The first round of the 2013 Masters saw a mix of youth and experience take the stage at Augusta.
The day began with Englishman David Lynn securing the early clubhouse lead on four-under-par, before Australia's Marc Leishman posted a fine effort of 66.
Sergio Garcia looked threatening throughout his 18 holes, and although he looked likely to take the outright lead, he had to settle for a tie at the top of the leaderboard.
However, 14-year-old Guan Tianlang arguably stole the show with a remarkable 73, which included a putt off the fringe for birdie on the final hole.
World number one Tiger Woods will begin the second round on two-under-par, while rival Rory McIlroy posted a round of 72 to finish even-par.
Read below to see how the action unfolded.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of day one of the Masters at Augusta.
Well, here we are, for what is arguably the most anticipated golf tournament of the year. Every player dreams of winning the famous green jacket, and there are 93 players all vying for a part of history.
The action has been going for over six hours now, so I best tell you what is happening at the top of the leaderboard! England's David Lynn stole the early advantage on day one by posting a four-under-par round of 68, but Australia's Marc Leishman is currently on six-under-par with two holes to play.
Englishmen Lee Westwood and Justin Rose are both due to bring their first 18 holes to a close, and both will be happy with their efforts. Westwood started poorly with a double bogey, but he has turned things around well to post a two-under-par 70. Rose is also on the same score, but he has yet to complete the final hole.
While we wait for a few of the top contenders to complete their rounds, I will bring you up to date with the progress of Tiger Woods. The world number one has looked solid throughout his opening 12 holes, and he is currently in tied fourth with as many as a dozen players.
His main rival for the title could be Rory McIlroy, who found some form out in Texas last week. The Northern Irishman has only just begun his round, firing his second shot to the par-five second just to the right of the hole.
Leishman is just about to enter the clubhouse with the lead. The Australian player was even-par through seven holes, but a birdie blitz on the back nine has seen him send an early message to his opponents.
I will let some of the early starters finish up before bringing you the top of the leaderboard, but just Leishman, Lynn and American Jim Furyk have scored better than two-under-par so far.
Rose has just chipped the ball to within about 10 feet on 18. He will have a putt for par. Meanwhile, Brandt Snedeker is another to finish the day on two-under-par.
Rose managed to hole his putt, and he will be satisfied with his first round. The world number three has been Mr. Consistency for the past 12 months, and he has every chance of securing his maiden major title.
There is the possibility of a storm later on the day. Hopefully that won't turn out to be the case, but if it does, then that could have significant impact on the performances of the late starters.
HOLE IN ONE! We have our first hole in one of the tournament, and it has come from a Brit! Welshman Jamie Donaldson, who is currently on one-under-par, has aced the par-three sixth. What a start to his Masters career!
After what seems an eternity, Leishman makes par at the last to record a fine 66 for his opening round. The 29-year-old missed the cut on his Masters debut back in 2010, but I think he might feel a bit safer about making the weekend this time around!
BIRDIE! Woods makes birdie at the 13th to move to three-under-par. The four-time winner is already looking in menacing form.
Another man we should keep an eye on is Spain's Sergio Garcia, who has already recorded three birdies in his first six holes. The Spaniard has yet to win a Major, but could it be his time this week?
Guan Tianlang is probably a name that you haven't heard of, but the 14-year-old became the youngest ever player in a Masters tournament when he teed off about 90 minutes ago. The Chinese teen has made a highly impressive start, getting through seven holes with the loss of just one shot.
Right, I told you I would bring you the situation at the top of the leaderboard, so here it is.
LEADERBOARD: Leishman -6; Lynn -4; Furyk, Woods (13), Garcia (6) -3; Na , Toms, Clark, Westwood, Snedeker, Rose, Z.Johnson (17), Points (12), Fdez-Castano (10), Couples (5), D.Johnson (5) -2
Another player who has moved into the group on three-under-par is KJ Choi. The Korean has a good record at Augusta, finishing in the top 10 on three occasions, and he has began his bid for a first major title in excellent fashion.
For all those Bubba Watson fans who were hoping that the American would retain his title, the news isn't so good. The left-hander has been below his best, moving to three-over-par with three holes to play.
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Before the action heats up at the top of the leaderboard, I will bring you news of those who have opened their campaign in the worst possible way. Northern Ireland's Alan Dunbar currently holds the field up on 10-over-par, while Welshman Ian Woosnam hasn't fared much better, reaching the clubhouse on eight-over-par.
BOGEY! That wasn't in the script. Woods left a birdie putt at least six feet short, before sending his par attempt wide of the hole. He is back down to two-under with four to play.
All of a sudden, Woods looks a frustrated man. He followed up his perfect drive on the par-five 15th with a poor second, leaving him with a chip and a putt if he wants to get back to three-under.
