Spieth two ahead at Masters, Woods hits 73
Kuchar and Finau two behind, McIlroy off to solid start while Woods one over in return to Augusta
>> AUGUSTA: Reigning British Open champion Jordan Spieth is drawing upon memories of his epic 2015 Masters victory and his nightmare 2016 back-nine Sunday collapse in trying to win another green jacket.
The 24-year-old American birdied five consecutive holes starting on the par-five 13th in firing a six-under-par 66 and seizing a two-stroke lead over fellow Americans Matt Kuchar and Tony Finau after Thursday’s opening round of the Masters.
Fourth-ranked Spieth said his best and worst memories at Augusta National would inspire him over the final 54 holes.
“I’ll always have demons out here, but I’ll always have a tremendous amount of confidence,” Spieth said. “Once you win here, you have an advantage over anybody who hasn’t. And there can be positives and negatives to both the demons and the confidence.
“So it’s just about playing the golf course for what you get, recognising what the tendencies are this course brings and what my own tendencies are when under the gun.”
Spieth did match the Masters tournament record of 18-under 270 set by Tiger Woods in 1997 to win three years ago.
But two years ago he squandered a five-shot lead on the final nine holes — a quadruple-bogey at the par-three 12th helping England’s Danny Willett win the green jacket, Spieth having to put in on him.
Spieth added the Claret Jug last year for his third major crown, a haul that also includes the 2015 US Open, and said he felt the Sunday tension on Thursday but responded with a run of five straight birdies on the back nine before a closing bogey.
“Today I felt the Sunday-type pressure of leading the Masters on the middle of that back nine, and adjusted extremely well,” Spieth said.
Spieth, who eagled the par-five eighth after bogeys at the fifth and seventh holes left him on level par, said being in front helps make Augusta National play easier, all 2016 evidence aside.
“If you get off to a good start, you’re in control of your own fate, versus needing a little bit of help,” Spieth said.
“This course is a lot easier to play if you feel like you can just hit the centre of the greens and wait for your chances.”
Woods was back at Augusta National for the first time in three years, finally ready to challenge for a fifth green jacket after spinal fusion surgery last year.
From the practice range to the 18th green, Augusta fans made him more than welcome, although his one-over 73 gave them few real opportunities to cheer.
“It has been awesome this entire comeback,” said Woods, 42. “I got a standing ovation on the range. Coming up to the first tee, the people come out of the clubhouse and the putting green. They’re really into it.”
The 14-time major winner grabbed his first birdie with a delicate downhill putt at the third.
He followed, however, with backto-back bogeys.
There was more trouble lurking around Amen Corner, where Woods was right off the tee at 11 and his shot from the trees hit a fan and dropped into the rough. He ended up with a bogey.
A dip in Rae’s Creek at 12 cost him a shot, although he limited the damage with an impressive 18-foot bogey putt.
He pulled strokes back at 14 and 16 and produced two crisp tee shots at 17 and 18 as he capped his round with a pair of solid pars.
“Seventy-three is fine,” Woods said. “I could have easily let it slip away. And I fought hard to get it back and I’m back in this championship.”
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who can complete a career Grand Slam with a first Masters victory, headed a group of seven players on three-under 69.
He was joined by Masters newcomer Li Haotong of China, former British Open champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden, Spain’s Rafael Cabrera Bello, Canadian Adam Hadwin and Americans Patrick Reed and Charley Hoffman.
Spain’s Sergio Garcia endured a nightmare start in his bid to join Woods, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus as the only players to successfully defend the Masters crown.
Garcia matched the most strokes needed on any hole in Masters history with his 13 at the par-five 15th — where he hit five consecutive balls in the water. The Spaniard signed for a nine-over 81, tied for next to last place with amateur Matt Parziale.