Day One Highlights Golf: The Masters

Augusta in April, the colours of spring are everywhere. But the only

shade that matters is green. For the 76 the playing of the Masters

tournament. So Nick Faldo once said that the courses for affection and

it asks perfection of those who want to win. He should know,

because he did it three times and remains the last UK golfer to slip

on the green jacket and joined an exclusive group of champions.

a way to do it. Yes, what a man, a way to do it. Yes, what a man,

what a man. Terrific stuff. He has done it. What a way to finish.

Together, they are golf's big three. Arnold farmer -- Arnold Palmer has

four jackets and Gary Player, the first overseas player to ever win.

And Jack Nicklaus, a six-time champion. At 7:40am, the big three

Ladies and gentlemen, the 2012 Masters is now officially begun.

Have fun. Great to see Arnold Palmer in good health after

suffering a health scare a couple of weeks ago. Fighting fit at 82.

Once the ceremonial duties were over, the competitive business

could begin and it did so in 25 degree heat on the opening day of

the Masters. It might seem like the perfect antidote to the icy blast

of winter that has returned to Great Britain, but on the opening

day we were expecting our own weather event at some point, with

thunderstorms forecast. A relatively soft Augusta National

course. We have had plenty of rain, nearly one-and-a-half inches on

Tuesday. Augusta is not running as hard, and the greens not as fast,

yet, as we know they can do. But the morning starts had glorious

sunshine. Among them at Padraig Harrington, and Steve Stricker, and

Open champion Stuart Cink. Justin Rose is well regarded as his Ricky

Fowler, and the green Jacket winner Trevor Immelman. Charl Schwartzel,

aiming to become the only man in history to win back-to-back titles.

So much expected from Tiger Woods, fresh from his first win on the PGA

Tour in two-and-half years. Make well Angel Jimenez along with them.

And Luke Donald, chasing his first Major title with Francesco Molinari

and Nick Watney for company. 15 players from Great Britain and

Ireland are in this field this year. The most decorated is of course

Padraig Harrington, three-time Padraig Harrington, three-time

winner. He has missed the cut on his last two visits but a stunning

eagle on his second hole tickled him pink. He was beaming. More

prizes than just the jacket on order. A great start for him. We

knew the soft conditions might lead to what Mickelson called a birdie

festival. This on the second, a beautiful long iron approach into

the heart of the green. He will be carrying home some crystal. He made

the part for an eagle. He has had his troubles last few years. --

putt. Four appearances and four missed cuts for Martin Kaymer but

he looks more comfortable this year. This took him to wander. -- 2-under.

And after all the excitement about the return to form of Tiger Woods,

Swinging straight into the pine needles. Not the start you would

want. He certainly minute -- manufactured a fighting par after

this recovering. You can see what it means to them. Did it steady the

ship? No. Even more we would at the second. This is not the start that

he was expecting. Escapology is the name of the games so far for the

Tiger. As we join the action, Martin Kaymer and Henrik Stenson

are leading. Stuart Cink has had an average time of it since winning

the Open. Charl Schwartzel, the defending champion, behind him.

Justin Rose is also among the fancied names, steady through five

holes. And Paul Lawrie, back after eight years, won over as he

negotiates Amen Corner. Tiger Woods has had to take a drop at the

second. He has to putt to save Fortified start, it could have been

four Harrington. He moves to 1- down. An excellent shot forwards. -

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Stenson, second at the 5th. in front of the 4th. Tricky bunker

shot up, but dealt with beautifully. Keegan Bradley! After a torrid

own. And he does. Roaring back to some form this season. In front of

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Henrik Stenson, the leader, 3-under par. Good start from Justin Rose,

even par after seven. Alvaro Quiros, fining -- finding the putting

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surface. Sliding back, though, that second shot here on the 13th, and

finishes it off or in fine style. A magnificent eagle three on the 13th

hole. -- finishes it off in fine law at the 12th, long range. -- 3

absolutely amazing how the ball keeps going. He has nothing to

complain about. He could have been about 5-over now. Henrik Stenson,

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Stenson, who has been in and out of form over the last couple of

seasons, leads the way in the early part of the first round. Lots of

players at 1-under. Paul Lawrie at couldn't! What a shot. There is one

to tell the grandchildren. Two eagles, four calls. It has been

done before, and he is now the Cold that ridge there. A horrible Hull

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was not too happy with it, but that is a three. He will stay out in

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will love that when he comes up. bank. Fisher is not paying

attention to that. The magic clicking fingers to make the ball a

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the lead but second to the 17th. going today. In it for Paul Warren.