McIlroy has left himself with a tricky attempt for a birdie. The ball slides both directions before finishing short of the hole. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland compatriot Graeme McDowell has finished with a 73.
A few words from Justin Rose, who sounds happy with his opening round. "It's a solid start," the world number three tells Sky Sports News. "I didn't do anything dramatic out there, and I felt like I played some great golf for the first 14 holes. It got a little scrappy coming in, but I was pleased to finish with that par putt on 18."
Woods played a terrific chip shot to leave himself a putt from eight feet, but he slides the ball past the left-hand side of the hole. That won't do much to help his mood.
I'm yet to mention Luke Donald. The world number four was back at one-over-par early on in his round, but three birdies have seen him move to two-under with three to play.
WHAT A SHOT! Guan has slipped down to two-under-par at the halfway stage of his Masters debut, but a stunning approach to the green on 10 looks to have guaranteed he regains one of his dropped shots.
Nothing has gone right for Woods in the past 20 minutes. He plays a delightful tee shot to the par-three 16th, but he is a couple of feet short of where he was aiming, and the ball rolls a further 20 feet away from the hole.
Woods went on to par that hole, while Guan sealed his birdie. A couple of big-name movers have entered the fray in the form of Jason Day and Rickie Fowler, who have both moved to three-under.
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Phil Mickelson, who has won this tournament on three occasions, hasn't enjoyed a great start, falling to two-over after eight. Meanwhile, Woods has sent his drive on 17th straight down the middle of the fairway.
Watson and Ian Poulter are nearing the end of their rounds, but both will be unhappy with how they have fared, both on three-over. Both will be expected to produce a better display on Friday.
BIRDIE! Garcia moves to within two of the lead with a 12-foot birdie putt on the ninth. The front nine are arguably more difficult than the back nine, so the Spaniard will be eager to make the most of his start.
BUNKER! McIlroy has cut a composed figure for his first six holes, but the first chink in his armour appears on seven when he sends an approach into the bunker. He would have expected to land the ball close from his position on the fairway.
Another birdie attempt goes by for Woods, and the best that he is going to do today will be three-under. He had the potential to go much lower, but if he can get to within three of the lead, that will be job done for the world number one.
Watson rolls in a fine par putt on the last to finish up on three-over. Poulter has a six-footer for the same score, but he misses, and the Ryder Cup hero will begin day two way off the pace.
Dustin Johnson and Gonzalo Fdez-Castano have rocketed up the leaderboard unnoticed. Johnson has just rattled in a chip shot on nine, while Fdez-Castano has just birdied the par-five 13th.
Woods is safely on the green in two on the final hole, but he has left himself with a putt from 25 feet to record a birdie. Germany's Martin Kaymer has just picked up two shots on the eighth with a 10-foot putt for eagle.
BIRDIE! Garcia is putting together a sensational round of golf so far. He has just drained another one on 10 to move to five-under-par. Meanwhile, Rickie Fowler continues his pursuit of the Spaniard with a birdie on 17 to move to four-under.
I was going to predict earlier on that Leishman would lead after day one, but I have my doubts now. There are several players out there right now who are playing superbly, and if the weather conditions don't get any worse, there is the potential for someone to reach seven or eight-under.
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That is Woods done for the day, and he has completed his round with a par. I imagine he will be relatively happy with that, but it will be interesting to hear whether he felt he could have finished a couple of shots better off.
Mickelson has been all over Augusta so far, but he continues to produce the most miraculous shots. He is behind a number of trees on the ninth, but he has somehow got the ball onto the green.
We are well into this first round now, with the final group already through their opening seven holes. I anticipate a finish of around midnight, so that isn't too late for you all to stay with me until the end of the day!
I haven't yet mentioned a few of the European contingent further down the leaderboard, but I will take the opportunity to do so now. Swedish duo Peter Hanson and Henrik Stenson both got through on even-par, where they were joined by Germany's Bernard Langer. Nicolas Colsaerts posted a round of 74 to finish on two-over, while Matteo Manassero is currently on the same score after 12 holes.
Some quotes from Tiger Woods, who recorded an opening round of 70. Woods told Sky Sports News: "It has been a very solid day, and I am very pleased with the result. I've got myself into the red, and we still have a long way to go."
Jason Day has made a bit of a mess of his final hole. He sent his second shot past the back of the green, before seeing his third fail to make the green. The Australian sent a putt off the fringe to within six feet, which he managed to hole to finish his round on two-under. Playing partner Rickie Fowler ended with a par to remain at four-under.
American Matt Kuchar has been widely-tipped to make an impact this week, and he has soon moved onto two-under. The 34-year-old finished in third-place last year.
Mickelson is on the fairway at 10 (yes, you read that correctly), but he won't be satisfied with his approach, after leaving himself with a putt from 30 feet for his birdie. Another man to keep an eye on is veteran Fred Couples, who is three-under after making a putt off the green on the twelfth.
