Image source, AP

He couldn't, could he? Perhaps the killer instinct of old has kicked in because Tiger Woods has opened with a birdie on the first. The world number 111 licking his chops and lurking with intent. There have only been 10 birdies on that hole in this tournament so far.

Ben in London: Unlike the majority of people on here I haven't played in the rain with Spieth but to grant a more exciting weekend it would be good to see him get a few bogeys...

Ronan, Northampton: Sergio Garcia for the win. Jordan Spieth doesn't have the experience to win a major yet, but a future prospect.

Joe London: Jason Day for the win - looks confident and on a fine run of form.

Karen McLellan, Stonehaven: Absolutely no doubt in my mind that Sandy Lyle could be the top UK finisher this year. His youth and inexperience may be a factor come the weekend though. Cmon Sandy!!!

Disappointing news for the romantics who still have room in their hearts for the veterans as Ernie Els has dropped another shot on the par-four seven. Two bogeys in three holes and the Big Easy drops down the leaderboard to -4 overall - five shots behind Jordan Spieth.

Birdie for Woosie! The par threes have been a problem for Ian Woosnam today, but the 1991 champion needs just two shots on the par-three 12th and is up to +7 overall. We knew it'd come good eventually for the Welshman.

As the packed galleries train their binoculars on Tiger, here's a look ahead to a few more famous faces yet to peg up on the first...

15:41 Jason Day (Aus), Sergio Garcia (Spa), Rickie Fowler (US)

16:36 Vijay Singh (Fij), Russell Henley (US), Darren Clarke (NI)

17:20 Patrick Reed (US), Keegan Bradley (US), Ian Poulter (Eng)

17:42 Bubba Watson (US), Justin Rose (Eng), Gunn Yang (Kor)

18:48 Rory McIlroy (NI), Phil Mickelson (US), Ryan Moore (US)

Here we go, Tiger Woods striding towards the first tee. The former world number one spent two hours on the practice ground this morning, according to Nick Faldo, which must have meant an early start for the four-time Masters champion. What does Woods do? He whacks it 285 yards straight down the middle, leaving him 183 yards to the pin.

Image source, Getty Images

Hello there, Jordan Spieth! A 2ft birdie chance for the overnight leader on the par-five second... and down the hole it goes. The fireworks have started early this afternoon. The 21-year-old extends his lead and moves to -9 for the tournament.

Former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen is on somewhat of a charge. Three birdies in his opening five holes and the South African is three under for the day - and tournament. They'll be singing in the streets of Altrincham, external tonight if Oosthuizen continues to sink those putts.

Sam Thornton, Liverpool: I once played with Jordan in Florida keys and the rain did bother him but he did forget his umbrella that day.

Tom, Kilburn: I think if Jordan Spieth continues to shoot under par then he has a very good chance of winning this tournament.

James Marshall: Jordan Spieth could really do some damage with another low round. He could put the tournament beyond reach of a few big names.

A regulation start for one of Dallas' favourite sons, Jordan Spieth - 301 yards from the tee into the heart of Tea Olive, a two-putt par and he negotiates the par-four first in four shots. He's in the middle of the fairway on Pink Dogwood, too. Nerveless.

-8 Spieth (US) after 1

-5 Els (SA) 5, Day (Aus) (15:41), Hoffman (US) (15:52), Rose (Eng) (17:42)

-4 Garcia (Spa) (15:41), Henley (US), (16:36) -3 Palmer (US) 3, Haas (US) (18:15), Simpson (US) (18:26), Casey (Eng) (18:26)

Selected others: -2 Oosthuizen (SA) 4, Mickelson (US) (18:48), -1 McDowell (NI) 1, Harrington (Ire) 3, Willett (Eng) (16:03), Gallacher (Sco) (17:09), B Watson (US) (17:42), McIlroy (NI) (18:48) +1 Woods (US) (15:30), Poulter (Eng) (17:20)

Full leader board (Official website) , external

Friday's tee-times

How is Ian Woosnam doing? Ah, well, you know. Bradley Neil? Ah, well, you know. Sandy Lyle? Well... The British are trio toiling on Augusta's capricious greens. Teenager Neil has dropped a shot on the seventh and is currently +9 overall, while Woosnam has steadied what earlier seemed to be a creaking ship with four pars on the trot but continues to be +8 overall. A bogey for Lyle on the par-four seventh and the former champ is +2 for the day, +4 for the tournament. I hope that update is satisfactory.

Image source, Getty Images

Afternoon everyone. Aimee here for a bit as Jonathan takes a leisurely stroll in the sunshine, jumper draped over his shoulders. That's the look he's opted for today and there's no reasoning with him. Anyway, back to the golf. Ernie Els had nibbled into Spieth's lead early on - but the Big Easy has just dropped a shot on the fifth and returns to five under overall.

As Masters leader Jordan Spieth begins his day's work, so too does my colleague Aimee Lewis. She has stepped out of the BBC Sport clubhouse to talk you through Spieth and the rest's progress over the next few hours...

Here he is! The man of the moment steps on to first tee. Overnight leader Jordan Spieth, decked out in opened-necked grey polo shirt and pressed navy trousers, goes through his pre-shot routine. He pauses. He eyes up the first fairway. And he finds it! Spieth breaks the 300-yard barrier as his ball speeds to the side of the imposing bunker on Tea Olive. Position A!

With former winners Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle, plus fellow Briton Bradley Neil, already on the course, now seems an opportune time to remind of our current chat. Who will be the top UK golfer at The Masters? Vote on this page and feel free to send your Twitter thoughts to #bbcgolf.

As Spieth prepares to tee off on day two, the young American is safe in the knowledge that there is still space between him and the chasing pack.

Ernie Els is the only name on the overnight leaderboard already out eating up the lush Augusta fairways. The Big Easy canned a birdie putt on the second to move within two of Spieth, but has failed to chisel any more shots off his solid lead.

Els finds the heart of the third and fourth greens in regulation, can't find his range with the birdie putts, but walks to the next tee with successive pars on his card.

Sean Slattery, Royal Aberdeen: Spieth is fantastic in the wet and has clearly matured since college. I walked round with him in soaking conditions in Florida.

Dom Tulett, Fulham: The big fashion question of the day: will Jordan Spieth wear the same white and gold shirt as yesterday?

Mark Steadman, Farnborough: Spieth won't continue his luck by bouncing of trees on to the fairways. Rose is a US Open Champ who knows how to win.

Little under 10 minutes until we see overnight leader Jordan Spieth leave the clubhouse. Wonder how he slept last night? I couldn't stop thinking of the Masters as I caught up on the zeds - and I'm not leading the Masters.

Here is the 21-year-old's reaction to his opening round of an eight-under 64: "That was very special. The greens were softer and a little slower than they will be the rest of the week which allowed me to fire shots into the greens. Last year I was tentative but this year I was a little more ready to fire at the pins, knowing I had receptive greens."

South African Louis Oosthuizen is man who knows how to climb to the top of a Major leaderboard. The 2010 Open champion, who was pipped to the 2012 Masters by Bubba Watson, moves just short of the top 10 with a blistering start to his Friday. He birdies the opening hole, then sinks another on the second to go two under today - and for the tournament.