SHARE OF LEAD MAKES IT A HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR STEN

HENRIK STENSON celebrated his 42nd birthday by sharing the clubhouse lead at the Masters.

The former Open champion has never recorded a top-12 finish in his previous 12 appearances at the first Major of the year and missed the cut last time. But the Swede (right) said: “I have had my chances around here. I have played a lot of rounds here and I feel pretty confident.

“Today I tried my driver out more at the start but it didn’t work so I went back to my trusty 3-wood and it played OK.”

American Patrick Reed also shot a 69 with only one bogey. “It is all about staying patient around a golf course like this,” he said.

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama started with 13 consecutive pars before making a double bogey at 14. And former world No.1 Jason Day saw his second shot at the first hole hit a tree, hit a fan on the shoulder and bounce into his cup of beer. The Aussie got a free drop and made a par on his way to a three-over 75. Harry Ellis suffered a nightmare Masters debut. He carded six bogeys, three double bogeys and a triple bogey on the 10th as he struggled to a 14-over-par 86 which featured a solitary birdie on the eighth.

“The score got massive,” admitted Ellis. “But I’m just trying to keep learning.”