AFP
Augusta, US
Jordan Spieth got the defence of his Masters crown off to a steady start at Augusta National on Thursday.
Seeking to become just the fourth player -- after Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods -- to win back-to-back titles, the 22-year-old Texan pushed his approach to the first off to the right of the green. But a beautiful chip from a difficult position left him with a tap-in putt for par and he stayed at level par through two holes. Spieth is part of a trio of new generation favourites alongside Jason Day and Rory McIlroy who were under threat from a bunch of hardened former champions.
First man out was, Jim Herman, a 38-year-old journeyman who won his first tournament in 106 tries at the Houston Open on Sunday to punch the last ticket into the first of the year's four majors. He enjoyed his moment in the spotlight as the first competitor to tee off shortly after Masters legends Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player performed their roles as honorary starters. Herman birdied the first two holes, but then bogeyed three holes in a row from the fourth.
The early pace at one under after a few holes was set by Thai veteran Thongchai Jaidee, 66-year-old legend Tom Watson, 2010 British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen and England's Lee Westwood. Playing conditions were ideal after heavy overnight rain had softened the fairways and greens, although the breeze was expected to stiffen for the late starters.
Spieth set out at 9:48am (1348GMT) in the company of England's Paul Casey and rising young US amateur Bryson DeChambeau. The American won by four strokes last year with a record-matching 18-under par total and two months later he added the US Open crown. World number one Day, looking to win back-to-back majors after his PGA Championship triumph in August, has an afternoon tee-time at 1:06pm, playing with Matt Kuchar and South African veteran Ernie Els.
McIlroy, making his second bid at becoming just the sixth player to win all four majors, is the last man out at 2:01pm with Ryder Cup teammate Martin Kaymer and Bill Haas. Not an ideal spot to be, in but the Northern Irishman said he will take it in his stride. "I think it's the third year in a row I've been off last either Thursday or Friday here. I was sort of expecting it," he said with a shrug.
In the injury-forced absence of four-time winner Tiger Woods, the biggest gallery could well be following three-time champion Phil Mickelson, who will be aiming to make it four at the age of 45. At the Masters, age for him is not a factor. "I don't feel old at all. I feel great," he said. "I guess maybe you hang around these young guys as much as I have been, you just feel young."
The five-time major winner will be off at 10:43am along with Australian Marc Leishman and Swedish threat Henrik Stenson. Bubba Watson, Masters champion in 2012 and 2014, thinks he can make it another even-year triumph heading out at 12:44pm in the company of South Africa's Branden Grace and Ian Poulter of England.
The winner in 2013, Adam Scott, has a 11:05am start, playing with Kevin Kisner and Brooks Koepka. At 35, the Australian is all too aware that the arrival of young guns such as Day, Spieth, McIlroy and Rickie Fowler means that it can only get harder for him to win a second major. "I need to get my skates on because it's getting tougher and tougher every year. But I'm in good shape," he said.
