Rory McIlroy chasing career Grand Slam at Augusta
McIlroy opens with one-under-par 71
Jordan Spieth leads by three on -8
England's Justin Rose tied second on -5
Defending champion Bubba Watson finishes -1
Sergio Garcia -4; Paul Casey -3; Tiger Woods +1
Charley Hoffman is on fire. The American follows up an eagle on the 15th with a birdie on the 16th to take the outright lead on four under. In the words of Ron Burgundy: don't act like you're not impressed.
To the left of the second at Augusta - the brilliantly-named Pink Dogwood - is a water hazard barely bigger than a Salford-sized puddle. And that is exactly the spot where Rory McIlroy hooks his second tee shot. But it proves to be little bother for the world number one on the 575-yard par five.
The Northern Irishman takes a drop, chips out on to the fairway and plants his fourth on to the dancefloor. Within four feet. That leaves a simple putt to stay level.
Image source, Getty ImagesA stonking eagle from Charley Hoffman on the par-five 15th sees the early leader return to the top on three under, joining Justin Rose and Russell Henley. But news from yonder on Rory McIlroy and the Northern Irishman is in bother... stand by!
It is widely accepted that 15th and 16th century artist Michelangelo - who painted the Sistine Chapel - was left handed. Had he taken up golf, he'd probably love Augusta.
Image source, GoogleBBC Sport's chief sports writer Tom Fordyce writes: "Established wisdom is that this is a course to suit the southpaws. Six holes feature a right to left dog-leg where left-handers can hit stock fade shots. Half the winners in the last 12 years have been lefties.
"Equally, every champion in the first 66 years played right-handed."
Read more insight from Tom in his latest Masters feature.
Image source, APRemember Mike Weir? The Canadian who came out of nowhere in 2003 to become the first left-handed player to win the Masters? He is toiling.
Weir, who kickstarted a remarkable run of Augusta wins by lefties, is anchored to the bottom of the leaderboard alongside fellow Canadian Corey Conners. Both men are six over after 10.
Andy in Armagh: McIlroy needs to target and attack the par 5s on this Augusta National course. With his huge length off the tee and with the course playing a bit soft due to recent rain, he has a huge advantage over the majority of the field. He needs to be smart though, as water awaits any poor shots on most of the par 5 holes.
Andrew in Richhill: With all of the hype and attention being focused on McIlroy ahead of this year's Masters he just needs to get his head down this afternoon and shoot a solid score. No fireworks are needed at this stage. If he can get to Friday night within four shots of the lead then he will be in a perfect position to make a challenge at the weekend. His presence alone on the leader board will make the other players nervous.
The European Tour , externaltweeted: Rory McIlroy's position on the leaderboard after his last eight major rounds: 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 4th, 1st, 1st, 1st.
"Welcome to the top of the leaderboard once more, Mr Rose," says Russell Henley. We're assuming it does indeed get lonely at the top. Justin Rose rolls in a birdie on the sixth to skip merrily to three under. Three birdies in the opening six holes for the Englishman. A fine start. A very fine start.
Send us your photo and the three sportsmen you would love to play a fourball with. Alistair Marriott, external did and this is how he'd look on the first tee alongside his chosen three.
Image source, Getty ImagesGraeme Swann and Jimmy Bullard would ensure there'd be a chuckle or two during the round, depending on your sense of humour of course, but isn't Ian Poulter too fierce a competitor to play a leisurely round with?
Keep them coming on #bbcgolf., external
No dream start for Rory McIlroy. But I'm sure he will be more than happy with an opening par on the 445-yard first, a slight dogleg right which slopes uphill.
The Northern Irishman cannot can his 11-foot birdie putt, but taps in for the four.
Image source, Getty ImagesSome sad news to relay - two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw does not have long-term caddie Carl Jackson on his bag today. Jackson was to have appeared in his 53rd and final Masters this year, and 39th as Crenshaw's faithful 'looper'. However, Jackson, who made his Masters debut in 1961 at the age of 14, is too ill and his brother Bud is on Crenshaw's bag instead.
Jackson hopes to be well enough to caddie on Friday. Here's a fantastic feature that BBC Sport's Ben Dirs wrote about Jackson only the other day.
Russell Henley with a moment of escapology on the ninth Harry Houdini would have been proud of. The 25-year-old found the trees with his tee shot, but recovered and went on to sink a colossal 19ft birdie to take the outright lead on three under.
Image source, ReutersAnd if his opening drive wasn't impressive enough, Rory McIlroy grabs a short iron out of his bag to knock his second shot within 11 foot of the first pin. Birdie chance ahoy....
In a recent survey of 103 Tour professionals, external by ESPN.com, 28% reckon Rory McIlroy will win the Green Jacket this week.
A tip of the hat to you, Justin Rose. The Englishman birdies the par-four fifth to join a four-way tie at the top. Gary Woodland, Russell Henley and Bubba Watson are the others sharing the limelight with the former US Open champion.
Nerves? What nerves? Rory McIlroy cracks his opening drive straight down the first fairway - the ball eventually stopping 324 yards from his tee peg. Easy...
Image source, Getty ImagesOnly three men have ever won on debut, Horton Smith in 1934, Gene Sarazen a year later and Fuzzy Zoeller in '79.
Up and down, chopping and changing. Looking at the leaderboard is enough to make even those with the sturdiest of sea legs feel a little queasy. Ian Poulter drops a shot on the sixth and returns to one under, which leaves Gary Woodland and Russell Henley tied for first on two under.
Image source, Getty ImagesEvery amateur golfer feels a little queasy on the first tee. Stomach churning, grip tightening, mind scattering. What if I don't make a decent start? What if I miss the fairway and leave myself with a tough second out of the rough? What happens if I complete shank it?
Turns out Rory McIlroy is a little like the rest of us - at Augusta at least.
"I think the first tee shot here is probably the only first tee shot of a tournament these days that I still get nervous at, the one that you get butterflies and your heart races a little bit faster than it does usually," says the usually cool, calm and collected Northern Irishman.
The Augusta announcer clears his throat. "Welcome on to the tee, world number one, Rory McIlroy."
Show-time...
-2 Woodland (US), Poulter (Eng), Henley (US) -1 Hoffman (US), Willett (Eng), Streelman (US), Reed (US), B Watson (US), Rose (Eng), Hoffmann (US) Level Gallacher (Sco), T Watson (US), Westwood (Eng), Scott (Aus), Stricker (US), Bradley (US)
Selected others: +1 Sing (Fij), Jimenez (Spa), D Johnson (US) +2 Olazabal (Spa) +3 Clarke (NI)