AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) The most recent on the first round of the Experts on Thursday (all times local):
11: 55 the. m.
Tiger Woods has their first birdie at the Masters within nearly three years.
Hardwoods almost drove the green in the par-4 No . 3, pitched in order to about 10 feet and produced the putt to set off an enormous ” Tiger Roar” at Augusta National.
It was Woods’ first competitive birdie at the well known course since April 12, 2015, at No . 15 in the last round of the Masters. He completed tied for 17th.
Woods gave the stroke back again on the next hole when their tee shot found a greenside bunker. He chipped out plus missed a 20-footer for k?rester.
Playing partner Marc Leishman was leading the event from 2 under.
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10: 25 the. m.
Tony Finau states he is ” optimistic” after a ” crazy day” at the Masters.
Finau dislocated his still left ankle celebrating a hole-in-one throughout the Par-3 Tournament on Wednesday and after that popped it back into place.
X-rays were negative. Finau was scheduled for more tests Thurs before teeing off (12: 43 p. m. ) in the very first round at Augusta National.
” Crazy day, ” he posted on his Twitter accounts. ” Thanks for thoughts of concern, text messages and prayers from all. I’ m optimistic. ”
Finau flew the back of the 7th green on the Par-3 course plus spun it back into the hole to have an ace. He started running toward the particular hole to celebrate, then flipped and backpedaled before landing awkwardly on his left ankle. He slipped to one knee and ended up pressing the joint back into place.
Finau, ranked No . thirty four in the world, stuck around for the last two holes and then gingerly strolled to a golf cart and has been driven off the course.
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8: fifteen a. m.
The particular 82nd Masters has begun.
Jack Nicklaus and Gary Gamer officially got the tournament began Thursday morning with the ceremonial first tee shot.
Player, 82, took the first swing followed by the particular 78-year-old Nicklaus under a clear, sunlit sky with the temperature in the forties. It is expected to be in the high sixties by the afternoon.
Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley informed the crowd crammed around the 1st tee how privileged they were to get the duo with nine green spencer to start the tournament.
Wesley Bryan , Austin Prepare , Ted Potter Jr . were the very first group to tee off whenever play began.
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4: 45 the. m.
No matter where Ian Poulter turns, there’ s somebody with an outstretched hand and congratulatory words.
Certainly, nobody took a more harrowing path to the particular Masters.
The 42-year-old Englishman was the last player in order to qualify for the first major of the calendar year, winning last weekend’ s Houston Open in a playoff after settling a 20-foot birdie on the 72nd hole.
” Good putt, ” someone said since Poulter lingered under the mammoth walnut tree in front of the clubhouse at Augusta National.
He replied with a sly wink and a grin that signaled more relief compared to joy.
” To obtain the way I did it, after all the particular disappointments, all the highs and levels, it’ s really nice, ” Poulter said on the eve of the Experts.
When the tournament starts Thursday, there will be no shortage of convincing storyline’ s.
Padraig harrington is playing for the first time since 2015, healthy again and looking greatly ready to contend for a fifth eco-friendly jacket. Phil Mickelson is arriving off a World Golf Championship triumph and trying to become the oldest Experts champion at age 47. Rory McIlroy is looking to complete the career Great Slam. Sergio Garcia is the protecting champion. Dustin Johnson is the world’ s top-ranked player. Justin Jones has seven wins since the starting of 2017. Jordan Spieth currently has three major titles, such as the 2015 Masters.
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