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-- Paul Lawrie. One hole left to In she goes for par are 16. Stays

Great opportunity to shoot some in for a bogey and a round of 69. A

bit of a disappointing way to finish but a great start to the

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under par from ten holes. My goodness. One bogey. Two eagles.

Great start. Yes, played solid. I have had three weeks off and I have

had a bit of bronchitis. Not making excuses but it is a tough course to

come back arm. 3-under is a good start. Tell us about the two par

fives at the back nine. I play them all right, to be fair. At 15 I hit

rescue just right in the bunker and chipped it in. What to do now, an

afternoon to relax? I will hit a few balls but not many. Then I will

lie and my backside for the carriage -- on the couch for the

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ricocheted back of the seeds. -- middle of the fairway. Some not bad

is currently tied for third. Apart from Brixton son, not a lot of low

The greens were a sneaky break out there with all the weather and

storms we have had. -- sneaky could get. You had to hit the ball in the

right spots and a couple of times I didn't but I managed to escape with

putting nicely. So it was there for the taking, but we just have to

happened by the time two of the favourites made their putting on

the green. Rory McIlroy Ray, 80. He bounced back seat win the US Open

in record style. Phil Mickelson having a long day because he was

here around 7am to watch the Big Three tee off. He lives all the

traditions of Augusta and it was going to be a heck of a long day

for him. Let's show you some of the key afternoon grips. World number

two, Lee Westwood has had experienced company with Vijay

If you believe in redemption, you Phil Mickelson, three-time champion,

here last out at nearly 2pm. Hunter Mahan has won tries already this

season. -- Price. -- he has won from there. That will test any

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Using the contours. The man who won Phil Mickelson. What an impressive

round from Henrik Stenson. That has gone straight left. The three would

as well, which she is usually so not got himself out of the trees

strong. It is his birthday today. - - straw. Lee Westwood with the

from the Swede. Stenson has played three on the 18th. Justin Rose

three on the 18th. Justin Rose finished a short while ago at 11

par. Level par, good start. Not a good

start, not a bad start. The good start I have had at Augusta have

not panned out well for me. It is after day four let you want to be

in the lead. Even party day, one bogey, one birdie. Kind of but

boring round. That is the benchmark and hopefully I can improve from

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that today. -- finer shot. What you do with this? Putt it? Just on the

fringe, for five. 5-under par, making a meal of it. His 36th

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you do this. A good round goes He likes to make no fuss. 3-under

that one yet. At best, it is going to be an eight. -- finished that

one yet. In round which was fantastic in the opening nine, 5-

under after eight. Going to 6-under cry. It was a perfect front nine

holes, and going steadily on the 3-under par, one to play. The lead

aboard as it stands. Lee Westwood, starting well, one clear of Hunter

Mahan. Paul Lawrie with 69. Henrik Stenson slipped away after that

for Lee Westwood. He will be out in Lovely conditions. We understand

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you saw in the background. And here shots have been errant but he has

recovered well and he is hanging in Choi! He has a grand record here.

He knows the lie of the land. Out in 35, for Tiger Woods, that does

not tell the full story. A disappointing finish, 5-5, two

a popular player. It has been a long course for him today, good,

One of the few successes he has had today. 75 this is total. Lots of

work to do. -- 75 is his total. Molinari, a brilliant up-and-down.

A terrific round of golf. Three- beginning to look like the European

Ryder cup team. Molinari looking good, on 3-under par, along with

Jimenez and Paul Lawrie. Luke Donald, the world No. 1, has had

his troubles. Three-over-par. Let's his troubles. Three-over-par. Let's

get his reflections with Michael Vaughan. I struggle today. I made a

nice birdie at 17, but as benign as the conditions are, 3-under his

only leading. I am only six back, and hopefully I can call low

tomorrow. How has it been arriving to a gusto as the No. 1 player in

the world? It comes with more pressure and expectations. Most of

the talk has been about Rory McIlroy and Tiger. I have been able

to go about business. It was not the start I wanted but hopefully I

Can he finished with a birdie? -- finish it. A double bogey, but what

a comeback. One-under-par. Isn't here, he had the lead last year. --

back. Way into the trees. Still Held a large lead last year until

it. There pointing over there. Perhaps it is over to the right,

perhaps he went through the fairway. underneath a whole, just on the

back. It was a fantastic recovery. His first one went right down the

left. His provisional is flirting with danger. Nearly in the bushes.