LEADERBOARD: Leishman -6; Garcia (12) -5; Lynn, Fowler, Fdez-Castano (16) -4; Furyk, Z.Johnson, Immelman (15), Couples (12), D.Johnson (11) -3
Fdez-Castano has played a lovely shot into the 17th green, leaving himself with a five-footer for a birdie to join Garcia on five-under. Kuchar has continued his charge with birdie on nine to move to three-under.
BIRDIE! Fdez-Castano has made that birdie putt, and another birdie on the last will give him a share of the lead. The 32-year-old made his Masters debut last year, finishing in 61st position.
EAGLE! Steve Stricker has only been heading in one direction during his first 14 holes, but a three on the par-five 15th has brought him back up to two-under-par.
It is still early days, but looking ahead to tomorrow, I would hazard a guess that the cut will lie on something around three-under-par. There are currently 67 players inside that mark at the moment.
Fdez-Castano looks disappointed with his tee shot on 18, and so he should. It looks like a wrong club selection, and the Spaniard is in the fairway bunker. That has put paid to his attempt at sharing the clubhouse lead.
Last year's Open champion Ernie Els is going along nicely on one-under par, but it isn't so good for countryman Louis Oosthuizen, who is two-over through 11.
Both Els and Oosthuizen have been upstaged by Trevor Immelman, who has just fired his second shot to within gimme distance at the 17th. A birdie there will take him to four-under.
Bit of a missed opportunity for Garcia, who can only par at the 13th. Fdez-Castano did well to get his second shot to the green on the last hole, and he will have an eight-footer for par.
BOGEY! Disappointment for Fdez-Castano, who fails to hole his par putt. He will finish up on four-under-par, and while it could have been better, I'm sure he would have taken that at the start of his round.
Guan, the 14-year-old sensation from China, is still holding his own on two-over-par, and his tee shot at 16 should see him make his par. I hope he can finish this performance off, and give himself every chance of making the cut.
EAGLE! A big movement at the top of the leaderboard, as Dustin Johnson sends an eagle putt from 15 feet straight into the middle of the hole to take him to five-under-par.
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BIRDIE! It is getting tighter at the top, and Couples adds to that with a birdie on the par-five 13th to move to four-under. The display of Guan is catching the eye, but the putting of Couples is equally impressive.
McIlroy has had a bit of a nightmare in the past half hour. He looked ever so comfortable on two-under, but a couple of dropped shots on 10 and 12 have halted his progress.
Immelman played a terrific approach into 18, but he failed to hole his birdie attempt, leaving him to end the day on four-under. Another former Masters champion, Charl Schwartzel, was one of the first players on the course earlier today, and he recovered from three-over after three holes to finish with a 71.
Scotland have three representatives in the tournament, but the least likely of the three, Sandy Lyle, has upstaged both Martin Laird and Paul Lawrie with a round of 73. Laird and Lawrie are both struggling on four-over.
Is this the moment where Garcia ties Leishman for the lead? He was in trouble after his tee shot, but he now has a birdie putt from eight feet to share the lead with the Australian.
BIRDIE! The answer to that last question is a resounding yes. Garcia has been threatening that for some time, and he finally moves to the top of the leaderboard. However, that was the last par five, so he will have to produce a couple of good shots if he wants to end the day on his own.
LEADERBOARD: Leishman, Garcia (15) -6; D.Johnson (14) -5; Lynn, Fowler, Fdez-Castano, Immelman, Couples (14) -4
McIlroy's drive at 13 found the rough, but he has muscled his second shot over the water to leave himself with a chip and a putt for his birdie. However, there is quite a distance between the ball and the hole.
Guan is walking down the 18th fairway with former Masters winner Ben Crenshaw, and both are getting a round of applause. The 14-year-old is more deserving of that reception, as he is still clinging on at two-over-par. His second shot finished on the fringe of the green, around 20 feet away from the hole, so he could make par.
BIRDIE! Phenomenal! Guan rolls in his putt on 18 to record a round of 73. He is 14 years of age, and he is tied for 46th in the Masters. Phenomenal.
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We have a three-way share for the lead now, as Dustin Johnson rolls in a putt from three-feet at the 15th. Can either he or Garcia make that elusive seven-under?
The action is dying down a little at Augusta now. The final group are currently on the 13th, but we still have a good hour and a half left before the end of play.
That is a gutsy putt from Johnson. He looked likely to drop a shot at the 16th, but he held his nerve to hole-out from 10 feet.
BIRDIE! Kuchar has joined the pack of players on four-under with an easy tap-in on 13. The American has looked comfortable all day, dropping just the one shot, which is a decent effort around Augusta.
Kuchar's playing partner, Jason Dufner, also birdied the 13th to move back to even-par. He hasn't been talked about as a potential winner this week, but he is a dangerous player not to be considered.
