Rory targets fast start in Masters

THEY say the Masters does not start until the back nine on Sunday, an adage borne out by Jordan Spieth’s dramatic collapse and Danny Willett’s subsequent triumph last year.

But it would be equally valid to state that a fast start is as vital as a strong finish for the likes of Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson, if they want to slip on a coveted green jacket for the first time at Augusta National.

For the past 11 years, the eventual Masters champion has been inside the top 10 after the first round, with Tiger Woods the last player to come from well off the pace.

Woods, who is absent for the third time in four years due to ongoing back problems, was tied 33rd after an opening 74 in 2005 before surging though the field with scores of 66 and 65 and eventually beating Chris DiMarco in a play-off.

Willett was tied ninth 12 months ago and Spieth led from start to win in 2015, details which have certainly not escaped the attention of McIlroy as he chases the win required to complete a career grand slam.

McIlroy’s best opening round in eight appearances was the 65 in 2011 which seemed to have set him up for a memorable victory, only for his fourshot lead to disappear with a closing 80.

Since then, the 27-year-old has failed to break 70 on the opening day and his best finish of fourth in 2015 was thanks to closing rounds of 68 and 66, which still left him six adrift of runaway winner Spieth.

“I think it’s always important to get off to a decent start in tournaments, but I think especially here you don’t want to feel like you’re playing catchup on this golf course,” said McIlroy, who is aiming to join Jack Nicklaus, Woods, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and Gary Player in having claimed all four major titles.

“You feel like the more you force the issue, the more things can go wrong. You start to shoot at a few pins and you short-side yourself, leave yourself in spots that you don’t really want to. Then you can run up numbers pretty quickly.

“You don’t need to come out and shoot 65 on the first day, but at the same time you’re better off shooting something under par just to get yourself off to a nice start.”

Calmness is unfortunately not in the weather forecast, with winds of around 30mph predicted for the first two days which could favour the big hitters such as McIlroy, Johnson and Spain’s Jon Rahm.