Young Gun Spieth Masters Augusta

Post by Sports Writer, Derek Clements

GOLF'S past and its glorious future collided in the first round of The Masters at Augusta National and it was youth that had its day in the shape of Jordan Spieth, a 21-year-old playing only his fifth competitive round on this famous golf course.

For a time, it looked like Ernie Els might be joining him at the top of the leaderboard, but the 44-year-old South African dropped a shot at the 18th and had to settle for a round of 67 on a day when the field made hay, with birdies and eagles galore. In total, 30 players finished the day under par. Be sure of one thing - the pin placements on day two will be fiendish.

But this day was all about Spieth. Twelve months ago he finished second to Bubba Watson and he was really annoyed with himself. Make no mistake - he is here to win. In his last three  tournaments he has finished first, second and second. But during none of these performances did he play better golf than that which he produced in the first round at Augusta.

Yes, he had some luck with wayward drives that finished in the trees and on one occasion he even had a drive that finished in the middle of the fairway after crashing into the pines. But his shotmaking was right out of the top drawer, none more so than at the 14th, where he was in the trees on the right of the fairway and struck the pin with his approach for a tap-in birdie.

He reached the turn in 32, then picked up further shots at the 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th. He was eight under par and in sight of the first 62 in a major. Unfortunately, he dropped a shot at the par-five 15th, but was still seven under par. He made pars at the 16th and 17th and then came to the 18th, the toughest hole on the course, and holed a 20-footer for a birdie and a round of 64. Let me repeat two things - Spieth is TWENTY-ONE and he opened with a SIXTY-FOUR.

All eyes were, of course, on Rory McIlroy, seeking to complete the career grand slam, and Tiger Woods, seeking to complete 18 holes without humiliating himself. The Northern Irishman struggled with his game all day but somehow battled through it to record a one-under-par 71 - it was the best he could have done. Woods silenced those who said he was suffering from the chipping yips, producing some miraculous recovery shots and holing several excellent putts. The 14-time major champion also hit a few fabulous iron shots, but he also struck several wild drives that meant he had to work hard just to make pars. He will do well to be around at the weekend.

Els said: "I didn't get off to a great start, but the putter felt unbelievable and I holed some great ones. I am driving it nicely and I hit some lovely irons too. I've been making lots of birdies, but I have to eliminate the mistakes."

Justin Rose is alongside Els on 67, a score that came from nowhere after a slow start to the season. He said: "I have felt that my game is close for quite a while. The key here is to remain patient and take the birdie opportunities when they come along." Charley Hoffman, of the USA, was another to record a 67, with Jason Day, who recorded five successive birdies on the back nine, and Sergio Garcia also well placed.

Paul Casey, who has been showing signs of finding his very best form this season, dropped his only shot of the day on the 18th but was delighted with his 69.  Patrick Reed and Dustin Johnson, both fancied to contend, were together on 70, alongside Phil Mickelson. Danny Willett also deserves a mention, with a fine 71 on his Masters debut.

Everybody expected to see the name Watson on the leaderboard. But they thought it would be Bubba, the defending champion, not Tom, the 65-year-old pensioner, who rolled back the years and scored a 71, despite admitting afterwards that he now struggles with the length of the course. "I just don't hit it as far as I used to," he said. "My playing partners were hitting it 40 yards beyond me and while I was going in with a hybrid, they are using six and seven irons. But I pitched and putted well, and obviously I know how to get round here."

Before a shot had been struck in anger, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus performed their duties as honorary starters. Sadly, Palmer is beginning to look pretty frail and will want to forget the shot he hit. No matter. Augusta, as usual, is pretty as a picture, with the azaleas and dogwood in full bloom and a full house of patrons packed into every part of the property, as they insist on calling it.

But what a day this was. The season is well and truly up and running and this Masters is certain to live up to, and possibly even surpass, all expectations.

Image Credit - Twitter @TheMasters