Day One Highlights Golf: The Masters

Here we go. What a moment. You little beauty! This, to win. There

it is. A life changer! Finally he gets the green jacket! It was right

here 12 months ago that Adam Scott made a major breakthrough for

himself and his country, becoming the first Australian to win a green

jacket. He is for ever associated with this, one of the most iconic

venues of any sport in the world. Welcome back to the Masters

tournament, played in golfing perfection here in Georgia. This is

the first year without an injured Tiger Woods, but that did not stand

in the way of the traditional opening morning. Ladies and

gentlemen, Mr Arnold Palmer. Ladies and gentlemen, from South Africa, Mr

Gary Player. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Jack

Nicklaus. Oh, boy! I meant to do this for real again, and Mike? ! --

am I? ! Ladies and gentlemen, the 2014

Masters has officially begun. Everyone have done. And we would

love to see all three of them walking down that their weight. Jack

hit the ball the furthest. Adam Scott flirted with the bunkers,

finishing just in the pine straw. A wry smile from his caddy.

Traditionally, the reigning champion accompanies the amateur champions.

In this case it is Matt Fitzpatrick. He made double bogey. Scott had a

chance to overtake Tiger Woods. He had the perfect approach to the

first green. A stunning effort. His first birdie of the week. So, we

still have half of beef will to head out. This was how the early

leaderboard looked. Let us head out onto the fairways of

a cluster to join our commentators. At the 13th of it is Kevin Stadler

with a birdie chance. He has gone to 2-under par. Matthew

Fitzpatrick now. The youngest on the field. Delightfully done. A shaky

start, but this brings a smile to his face. A big day for him. Jonas

Blixt at the 13th. He is playing off the side hill. He is 3-under par. He

cracks one away. That looks like a beauty. Of the slope. Watch this for

a bit of pace. It is too far to go when. The green looks a little bit

shaky. Time for an eagle. This is the short par-4 four Rory McIlroy.

Delightfully done. Good nerve. A rousing reception for him. After

that wonderful second shot at the 13th, this for an eagle? No, he

didn't do it. He stays 3-under par. Jimenez now. 1-under par. You little

beauty! 2-under par. He looks like a grand prix driver, doesn't he? Well

done. Right in the middle. Well done.

4-under par. He leads the way. The 1988 champion Sandy Lyle is third.

First birdie at the 2nd. And a birdie at the 3rd again. Can Jimenez

do it again? He can! 3-under par. Difficult to get the ball on this

one for Adam Scott. He has done it. He is about eight yards wide. Nicely

judged from the defending champion. Rory McIlroy at the 5th.

A beauty therefore Rory McIlroy. -- there for Rory McIlroy.

Unlucky. A little bit too much pace. Back to 3-under, but still a good

opener. Anything over 14 inches is definitely not a tap in. In she goes

for Adam Scott. 2-under par. And there is the leaderboard.

Early days yet. We are in the opening hours of the first day of

the 78th Masters. Sandy Lyle full. Not another one. That is a rare

birdie you get at the 4th. That is a dream start for him. 3-under par. I

can't believe it. He played in 1988. Jimenez at the 9th for a birdie.

4-under! Kevin Stadler for eight par at the

last. Playing with his dad, the 1982 champion. His dad will be pleased.

Adam Scott playing up to the eighth. Look at that!

A slightly disappointing finish for Jonas fixed. -- Jonas Blixt.

Kevin Stadler had one of the best rounds earlier on. Letters here what

he had to say. What was it like playing Agusta today with all be

rich family history. It was great. There was a long lead up. How

pleased were you with your performance? All in all, it was

about what I deserved, so it was a good start. It has been pretty tidy

so far for Adam Scott. The under for the defending champion. Very nice.

-- 3-under. He drops a shot. Where is that one of two? Everyone

is stunned. -- where is that one of two?

A nice recovery there. That means 1-under par.

Stricker now. This is for par. Very nice. He remains 2-under par.

McIlroy, seeing if he can save his par. I thought he had. That will

feel like a couple of shots going there at the eighth, the par-5. Well

within his reach. Slips back to 1-under par.

The turtles basking in the sunlight in the back and a great round so far

for Jiminez. Problems with this, though, for par.

