Masters leaderboard LIVE as Tiger Woods left battling cut line
The waiting is finally over. The 2023 instalment of the Masters is finally upon us.
Augusta National has opened its secretive gates to players, press and patrons alike, as the battle for the green jacket commences.
All eyes are set to be on the usual suspects, with golfing icon Tiger Woods making his return to Augusta, while Rory McIlroy arrives once again desperate to finally complete a career grand slam.
Elsewhere, the field is studded with several members of the defective Saudi-backed LIV golf league, which has caused a storm of controversy as rival players meet up on the same for the first time in many months.
Woods takes to the first tee at 3.18pm UK time, with McIlroy following out onto the greens of Augusta just before 7pm.
Follow all the live score updates with Express Sport below.
Second round now underway
Welcome back to Express Sport’s live blog of The Masters with the second round already underway earlier than originally planned.
The threat of thunderstorms and rain led to the Augusta officials pushing forward the tee times in the hope of getting all play finished today.
And it’s been a strong start for the likes of Jason Day and Brooks Koepka, the latter of whom has now taken the lead.
Stay tuned for live updates throughout the day.
End of first round!
The final group including Tommy Fleetwood, Tony Finau and Jordan Spieth has now brought the first round of The Masters to a close in what proved to be a low-scoring day.
Unfortunately, the final trio were unable to finish with a flourish to climb up the leaderboard.
But we’re well poised going into Friday where the weather is set to wreak havoc at Augusta.
We’ll back with live coverage throughout the day tomorrow! Goodbye for now!
Scheffler finishes three back
It’s a testament to Scottie Scheffler’s talents that he was left disappointed with a round of 68 to start The Masters.
He certainly left some shots out there on the course and looked devastated with his missed birdie putt at the 18th.
But he’s in the mix and looks dialed in to battle for his second green jacket.
Leaderboard update
It’s been all about Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland and Brooks Koepka – but there is a large group of players within touching distance.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler is primed to make his move while Tony Finau is now beginning to find his groove in the final few holes.
All to play for in the second round…
Plenty of movement
Jordan Spieth has dropped off a cliff the last few holes after putting the ball in the water TWICE!
Rory McIlroy is continuing to battle but he can’t seem to find any rhythm out there at the moment.
Scottie Scheffler is still going steady at three-under par with a bogey on the 11th the only blip on his scorecard.
Koepka now joins leaders
There’s now three players in the clubhouse on seven-under par after Brooks Koepka birdied the last!
It’s only happened once this century where three players have carded rounds of 65 in the first round of The Masters – back in 2020.
Dustin Johnson was among the trio that back then when he went on to clinch the green jacket.
Surely one of Rahm, Hovland and Koepka will be there on Sunday?
Leaderboard update
The target has already been set by both Viktor Hovland and Jon Rahm but the chasing pack aren’t too far behind.
In damp conditions, players are sensing an opportunity to target the pins with plenty of low scoring out there.
35 players are all out there currently under par.
But it’s not been easy for everyone with the likes of Max Homa, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau struggling to get going.
Rahm makes history
What a transformation from Jon Rahm!
A double-bogey on the first hole would have rattled the best of them.
But Rahm quickly rallied to make amends and finished with a birdie at the last to register the lowest opening round in Masters history when carding a double-bogey on the first hole.
He’s now the joint-clubhouse leader with Viktor Hovland to set up a fascinating second round on Friday.
Tiger Woods ends with a bogey
Tiger Woods’ opening round ended with a disappointing bogey with the golfing icon finishing two-over par for the day.
The Augusta course as always going to be challenging for Woods’ body, but it was his putting that let him down early on.
Back-to-back birdies at the 15th and 16th showed glimpses of a potential comeback.
But all momentum was lost on the 18th when he had an awkward shot out of the bunker.
Today may have been his best chance to climb up the leaderboard with rain and thunderstorms expected to come on Friday.
World’s best at the top
There are no real surprises to see the world’s best near the very top of the leaderboard at The Masters.
Some tournaments there will be a few surprises with lesser-known players occasionally making a charge up the leaderboard.
But Augusta always seems to bring the best out of the elite group of players and that’s no different this year.
Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele, Ron Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, Adam Scott and Cameron Young are all in the group chasing down Hovland at the top.
Hovland out in front
It was supposed to be all about Tiger Woods in his featured group but Viktor Hovland is stealing the limelight from the 15-time major winner.
The young Norwegian golf star is many people’s picks to win The Masters this week and he’s put himself in prime position early on.
He’s now six-under par through 11 holes with nobody coming close to challenging him so far.
Impressive stuff from the 25-year-old.
Leaderboard update
There’s some good scoring from the early starters on day one of The Masters already.
Viktor Hovland is feeling it while Jon Rahm is starting to find his groove after a double-bogey on the first.
Former champions Patrick Reed and Adam Scott are also off to a strong start.
Cameron Young leading the charge
It’s been an excellent start to the first round for Cameron Young with three birdies in as many holes.
Sergio Garcia and Patrick Reed have also got things going early.
But it’s not the start Tiger Woods would have wanted at two-over through five holes.
Leaderboard
An early look at the 2023 Masters leaderboard below.
Tiger Woods is now in the field having tee off and – importantly – found the first fairway safely with his opening shot of the tournament.
Kevin Na, however, has now officially withdrawn from the tournament, after unfortunately reporting injury.
The king got us underway
Jack Nicklaus was, as ever, part of the honourary golfers to get the 2023 Masters under way at Augusta.
Tiger Woods has already admitted that this – potentially – could be the last time he rocks up to Augusta National with the hope and belief in actually competing to win the Masters.
Now currently out on the range in a crisp white polo and his iconic TW cap, Woods looks to be hitting the ball smoothly and in a relatively composed manner.
Still, the bookmakers certainly do not fancy him. Ahead of his afternoon tee time, Woods is priced at 66/1 for victory on Sunday.
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