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
Image source, Jack NicklausSix-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus:, external Here's a look at the golf balls used by the Big Three this morning to get the 79th Masters underway!
Nicklaus, along with Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, launched the tournament with the ceremonial tee-off by three of the game's all-time greats.
You have about 90 minutes to wait until that silky McIlroy swing makes its first appearance of the 2015 Masters. A quick reminder of his tee time (and selected others)? You're in luck...
14:24 Bubba Watson (US), Justin Rose (Eng), Gunn Yang (Kor)
15:41 Phil Mickelson (US), Rory McIlroy (NI), Ryan Moore (US)
18:15 Henrik Stenson (Swe), Jordan Spieth (US), Billy Horschel (US)
18:48 Jamie Donaldson (Wal), Tiger Woods (US), Jimmy Walker (US)
18:59 Jason Day (Aus), Sergio Garcia (Spa), Rickie Fowler (US)
Do you fancy a free golf lesson from the best golfer on earth? Read on.
For every keen golfer, finding the perfect swing is the holy grail. Golf swings come in all shapes and sizes, with players spending hours on the practice range in an attempt to find the perfect one.
Jim Furyk, Adam Scott and Bubba Watson are all major winners, yet their swings could not be more different. The key is finding the swing that is right for you. But what components combine to produce perfection?
Have a look at our iWonder guide for the answers. (But don't blame us if you don't shave three shots off your handicap within the next month.)
Maisie, from London: All I can say is, glad my boss is off tomorrow! Trying to follow this surreptitiously is difficult! I'd love this to be Rory's year but if not, it's only a matter of time. Great weekend ahead, I can't wait!
Nick, from Surbiton: Can't believe no one is tipping Sergio Garcia for the Green Jacket. His long game is excellent, much needed for Augusta and if he hits some form on the greens he will be up there come Sunday.
-2 Hoffman (US), Woodland (US); -1 Singh (Fij), Olazabal (Spa)
Selected others: E Willett (Eng, T Watson (US)
Let's head back out onto the course. Charley Hoffman, the man who opened the 2015 Masters remember, can still see his name at the top of the early leaderboard.
The 38-year-old American, who has only appeared once before at Augusta, is two under par after six holes. He dropped a shot at five, but clawed it back on the next.
He might be Rory McIlroy's tip to win this year's tournament, but reigning Masters champion Bubba Watson admits he "must improve as a man" after being voted the most unpopular player on the PGA Tour.
An anonymous ESPN.com survey of 103 fellow professionals, external saw 26% vote for him as the player they would not help in a fight in a car park.
The 36-year-old American may not be especially popular, but says he is better prepared to defend his title this time around than he was in 2012.
American Patrick Reed got 11%, South Africa's Rory Sabbatini and Australian Robert Allenby each got 9%.
If any PGA Tour pros out there are tempted to tweet in their fantasy fourballs, it is highly unlikely that reigning Masters champion Bubba Watson will get the nod...
Spending four hours on the golf course can be a frustrating experience for a variety of reasons - not least if your playing partner is annoying so and so.
But what if you could pick your fantasy fourball? Which three sports men or women past or present would you love to walk around 18 holes with?
Image source, Getty ImagesWe want you to send us the names of your chosen three players - along with a portrait picture of yourself if you wish. Send a couple of tweets if you want with reasons for your choices.
Tweet on #bbcgolf or comment on the BBC Sport Facebook page., external Bonus points if you take a picture in your brightly-coloured golf shirt or baggy plus fours.
Image source, Getty ImagesBubba Watson said last year's ice storms even helped him win the Masters as they claimed the tops of some trees, allowing him to whistle those huge drives over the looming pines.
Something has clicked for him here in recent visits, not least his huge drive eating up the par fives.
"It's the only course I've won twice at, so I think it's pretty good," he told his pre-tournament news conference. "It's a good one to win twice at. You're going to have great fairways and great greens so you have the chance to score.
"Seven, one and 18 are the holes I look at that are difficult for me off the tee. All the other holes look good to my eye. If you add it up yes, Augusta sets up pretty nicely for me."
Talking of the leaderboard, one man who knows how to scale the Masters ladder is Bubba Watson. The defending champion tees off at Augusta in 40 minutes.
-1 Hoffman (US), Woodland (US); Level Mize (US), Willett (Eng), Tom Watson (US), Villegas (Col), Weir (Can), Conners (Can)
Selected others:+1 Harman (US)
Image source, APImagine the scene inside the Augusta locker room as warring US Ryder Cup pair Tom Watson and Phil Mickelson came face to face. I'd imagine several golfers would have been sloping off to the gents loo to avoid the awkwardness.
Anyway, 65-year-old Watson does not have to worry about bumping into Lefty any more. The proud owner of two Green Jackets, both almost 40 years old, is already out on the course.
Image source, Eric ComptonThe day has only just begun and Erik Compton has already got us blubbering. "I drew this when I was a kid," the 35-year-old American tweeted., external "And now the day is here. It was worth the wait!"
Compton, for those of you who aren't aware, has had two heart transplants - the last in 2008 - and is making his Augusta debut. It's a tale more beautiful than Augusta's perfectly manicured lawns and blooming azaleas. [Ed, bring me another handkerchief.]
If the likes of Charley Hoffman and Byron Meth - two of the American hopefuls already out on the course - are not tempting you to skive off work yet, then here are a few names who might...
14:02 Patrick Reed, Keegan Bradley, Ian Poulter (Eng)
14:24 Bubba Watson, Justin Rose (Eng), Gunn Yang (Kor)
15:41 Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy (NI), Ryan Moore
18:15 Henrik Stenson (Swe), Jordan Spieth, Billy Horschel
18:48 Jamie Donaldson (Wal), Tiger Woods, Jimmy Walker
However Charley Hoffman fares over the next four days (or two days if he doesn't make the cut), the American can bore the grandkids by regaling the story about the time that he led the 2015 Masters.
OK, there may only be eight blokes out on the course, but Hoffmann won't care. He has sunk two successive birdie putts - on two and three - to keep his name at the top of the leaderboard.
Tom Fordyce
Chief sports writer at Augusta
"By the gates to Augusta National a fire and brimstone preacher shouts warnings to the shuffling masses of fiery lakes and hell to follow. A few metres on, beyond the security personnel and white wooden fence, it is suddenly benign sporting heaven, the ancient golfing saints of Palmer, Nicklaus and Player all venerated by the hundreds packed around the first tee after ceremonially getting this 79th Masters underway."
The first of the 14 hopefuls from these fair shores is out on the course. But England's Danny Willett does not make the start that he dreamt about in his sleep last night. The Yorkshireman plants his opening drive in the bunker, digging out the second to just short of the green, before a chip and two putts results in a bogey 5.
Image source, Getty Images"Arnie! Jack! How high can you guys go?" said Gary Player (possibly) as he kung-fu kicked for the gallery when the three greats prepared to hit the ceremonial tee shots. They've all still got it, Player especially so and he now joins Bruce Lee and Eric Cantona as the world's most famous King Fu practitioners.
Image source, Getty ImagesGary Player's last official outing at Augusta was in 2009. Arnold Palmer is second to him with 50 starts with his last in 2004.