Jordan Spieth fires into the lead

Edited by Anand Datla

April 10, 2015: Jordan Spieth continued the remarkable start to his Masters Tournament career with an eight under par 64 to lead by three shots after the first round at Augusta National. The 21 year old American, second on his debut last year to Bubba Watson, fired a remarkable nine birdies with his only bogey coming after a poor chip was followed by a three-putt on the 15th. India’s Anirban Lahiri ended the first day inside the top twenty after making a solid 71.

At eight under Spieth leads by three from a group including Major Champions Ernie Els and Justin Rose, as well as Charley Hoffman and perennial threat Jason Day, while Rory McIlroy began his quest to complete a career Grand Slam with a one under par 71. World Number Four Spieth had threatened to create history when he reached eight under par after 14 holes and in sight of equalling the course record of 63 or even shooting the first round of 62 or better in Major Championship history.

A bogey on the next effectively put paid to that, but the US Ryder Cup star carded his ninth birdie of the day on the 18th. “To shoot 64 at Augusta, it’s my first round under 70 although I played well last year, I am excited about that,” said Spieth, who led by two shots after seven holes of the final round last year and would have been the youngest champion – and first rookie winner since 1979 – if he had held on to win.

“When I was there on 15 I knew if I could birdie there and get one more on the way in I would get to ten under. I’ve never shot ten under in a professional round and obviously here that would be special. Unfortunately I took the wrong club and made bogey but eight under round here is nothing to complain about. I didn’t know where I was on 13 and 14 but then saw the scoreboard and maybe tried to push it a bit.”

Spieth has finished first, second and second in his last three tournaments, a stark contrast to Els who has not recorded a top-ten finish all season. “Haven’t been in here for a while,” Els joked as he started his post-round press conference. For five years running Els was not outside the top six at Augusta, finishing second to Vijay Singh in 2000 and Phil Mickelson in 2004, when he carded a closing 67 to lose by a single shot.

The 45 year old has not finished in the top ten since and admitted there was a certain hangover from the narrow miss in 2004. “Definitely. I was trying to wipe it under the carpet that I wanted this one so badly for so many years,” Els added. “You kind of get fed up with yourself. Never with Augusta, you know, but yourself with the mistakes that you make. I felt that I left shots out there in that five-year span so a little frustration set in there.”

Els made his Masters debut in 1994 – the year after Spieth was born – and played 18 in a row until 2012, when he failed to qualify and said he would not accept a special invitation if it was offered. A few months later he won his second Open Championship title aged 42 at Royal Lytham. “It was probably actually good to watch it on television again like I did when I was a kid and kind of learn a bit more. I really didn’t feel any bitterness towards the tournament or anybody. I was where I was. I was outside the top 50.”

Rose, who was fifth here in 2007 and has led at some point in every round, carded six birdies and one bogey, while Hoffman had been one under par with four holes to play, but holed from ten feet for an eagle on the 15th and birdied the 16th and 18th. Asked what he had learned from his previous good starts here, Rose said: “(Not to) get ahead of yourself. One thing I’ve learned on this golf course is that if you do make a bogey or two, when you start to chase around here to make up for it, it’s not always the best decision.

“I’ve definitely learned the hard way a couple of times, which was obviously a good experience.” McIlroy is looking to join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods – who returned to action with a 73 – in winning all four Major Championships by claiming a first green jacket on Sunday.

And the World Number One was satisfied by an opening 71 for the third time in four years after recovering from one over par with seven holes to play. “I just kept telling myself to be patient out there,” McIlroy said. “It was a round that could have got away from me. I just stayed patient, realising it’s a 72-hole tournament and not having to press too much. It’s good to get into red numbers. I obviously know what I can achieve this week but I am not letting myself think about it too much.”