Golf: 2013 Masters at Augusta National - Day One Round-Up

An enthralling opening day at Augusta National has left the 77^th Masters wide open as few of the pre-tournament favourites write themselves out of contention.

Leishman gets out of trouble.
Source: www.masters.com

The overnight lead of 6 under par is shared by Spaniard Sergio Garcia and, perhaps more surprisingly, Austrialian Marc Leishman. It was a welcome sight to see Garcia card a 66 and his best round since 2002, especially considering his comments at last year’s Masters, believing himself to not be good enough to ever win a major.

Garcia plays out of the pine.
Source: www.masters.com

Dustin Johnson sits alone on a 5 under par whilst a whole host of players including youngster, Rickie Fowler, debutant David Lynn and veteran Fred Couples sit one shot behind Johnson.

Matt Kuchar, who tied for third at last year’s Masters also had a solid round of 4 under along with previous winner, Trevor Immelman but it is the players sitting behind who will be the ones to watch during tomorrow’s second day.

Pre-Tournament favourite Tiger Woods carded a solid 70, leaving him 2 under par along with British hopefuls, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose, with Luke Donald one further back at 1 under. However, also a 1 or 2 under is, Brandt Snedeker, K. J. Choi, Charl Schwartzel, Ernie Els, Bernard Langer and Phil Mickelson all with the possibility of launching an attack as we head towards the weekend.

World number 2 Rory McIlroy had a strong front nine, carding a 34, but his putting let him down across the back nine leaving him even for the day, but certainly not out of the running.

However, it was a more difficult day for Ian Poulter, Paul Lawrie and Hunter Mahan who all carded 76 leaving themselves ten shots off the lead with plenty to do on Friday; even worse for Harrington at 6 over par.

A special mention must go to Welsh debutant Jamie Donaldson who scored the only hole-in-one of the day on the par-3 6^th hole, ending the day on a respectable 2 over par.

14-year-old Guam in action.
Source: www.masters.com

The outstanding performance of the day falls to the 14 year old Chinese prodigy, Tianlang Guan, the youngest ever competitor at the Masters by over two years who carded an outstanding one over par which included four birdies, leaving himself with a very realistic chance of creating more history by becoming the youngest ever player to make the cut at the Masters, surpassing the record currently held by Italian, Matteo Manassero.

With a heavy storm due overnight tonight, it will be interesting to see whether conditions will be different from the pleasant weather today, and who this will benefit as we head into the second day of the 2013 Masters second day.