Summary

  • 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

  1. Postpublished at 22:34 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Tom WatsonImage source, AP

    Two-time winner Tom Watson, 65, talking to Sky Sports: "At my age I was just hoping to break 80. It is a struggle when I am hitting three woods and three hybrids from back there and your playing partner is hitting an eight iron."

  2. McDowell birdies 16, is -2published at 22:33 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Graeme McDowellImage source, Getty Images

    Spieth's chip from the bottom of the slope at 15 comes up short, he'll do well to make par from there. He certainly will now, he's left his birdie putt about 20 feet short. McDowell of Northern Ireland gets to two under courtesy of birdie at 16.

  3. Postpublished at 22:29 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Jay Townsend
    Former American professional golfer on BBC Radio 5 live

    "My prediction is 149. That is the number I predict for Tiger's first two rounds. Five over and outside the cut line."

  4. Postpublished at 22:29 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Victor DubuissonImage source, AFP

    Garcia putting from off the green at 12 and he's raced it miles by. Victor Dubuisson of France didn't make the cut on his Masters debut in 2014 and he's made an iffy start this year, he's three over after 13.

  5. Postpublished at 22:27 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Jay Townsend
    Former American professional golfer on BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra

    "Spieth has got a tough up and down on 15 if he's to get to nine under but nobody else has shot better than 67 today. It's a phenomenal round so far."

  6. Postpublished at 22:27 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Justin Rose and Gunn YangImage source, EPA

    Joint clubhouse leader Justin Rose, speaking to BBC Radio 5 live: "It was a nice start. I was in a good pairing, there was a nice buzz and that worked well for me. The second round is key, as are all rounds, but it doesn't have to be about leading from the front this week, just good solid golf."

  7. GET INVOLVEDpublished at 22:25 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    All day we have been asking you to pick your fantasy fourball. Which sports stars would you love to play golf with? Send us a picture and we will see what it looks like.

    Jose Mourinho, Thierry Henry and Sonny Bill WilliamsImage source, Getty Images

    Haroun (second left) has tweeted us, external saying he'd love a game with Jose Mourinho, Thierry Henry and Sonny Bill Williams.

    Tweet us your picture and picks to #bbcgolf., external

  8. Postpublished at 22:25 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Henrik StensonImage source, AP

    Sweden's Henrik Stenson was feeling a little bit dickie heading into this week and he got off to a pretty ordinary start. But he's birdied 13 and 14 to drag himself back to +2. Big miscalculation from Spieth at 15, he's carried the green and will struggle to make birdie from there.

  9. Els tied for clubhouse lead on -5published at 22:22 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Ernie ElsImage source, AP

    Els has a 10-footer for par at 18... leaves it just right and that's a round of 67 and a tie for the lead on five under. Shot gone for Day at 11, he's back to -1.

  10. Carter's five things you never knew about Augustapublished at 22:19 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    The club struggled for funding in its early days to the extent that they couldn't pay local suppliers for items like toilet rolls. Nowadays it is one of the wealthiest golfing entities in the world.

    Toilet roll passed between peopleImage source, Getty Images
  11. How do I get a green jacket Bubba?published at 22:16 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Rory McIlroy and Bubba WatsonImage source, Getty Images

    In 25 rounds at Augusta, Bubba Watson is 53 under on the par five holes - numbers two, eight, 13 and 15.

    Rory McIlroy, in his 23 rounds, is just 23 under.

    Bubba Watson has two green jackets. Rory McIlroy has none, though he does own a few dodgy green shirts.

  12. Postpublished at 22:14 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Tiger WoodsImage source, EPA

    Tiger almost holes his third from the drop-zone at 12, he should make bogey. Fine save by Palmer at 16, he stays four under. Els at 18, firing in from 167 yards, comes up short. Spieth on tee at 15, going with the big stick, mashes one down the middle.

  13. GET INVOLVEDpublished at 22:12 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Brooks KoepkaImage source, AP

    Johanna Mackin:, external Koepka wins sharpest sartorial offering of the day for his vintage Hilfiger-esque ensemble.

    He may look good Johanna but he's melted down slightly. From three under on eight to two over by 14.

    Tweet us your views on today's play to #bbcgolf.

  14. Spieth birdies 14, leads on -8published at 22:12 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Ryan PalmerImage source, EPA

    Ryan Palmer has birdied 15 to get to -4 and three off the lead. Woods's lid has been rattling for a few holes and now it's blown off at the 12th, where he's found Rae's Creek with an eight iron. Spieth pops in for birdie at 14, he's now eight under. For the record, the course record is 63, set by Nick Price of Zimbabwe in 1986 and matched by Greg Norman of Australia in 1996. No man has ever carded a 62 in a major championship.

  15. Postpublished at 22:06 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Paul CaseyImage source, Reuters

    England's Paul Casey, who finished with a 69, speaking to Sky Sports: "Any score under 70 would be a good one. It was wonderful to be out there making some putts and I could not be happier.

    "I am very excited. I have a different outlook on this, wanting to embrace the week and enjoy it. No matter how I play it is not the biggest thing in my life. There were a couple of interesting tee shots out there but I did not feel bothered about them, I was very much relaxed and played with what I was given."

  16. Postpublished at 22:04 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Jason DayImage source, Getty Images

    Day also saves par at 10 to stay -2. Spieth fizzes one onto the short stuff from behind a tree at 14... what a shot, he's got a four-footer for birdie. Woods is making plenty of saves today, he makes another clutch putt at 11 to stay +1. Ernie also saves par at 17, stays -6 and one off the lead.

  17. Postpublished at 22:02 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Ernie Els does not have a green jacket in his wardrobe. Between 2000 and 2004 he finished in the top 10 every year at Augusta but since then, tied for 13th in 2013 is his best mark.

    Ernie elsImage source, Getty Images

    He has two Open Championships to his name and two US Open titles. Success aplenty but the 45-year-old has not won since his Open success in 2012.

  18. Postpublished at 22:02 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Padraig HarringtonImage source, AFP

    Here's three-time major winner Padraig Harrington putting for birdie at 15 and in it goes, he's now -2. Jason Day having to improvise at 10, putting away from the hole and through the fringe and coming up well short. Woods with a peach of a chip at 11, no sign of those yips so far today. Garcia chips in for par at 10, stays -2.

  19. Postpublished at 21:57 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Ernie ElsImage source, AP

    Ernie threads his second through the pine trees at 17 but I'm not entirely sure where that ended up. He's got a fried egg in the bunker, good luck getting up and down from there. Spieth pushes his tee shot at 14, just as he did on 13, but he looks like he's got away with it again. The golfing gods are with him. So far.

  20. Master and the apprenticepublished at 21:55 British Summer Time 9 April 2015

    Ernie Els, aged 45, trails 21-year-old Jordan Spieth by a shot. Here's a fun fact about the pair from the European Tour on Twitter: , externalWhen Ernie played his 1st Masters, Jordan Spieth was 254 days old.