 70 so this was as unexpected as it was brilliant.
It's a 74 for Tiger while Schauffele completes the threeball with a very solid 68.
SCHEFFLER ROCKING THE TW SHIRT
I know it's been said before many times but it still looks odd to have the defending champ of a major wearing a shirt that has the initials of another player.
PERFECT PACE, PERFECT PUTT
Here's probably the highlight of Tiger's round at the 15th..
Perfect speed. Perfect read. A birdie on No. 15 for Tiger Woods. #themasters pic.twitter.com/91ftFa7e2rApril 6, 2023
DOUBLE FOR RORY
McIlroy lips out... for bogey at the 7th. The tee shot went left, the recovery long and he then flopped one into the back bunker. Error after error. Anything now in red figures would be a triumph but at least the next is a par 5 and he can easily get home in two.
SPIETH OFF TO A SOLID START
Some sunshine peaks out and Cam Young taps in for a 67. A player on the up again and seems an ideal fit for this place. Speaking of which, Spieth has a short putt for a birdie at the 7th which has just tripped up Rory.
Thomas taps in for a 70.
SPANISH FIREWORKS
Jon Rahm has had quite the day - a 65 which is the lowest score at Augusta for anyone who began with a double. Genuinely brilliant effort, didn't have a 5 on the card in among the NINE birdies. Shares the lead with Hovland.
TIGER: I DIDN'T GET THE BALL CLOSE ENOUGH
Tiger explained that this was a chance gone begging to post a competitive opening round..
'I felt like I drove it good. I just didn't do the job I need to do to get the ball close. Today was the opportune time to get the round under par, and I didn't do that. Most of the guys are going low today. This was the day to do it. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be a little bit better, a little bit sharper, and kind of inch my way through it.
I didn't have very good speed early. I had two three-putts, and consequently I'm a couple over par. I didn't hit my irons close enough. I didn't give myself very good looks. Need to do a better job of that going forward to hopefully get myself back in this tournament.'
As for the leg?
'Sore'.
BENNETT OFF TO A FLYER
The US Amateur champ Sam Bennett has some speed to his swing and he's made a beautiful start to his first Masters. He eagles the 2nd and he's now -4 heading down the 9th. The next closest amateur is at +3.
SOME BRIGHTER NEWS
Rory has just hooked a long iron on to the 8th green and he'll have a 30-footer for eagle. Plenty of time, plenty of time. Keep breathing..
Scheffler to -3, McIlroy mic'd up
Rory McIlroy is giving a mid-round interview at The Masters. It's good? I'm really not sure what to make of these things but it's just as well they didn't dial in after his double on seven. He says he's struggled, the course is playing easy and that he's hit a good tee shot on the ninth.
Up ahead on the green, Scheffler birdies the ninth to get to -3 and within four.
Oh, Rory is back on. He eased off his second too much and has a pretty straight putt coming up. Can't believe he did that. Fair play.
Rules drama
It's been quite a day at Augusta National. We've seen doubles, eagles, broken clubs, withdrawals, and now we have some rules drama.
Collin Morikawa was spotted doing some dodgy-looking stuff on the 6th green. We're sure there's a legitimate reason, of course.
Is it Jason's day (week)?
The former Masters specialist is back to somewhere near his best following a swing overhaul. He gets to -3 with a birdie at 13. Day is one of my many picks so every birdie is being cheered to the rafters.
The next time we pick him up he's in trouble off the 14th tee but he recovers in style. Woo!
Near ace for Fitz
We're yet to see a hole-in-one. Fitzpatrick nearly rights that wrong on the 12th, spinning his tee shot back to a few inches. He'll get back to level with the upcoming birdie.
5-star straka
The big Austrian makes it five birdies in a row at the 16th to turn a pretty poor day into a blinder. He's -2 with two to go.
Good boy, Rory
Atta boy. McIlroy makes a cracking birdie at 10 to get back to level. He'll be chasing a few more before he's done but got to start somewhere.
He's seven behind Rahm and Hovland and now six behind practice pal Brooks Koepka, who has just birdied 17 to get within one of the lead.
Skittery Scottie
I'm convinced Scottie Scheffler has a mild case of the yips. He's hopeless on the tiddlers. He's just missed a shorty on 11 to drop back to -2 and looks mildly unhappy.
Behind, Spieth gets up-and-down from the bunker on 10 to save par.
LIV leaderboard
Because why not...
-6 Koepka
-2 Smith, Niemann
-1 Reed, Mickelson
E Gooch, Ancer, Varner III
+1 Kokrak, DJ
+2 Garcia, Pieters, Schwartzel, DeChambeau Pereira
+4 Oosthuizen
+5 Watson
WD Na
Rory bogey
It was a tough two-putt but that was woeful, Rory. He leaves himself 12 ft for par after a terrible long-range effort from the front of 11 and can't convert. Big few holes coming up with the leaderboard being so stacked.