All sorts of problems. This for a birdie four Jason Dufner. He moves

It is incredible this game. Mickelson is hunting for his first

tee shot on the 10th, which was way into the trees. Many of them are

That could have been stone dead for an eagle. A birdie will be good

was made more difficult. And there is another. That is all down Hill,

that bunker shot and he is way down it is going to be a big, at least

seven for Mickelson. And yes, it is early in the tournament that you

can put yourself right out of contention with a big number on the

but he has to hit it well left to the top of the tee and let gravity

that short, and I am sure he doesn't. He has hit two really good

shots in a row and now he has got a champion who has never made the cut

here in his previous three attempts to take the lead on his own. And he

has! Louis Oosthuizen, what a round from the South African. 68,

outright leader as it stands. A champion of Louis Oosthuizen he is

attempting to follow Charl Schwartzel, fellow South African.

But Westwood, too, with a chance to deserved the four there. Great

second shot and a really good first You must be delighted? You s, it is

a great early lead. Your previous experiences here at the Masters

have not been special, 73 your best score. A today I played a lot

better. Not been a great so novas. Yes, working -- walking in on the

Monday you get to Goose bumps but it is a great experience and it is

nice coming in with a bit of form. Over the last year, how much have

you been pestering Charl to a win on this golf course? Not much. I

would rather watch the ball to drop him playing but yes, it has been

great having him as Masters champion and I am just trying to do

shot over the water on the 15th, 240 yards. Right over the Plaid, a

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fantastic form recently. Moved to here on the 13th. That was for a

par. That will feel like a double bogey for McIlroy. Slipped back to

fairway today. A superb effort from Lee Westwood. It was forecast, it

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was for told. It is closing in and shots. He has struck the ball quite

domestically today. Two putts into Vijay gets a birdied. A rare smile

effort and it is going to be a very good round. He knows it. It really

has been a superb round. Missed a couple of fairways, just one green.

A lovely run of birdies. 5, 6, 7 leads. Westwood in with a 67. He

has never led a Major after the first round but he may well here,

unless something miraculous happens. Out of ten how it good was that

today? For pretty good. My lowest ever score here. I'm pretty pleased.

It was the control of the golf ball. Fairways hit, greens in regulation.

Did you feel from the first minute that you have control? Yes, I had

the ball well on the range and I continued of the first tier. My

putting it was good today. I rolled some nice putts in from six feet to

ten feet, which you need to, but I was missing a lot of their way so I

did have a lot of control. My hind shots are pretty accurate at the

moment. The last three months, the preparation, has it all been geared

towards these four days? Since the PGA Championships in August. I BMI

season around the Majors. You are looking in mighty fine shape. I

said to you the other day that I feel you could go on the front

cover of Men's Health magazine! am not sure about that! I have

tried to do a lot of fitness work boat. I am 39 in a few days time so

I have to try to get -- keep up with these young lads who come out

here without any aches and pains. So to stay competitive is hard work

and that starts in the gym. Well done today and that's all

HAZEL IRVINE: Rory McIlroy rivals are -- one over coming to the 13th

but he showed his mettle. This one was for birdie at the 17th. Backs

the most improved area of his game in the last 12 months. That rolls

into taking level. And he has worked on his putting so hard over

the last few months with Dave done. Rory McIlroy, 1-under for his

round. Only four it off Westwood's A really good finish. It was. I

needed it. It was not the best of starts. I kept hanging in there. To

finish with two threes, to finish under-par for the day, I am pleased.

What was going through your mind on the tenth tee? Not that much. I was

just crying it -- just drying to keep it right. It headed into the

rough but I had to move on. How has it been coming back to the Augusta

after what happened last year? has been OK. I have had to talk

about lusty quite a lot and I was glad that the golf has started and

I could get at all out of the way. I was just waiting for Thursday to

come around and I'm just happy to get off to a decent start. You must

be happy you have got a foundation to build on. Definitely. If I shot

a couple over today it just makes you drop harder for the next three

days. It is definitely a score I Lawrie, after an eight year gap,

So plenty to mull over, as they look forward to their rounds in the

second phase of this Masters tournament, and we will be with you

for highlights of round two gearing up for live coverage of

round two in about an hour. Do not forget that live television

coverage. It is all the action live, all weekend from Saturday and