Jason Day and Adam Scott lead a strong Australian contingent after the opening round of the Masters at Augusta National.
Day, the 2015 PGA champion, shot a bogey-free round of 67, highlighted by a fine save at the par-four 18th after his drive found trouble on the left.
Scott opened with four-under round of 68, his only bogey of the day coming at the last after his drive found the trees on the right.
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Day is in a tie for fourth, while Scott is tied for sixth.
Three players, Viktor Hovland, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka, share the lead at seven-under, after opening rounds of 65.
“It’s probably my best ever opening round,” said Scott, who won here in 2013.
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“So I have to be satisfied with that. But it was ideal conditions, still fairly soft out there with all the humidity and there were going to be low scores. There’s no wind. So it was nice to get started in the right direction.”
Scott noted it was particularly important to be in a good position early, given the poor weather forecast. Rain is predicted for the latter part of the second round and all of the third round.
The 2023 Masters Tournament is live on Nine and 9Now from April 7-10.
“We just don’t know what’s going to happen and how the weather might affect the rest of the week,” Scott said.
“So if you’re hanging around right from the start on a week like this it’s probably helpful.”
Reigning Open champion Cameron Smith is also well placed, after a solid two-under par round of 70.
The two other Aussies, Min Woo Lee and the amateur Harrison Crowe, both have work to do to make the cut, after opening with rounds of 75.
Lee’s round unravelled on the second nine, with a bogey at the par-five 13th followed by a double bogey six at the 14th.
Crowe, meanwhile, bogeyed the final two holes of his round.
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Masters champions of this century: Winners at Augusta National 2000-present, from Tiger Woods to Adam Scott and Scottie Scheffler
