AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) A short look Thursday at the opening circular of the Masters:
HEAD: Jordan Spieth birdied five directly holes beginning at the 13th along the way to a 6-under 66.
CHASING: Tony a2z Finau and Matt Kuchar are two strokes at the rear of after shooting 68s, while the team at 69 includes Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson .
HARD GUY: Finau turned in a spectacular round just 24 hours after dislocating his left ankle while partying a hole-in-one during the Par several Contest.
TOUGH GAP: Defending champion Sergio Garcia photo himself out of tournament at the fifteenth hole, where he dumped five directly balls into the water. He completed with a 13, equaling the report for the highest score ever on the Masters hole.
GAMBLING WATCH: Padraig harrington returned to the Experts for the first time since 2015 and photo a 73, leading him 7 shots off the lead.
GRAND SLAM: McIlroy posted their second-best score in the opening circular in 10 Masters appearances. He or she opened with a 65 in 2011 yet threw away a comfortable lead that will year with a final-round 80. McIlroy needs only a victory at Augusta National to become just the sixth gamers to complete the career Grand Slam.
KEY STATISTIC: Spieth had taken only 10 putts on the back again nine.
NOTEWORTHY: Spieth has played 17 rounds in the Masters career. This was the 6th time he’ s shot within the 60s.
QUOTEWORTHY: ” I know as well as anybody that anything at all can happen at Augusta National. ” – Spieth, whose bid to get a second straight green jacket within 2016 ended with a Sunday failure on the back side.
TELEVISION: Friday, 3-7: 30 l. m. (ESPN).
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