Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat enjoyed his lowest round at Augusta National with a 3-under 69 in the first round at the Masters Tournament to lie three shots off the lead on Thursday.

 

 

 

                                             Thai Kiradech was placed at T6 at the Masters

 

 The 29-year-old was one-over through 12 holes before finishing strongly in the year’s opening major with an eagle on 13, followed by successive birdies on 15 and 16 to eclipse his previous best score by one stroke.  Making his third appearance at the Masters, Kiradech said staying patient was key to his good start. “I’d been waiting for my first birdie,” said Kiradech, the first Thai to play full-time on the PGA TOUR this season.

 

 

 He turned his fortunes around with a majestic three iron approach into the par-5 13th hole which landed 16 feet from the flag and converted the eagle putt. A textbook two-putt birdie at the next par-5 hole on 15, followed by an eight-foot birdie conversion on the par-3 16th hole ensured his good start.

 

The first day at the Masters saw the dominance of Tiger Woods as he enjoyed an early share of the lead on the opening day of the 83rd Masters at Augusta.

 

 

 

                                  Tiger Woods showed a lot of nerve to share the early lead initially

 

 

The 43-year-old, who won the last of his four Masters Green Jackets in 2005, hit the front with a solid display before afternoon fireworks from a phalanx of later starters dropped him back.

 

 

Fellow American Brooks Koepka led the charge, picking up where he left off after edging Woods to the US PGA title last year for his second straight major and third in 14 months.

 

 

 

                                       Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka Share the Masters Lead

 

The 28-year-old Koepka shot 66 to Woods' 70 to soar to six under where he was joined by countryman Bryson DeChambeau, who birdied six of the last seven holes as he bids for a maiden major title.

 

 

 

 

Mickelson: The fast finisher

 

 

 

 

Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson, 48, was another fast-finisher with five birdies in his last seven holes to end five under, one clear of England's Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter and world No.2 Dustin Johnson.

 

Co-leader Brooks Koepka has won three of his last six majors. Despite the traffic roaring past him in the fast lane, Woods continued the impressive form he showed in the last two majors of 2018 after also briefly leading the Open at Carnoustie in July.

 

Koepka, who has won three of his last six majors, was the only player in the 87-man field not to card a bogey, but from a modest one under after nine he exploded with five bogeys in six holes at the start of the second nine. The 25-year-old DeChambeau, who possesses a distinctive swing to accommodate clubs that are all the same length, caught Koepka with a finish that included a near hole-in-one on the 16th, a chip-in on the 17th and an approach that hit the flagstick but stayed out on 18.

 

 

Putting woes for Rory

 

 

 

 

Rory McIlroy came into Augusta looking to complete the career grand slam. Thursday did not help his cause. McIlroy shot a 1-over-par 73 in the opening round, stained by six bogeys. His opening tee shot was an indicator of future things to come. He sliced it into the trees to the right of the fairway, leading to a bogey.

 

The 29-year-old was bitten again on the start of the second nine with bogeys on 10 and 11. He made it to 1 under after a birdie on 16, but fell back by closing with 5s on 17 and 18.

 

 

Did You Know?

• Bryson DeChambeau’s nine birdies matched his career best
• Brooks Koepka’s quest for fourth major championship title and first Masters victory begins with first-round 66
• Phil Mickelson shoots 67 in his 99th round at Augusta National
• Tiger Woods opens with 2-under 70, his ninth under-par opening round in 22 starts at Augusta National
• Only grouping where all players shot under par; Dustin Johnson (68), Bryson DeChambeau (66), Jason Day (70)