Koepka joins leaders
Terrible clobber but mega impressive stuff on the course from Brooks Koepka, who finishes with back-to-back birdies for a 65 that draws him alongside Rahm and Hovland. I've also backed him and Rahm. The only was is down, sadly.
Spieth in the water
Jordan Spieth makes me want to swear even more than I already do. He's stuck it in the water on 11, the first person I've seen do that all day, when motoring along superbly.
Obviously, he salvages a bogey like the enigma he is. He's back to -3 and still in great shape. Up next, the 12th...
Birdies for Homa and Scheff
Homa birdies the par-5 13th to get back to +1. It's his first birdie of the day, surprisingly. He's followed in by playing partner Scheffler, who is disappointed to miss his 10-footer for eagle. Still, he's back to -3.
How Brooks joined the lead
Here's Koepka's closing birdie for anyone who missed it or those just tuning in.
Three tied for the lead. Brooks Koepka birdies No. 18 to match the leaders with a 65. #themasters pic.twitter.com/7Z4XWIsRFRApril 6, 2023
Brooks in the booth
Koepka has been in speaking to Sky Sports. Believe it or not he says he played well.
Back on the course, Justin Rose (another pick) has dumped his third in the bunker on 15 after a wild second.
More on the Morikawa incident
This clip appears to shed more light on the earlier rules drama.
I feel like this adds some context to that viral Morikawa video — he never actually moved the ball's position, just where the mark was relative to the ball. Once he got the ball to stop, he put the mark closer. Exonerated! (I think.)🎥 @yamesyim pic.twitter.com/5UzHW5kwYHApril 6, 2023
Let's hear it for Jason
Back-to-back birdies on 16 and 17 take my man from Down Under to -5 and into solo fourth. Did I mention I've backed him? Four of my picks are in the top six, which is wild.
Behind, Homa is playing with an earphone in. I'm assuming we'll be hearing from him soon, unless we already have and I missed it.
SPIETH *******
What is he doing? From the pine straw on the 13th, which is now 40 yards longer and he's not exactly a bomber, he takes on the green and obviously dumps it in Rae's Creek. Birdie chance gone, nailed on par upcoming.
Update on Spieth - **********
Spieth takes a drop from the creek then proceeds to half-thin his pitch through the back. From there, he chips it to 6ft and misses for a double that drops him to -1. So avoidable, so Spieth.
Rose, Kim make moves
An eagle for Tom Kim at the 13th gets him to -4 and in a large group three behind the leaders.
Justin Rose birdies 16 to get to -3. Every shot is so important right now with some rubbish weather en route.
Updated forecast
Speaking of the weather, here's what's to come across the next three days. To sum it up in a word - wet.
Homa earns some crystal
A poor day for Mr LA just got a whole lot better. An eagle on 15 gets Homa to -1 and earns him some Augusta crystal, if that's still a thing. I think it is.
Alongside, Scheffler makes birdie to get back to -4.
The amateur race
Sam Bennett continues to lead the way for the amateurs and what a pace he is setting. He got to -4 after a birdie in the sixth and had parred his way from there through 15. I'm a sucker for a good par streak. Bring it home, Sam.
What of Tommy lad?
Speaking of pars, Tommy Fleetwood has made 12 in 14 holes. Admirable but not going to get it done on a day of low scoring. He's level as it stands but just launched a good tee shot up 15, so could have a chance for birdie upcoming.
Rookie error by Kim
Tom Kim has just been made to look pretty silly on the 15th. His recovery from the left greenside bunker is pretty weak and dribbles towards the front of the green and then into the water. He won't forget that in a hurry. The resultant double drops him to -2.
McIlroy birdies to get back to level. Two more to finish, come on.
Homa's walk-and-talk
I did miss it. Here it is for those in a similar boat.
Mic’d up at #TheMasters@MaxHoma23 was a little self-conscious during his walk-and-talk at Augusta 😅 pic.twitter.com/U3MbfLA6hKApril 6, 2023
Rose in at -3
Solid day for Team Rose. It's a 69 to start on a course he's got a great record at. He could be a threat come Sunday.
Behind, McIlroy has about 10ft for birdie on 16 to get under par for the first time since the second.
Rory!
McIlroy slots the birdie putt on 16 to get to -1. He could still do with another but the situation is far better than it was an hour or so ago.
Alongside the Northern Irishman, Burns bogeys to drop to -4.
On 18, Morikawa missed a good birdie chance but closes out an opening 69.
Scottie's crazy day
The defending champ has had one of his more unusual rounds of golf. Tee to green he's been sublime, picking up almost seven shots (6.85) shots on the field. On the greens, however, he's lost nearly three (-2.74). He's ranked second and 81st respectively.
