AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) The most recent on the first round of the Experts on Thursday (all times local):
10: 50 the. m.
Tiger Woods has teed off at the Masters for the first time within three years.
The 42-year-old Woods was first off the first tee in his group, which includes Marc Leishman and Tommy Fleetwood . Woods pulled the 3-wood left into the pine hay, a common landing spot for him through the years at Augusta National.
Woods had the typically massive gallery following him to start the particular tournament. No surprise given it’ ersus his first competitive round from Augusta since 2015. Woods continues to be away from golf for much of the previous few years because of his four back again surgeries. The Masters is their first major since the PGA Tournament in August 2015.
Only last year, Woods had problems just sitting through the dinner in the Masters Club of past winners because of pain from his back shooting down his legs. That will hurt about as much as being at Augusta National without his clubs for your second straight year, not knowing whenever or even if he would return.
Woods has been competitive in a number of events since his return this year.
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10: 25 a. m.
Tony Finau says he is ” optimistic” after a ” crazy day” at the Masters.
Finau dislocated his left ankle partying a hole-in-one during the Par-3 Competition on Wednesday and then popped it in return into place.
X-rays were negative. Finau was planned for more tests Thursday before teeing off (12: 43 p. mirielle. ) in the first round from Augusta National.
” Crazy day, ” he submitted on his Twitter account. ” Nice thoughts of concern, messages and praying from all. I’ m positive. ”
Finau travelled the back of the seventh green over the Par-3 course and spun it in return into the hole for an ace. Using the running toward the hole in order to celebrate, then turned and backpedaled before landing awkwardly on his still left ankle. He dropped to one leg and ended up pushing the mutual back into place.
Finau, ranked No . 34 in the world, trapped around for the final two openings and then gingerly walked to a golfing cart and was driven from the course.
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8: 15 a. meters.
The 82nd Experts has begun.
Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player officially obtained the tournament started Thursday early morning with the ceremonial tee shot.
Player, 82, took the very first swing followed by the 78-year-old Nicklaus under a clear, sunny sky using the temperature in the 40s. It is likely to be in the high 60s by the mid-day.
Augusta National leader Fred Ridley told the masses crammed around the first tee just how privileged they were to have the duo along with nine green jackets to start the particular tournament.
Wesley Bryan , Austin Cook , Ted Potter Junior . were the first group in order to tee off when play started.
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4: 45 a. m.
No matter where Ian Poulter transforms, there’ s someone with an outstretched hand and congratulatory words.
Certainly, no one took a far more harrowing path to the Masters.
The 42-year-old Englishman was your last player to qualify for the very first major of the year, winning final weekend’ s Houston Open in the playoff after sinking a 20-foot birdie on the 72nd hole.
” Nice putt, ” someone said as Poulter lingered under the mammoth oak tree ahead of the clubhouse at Augusta National.
He responded with an underhanded wink and a smile that signaled more relief than joy.
” To do it the way I did so it, after all the disappointments, all of the highs and lows, it’ t really nice, ” Poulter said within the eve of the Masters.
When the tournament begins Thursday, you will see no shortage of compelling storyline’ t.
Tiger Woods is actively playing for the first time since 2015, healthy once again and looking very much ready to deal for a fifth green jacket. Phil Mickelson is coming off a global Golf Championship victory and aiming to become the oldest Masters champion at 47. Rory McIlroy is trying to complete the career Grand Slam. Sergio Garcia is the defending champion. Dustin Johnson is the world’ s top-ranked player. Justin Thomas has 7 wins since the beginning of 2017. Jordan Spieth already has 3 major titles, including the 2015 Experts.
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