BOGEY! After making a birdie on the 13th, McIlroy lets the shot go by missing a short putt on the following hole. While the world number two has shown glimmers of brilliance, he has also made mistakes that a two-time major champion shouldn't be making. He is on even-par with four to play.
Mickelson was nowhere near his best on the front nine, but three birdies on the back nine has seen him get to one-under. The left-hander looks average when the ball isn't running for him, but he looks unbeatable when he is in the groove. We have seen a bit of both today.
BIRDIE! Two Americans, Matt Kuchar and Fred Couples, move to five-under-par with eight-foot putts to get to within one of the lead. It is all getting a bit congested at the top. Leaderboard to follow...
Before I bring you that leaderboard, Johnson has just bogeyed the 17th to move back to five-under. Garcia has also fired his approach to 18th to the back of the green, and faces a challenge to make his par.
Garcia plays a very delicate putt to leave himself three feet for a share of the clubhouse lead. Meanwhile, the Mickelson charge continues, and another birdie sees him move to two-under.
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Garcia is in for his 66, and it appears as though he will begin his second round in the lead. He might be a tad disappointed that he didn't finish lower. Playing partner Adam Scott ends his day on three-under. Right, leaderboard time...
LEADERBOARD: Leishman, Garcia -6; Couples (17), D.Johnson (17), Kuchar (14) -5; Lynn, Fowler, Fdez-Castano, Immelman -4
A couple of the leading players have just found the sand on their respective holes. Couples will do well to avoid dropping a shot on the last, while Kuchar could have to make-do with a par on the 15th.
Johnson finishes with a par on 18 to finish one shot off the lead. Couples could only hit his bunker shot to within 15 feet of the hole, but he is desperately unlucky not to find the bottom of the hole with his par putt. The veteran will start round two on four-under-par
McIlroy, Keegan Bradley and Freddie Jacobson all played excellent shots into the par-three 16th. McIlroy was first to go, missing the hole by a whisker. Jacobson was a little further away. Bradley followed his playing partners in only making his par.
BOGEY! After such a run of birdies, Mickelson will be furious with himself on the 17th. His drive found the trees, and although he left himself with a putt for par from 15 feet, he failed to hole the putt and he is back down to one-under.
Kuchar finds the sand on 16, and he stays there after completely fluffing his second shot. He recovers, to an extent, to make bogey. On the same hole, Dufner comes close to making the second hole-in-one of the day, but he will settle for birdie.
There are no more than a dozen players left out on the golf course, but there are still plenty of the big names left. McIlroy has a tough putt for par, while Mickelson has a putt of similar distance to that of Guan's to move back to two-under.
BOGEY! McIlroy throws away another shot. He played a great shot off the tee, but he needed four more from the middle of the fairway. A birdie on the last will change the mood of his day.
Mickelson gives the ball every chance on 18, but the ball just misses to the left of the hole. Oosthuizen produced a deft touch to get the ball to within six feet from the bunker, and a confident putt sees him finish on two-over.
Just the six left out there now - McIlroy, Bradley, Jacobson, Kuchar, Dufner, Haas.
Super shot from McIlroy on the 18th. He has a 10-foot putt for birdie. Meanwhile, back at the 17th, Kuchar picks up his par.
Both Jacobson and Bradley followed up that shot from McIlroy to give themselves reasonable birdie chances. The final group are on the tee at 18, and Haas finds the fairway. Kuchar fires an even better drive down the fairway, with Dufner last to go. He bogeyed the 17th, but he responds by joining his playing partners.
Jacobson finishes by leaving his birdie putt short to finish with a 72. McIlroy gives his effort a bit more force, but he too completes his round with a 72. In fact, Bradley needs this for par, and he obliges with a fine putt for a round of one-over par.
Haas and Dufner played two superb drives, but they both over-compensate on their second shot and miss the back of the green. Kuchar doesn't sound pleased with his approach, but he finds the putting surface.
Haas opts to putt from the rough, and although the ball nearly stops before the green, it gets there and runs three feet past the hole. Dufner is in a similar position, and despite playing his shot with a lot less pace, he too leaves it a couple of feet away.
Kuchar's birdie putt is extremely tentative, and all three players are going to end with a par to cap a thrilling first day at Augusta.
LEADERBOARD: Leishman, Garcia -6; D.Johnson -5; Lynn, Fowler, Fdez-Castano, Immelman, Couples, Kuchar -4
That was a very enjoyable first round. We have seen an outsider tie for the lead, the world's top two players enjoy mixed rounds, and we have seen the emergence of a 14-year-old from China, who will surely take as much of the headlines as Marc Leishman and Sergio Garcia.
Thank you for joining me this evening, and be sure to keep an eye on Sports Mole for reports on many of the leading players. Goodnight.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
