Jordan Spieth kept up his hot play on the PGA Tour with a brilliant opening round at the Masters, shooting an 8-under 64 Thursday for a two-shot lead.
Spieth birdied eight of the first 14 holes, his shots so precise that he often had nothing more than tap-ins with the putter. He rolled in a 6-footer at the 12th, a 2-footer at the 13th, then nearly holed out from behind a tree along the 14th fairway, the ball striking the flagstick before settling about 2 feet away for another easy birdie.
The 21-year-old Texan went to the par-5 15th with a shot at the major championship scoring record, which is 63. His tee shot was perfect — right in the middle of the fairway, well within reach of the green with the second shot.
But, perhaps overcome by adrenaline, Spieth powered his approach past the green, came up short coming back with his chip, and a tentative putt form the fringe led to his only bogey.
He closed with three straight pars, giving him the top spot on the leaderboard heading to Friday's second round.
Jason Day made five straight birdies to get to 6 under with two holes to play. Charley Hoffman, Justin Rose and Ernie Els had 67s.
5:45 p.m.
The adrenaline might have gotten to Jordan Spieth, who had a shot to break the major championship scoring record Thursday when he birdied eight of the first 14 holes at the Masters. He was in good position for another birdie, maybe even an eagle, when he drove into the middle of the fairway at the par-5 15th hole.
But Spieth's approach shot flew the green, nearly rolling into the pond on the 16th hole. Forced to play it safe with more water in front of the 15th green, his chip came up short, and a tentative putt from the fringe led to his first bogey of the day.
That dropped his score to 7 under, still good enough for a two-stroke lead but needing at least two birdies on the final three holes to tie the scoring record, which is 63.
5:14 p.m.
Jordan Spieth is probably the hottest player on the PGA Tour.
The 21-year-old Texan carried that form right to the Masters.
Spieth claimed the outright lead Thursday with eight birdies on the first 14 holes. His shots were so precise, he had taken only 18 putts to that point. He nearly holed out from behind a tree at No. 14, the ball bouncing off the flagstick to set up nothing more than a tap-in for his third straight birdie.
In fact, the combined length of his birdie putts at Nos. 13 and 14 was about a yard.
Spieth was in position to possibly break the Masters scoring record, which is a 9-under 63.
This is not the least bit surprising.
Even though much of the pre-Masters focus was on Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, Spieth was a popular pick based on his recent play. In his last three events, he has a win, a runner-up finish, and lost in a playoff.
Spieth also showed last year in his Masters debut that he's got the game
to do well at Augusta National. He had the lead on the final day, but
faded down the stretch as Bubba Watson took the green jacket.