Once again sports fans from across the world are fixated on the The Masters as the prestigious major made its return on Thursday for its opening round. The headline coming out of day one is no doubt Tiger Woods ' comeback, after the American returned to the PGA Tour 14 months after suffering severe injuries in a car crash.
Despite his time away, Woods roll backed the years to card an impressive one-under-par 71 to leave him in good shape heading into day two. The five-time Masters winner is of course not the man leading though, after Sungjae Im shot a superb five-under 67 on Thursday to top the leaderboard.
In second - one shot behind - sits recent Players Championship winner Cameron Smith, with a strong group of players - including 2020 champion Dustin Johnson - tied for third and two back. Aside from all the key day one headlines, Mirror Sport has run you through five big moments you may have missed...
Tiger drops the F-bomb
The opening day at Augusta marked a landmark day in the world of golf, after arguably the sport’s greatest ever player made his eagerly-awaited return 14 months after suffering severe injuries in a car crash. Despite his recent troubles, Woods showed his true class and comfortably got himself around the course he has enjoyed so much success on down the years.
Not everything went to plan for the 15-time major champion though, after he was heard dropping the F-bomb in an explicit rant after missing the green with his approach at the ninth. His comments led to a swift apology from the Sky Sports commentary team, as Woods went on to finish his opening nine holes with a bogey.
This seemed to be the only real blip in Woods’ return though, as he responded well on the back nine, with impressive birdies at both 13 and 16. This saw the five-time green jacket winner card an impressive one-under-par 71 start to leave him right in the mix heading into day two.
Bubba blasts out on 13
It seems Tiger Woods wasn’t the only one venting his frustration on the course on day one, after 2012 and 2014 champion Bubba Watson provided an outburst on the 13th. After carting his approach to the green into the azalea bushes, Watson erupted in frustration.
As soon as the ball left the club, the American could be heard shouting: “Are you kidding me?” He then added: “Dude, it just took off that way. No f*****g way man!” Despite his error Watson managed to come away with a par, on his way to a level round of 72.
Wolff pulls out the putter in bunker nightmare
Augusta National no doubt throws up a real challenge to the world’s best players, however not many will have pulled out a putter when finding one of the famous bunkers. Matthew Wolff however did exactly that on Thursday... but it didn’t go to plan.
After finding the trap on the par four seventh, he attempted to get himself onto the putting surface by swapping his wedge for a putter. Despite his best effort his sandy putt rolled up to the bunker lip before rolling back into the sand.
More conventionally he then swapped the putter for the wedge and managed to then get up and down for bogey. His problem at seven was just one of a catalogue of errors - that also included a snapped club - as he carded a tournament-wrecking nine-over par 81.
What was your 'moment of the day' for Thursday's opening round? Let us know in the comments section below.
Niemann’s eagle hole out alongside Woods
Joaquin Niemann no doubt played in front of his biggest ever crowd after being paired with the main event in Woods. However, the young Chilean gave them plenty to cheer about, after holing out an eagle from the fairway on the par four ninth.
Niemann’s stroke of genius no doubt went down as the shot of day in round one, and his moment of brilliance helped him secure a superb three-under 69. This has left thedann 23-year-old just two off the lead heading into round two, where he will once again tee it up alongside Woods and Louis Oosthuizen.
Willett back in the mix
2016 Masters champion Danny Willett showed shades of the performance that saw him collect the famous green jacket six years ago, following an impressive three-under 69. Willett has gone through a relatively quiet time in the last two years, apart from victory at the Alfred Dunhill Championship last October.
However, the Yorkshireman showed exactly why he was a Masters champion with his performance on Thursday, which leaves him in a strong position ahead of the weekend's cut.