Over to the 6th, Stephen Gallacher, 172 yards, you have to go right at

it. And that is fantastic. On the 12th. Jiminez, coming off the

back of that bogey. 158 yards today, the pin is back right, a menacing

par-3. Oh, stay there. Settle. Do a

Couples. Hang on... Do anything. It is gone. It is all coming rather

unstuck for Jiminez around Amen Corner.

Gallacher seizes the opportunity to make birdie after that terrific shot

into number six. Well holed, 2-under par.

Looking mightily impressive, the defending champion. Had a loose

opening drive today but since then, very, very solid. It is a quick putt

down there, but it is another chance for Adam Scott.

Gary Woodland for birdie on the 15th. The long hitting Woodland.

Well done, there. No one hit more greens in regulation

than Adam Scott last year. When he won, he won on this green. Look how

quick that putt is. Beautifully judged, with the long stick. Adam

Scott heads to 4-under par. Out in front.

So that is the way it sits at the moment. Adam Scott is two shots

ahead of that group. Kevin Stadler and Jonas Blixt have finished their

rounds. Stephen Gallacher on his debut, going well. Fred Couples, has

he ever played badly at Augusta? Patrick Reed alongside Rory McIlory.

The youngsters with different levels of experience around here. Sandy

Lyle at 1-under as well. Very good from the veteran. Matt Kuchar,

1-under, another man who has been favoured.

Bill Haas. That is well holed. A difficult putt. He gets to 3-under

par. Up the hill on the 11th firing

downhill towards the green. That is a beautiful shot. Aiming

probably just about there, not flirting with the flag, but he is on

song today, Adam Scott. To the opening hole, Phil

Mickelson. Three-time champion. Crowd favourite.

Just loves it here. That is always a good sign, when you

bend over that quickly to grab your tee. Yes, and that's perfect.

Adam Scott is fairly close, he will get his putt. Fitzpatrick, doing

very well since that bogey at the first. -- double bogey. Very

impressed with this performance from the US amateur champion, the man

from Sheffield. To the 15th, Fred Couples, to get to

2-under par. That is beautifully done. He knew it was in.

Murmurs from the crowd. And that wasn't close. A couple of people

have been fooled here and Adam Scott starting to struggle, perhaps.

Louis Oosthuizen for birdie after a beautiful wedge shot at the eighth.

Yes, nicely holed. 2-under par for Oosthuizen and a good start.

Adam Scott's third shot, he found the water off the tee at the 12th.

Hoping to drop just the one stroke. His first error of the day.

Snedeker at the 15th for birdie and this is fast.

Slow down. It is actually gathering speed. Oh, nice!

Oh. Amazing. Second-most difficult hole today, so far, the 12th, and

Adam Scott drops two. Back to 2-under. What a shame, just

a slight misjudgement with his first one.

Very difficult hole to get close to. You've got to go right at it, got to

be pin high. And that is fantastic. What a great shot by Snedeker.

The 18th, 3-over par bogey putt for Ian Poulter, not been a game he

would have liked but in the bottom of the cup. 4-over par 76.

Snedeker to convert for birdie after that terrific shot. Look at the

break. Oh, yes! Just hangs on. Snedeker to 3-under par.

HAZEL IRVINE: This is Ian Poulter's tenth attempt at the Masters. He

missed the cut last year and he has got real work to do if he wants to

be here for the weekend after a 4-over par 76. Let's hear from Ian.

What happened today that you can put right tomorrow? I need to make some

birdies, dead simple. I actually didn't do that much wrong today. Got

a little unfortunate at eight, kind of pulled my tee shot at 13 and you

don't have to do that much wrong when this golf course to be

punished. -- around this golf course. I hit pretty good recovery

shot and I didn't take my 8-foot par opportunities, to keep my round

together. If I do the good stuff like I've done today and take some

chances, then I will get back in this tournament. Ian, thank you very

much for your time. Good luck tomorrow. Thank you.

Adam Scott for his two-putt birdie. Just just missed it. He looks so

shocked there. That is a lost opportunity, after two fantastic

shots, to get an eagle. Adam Scott walks off to par on the 16th.

Disappointed. Almost on the verge of having to

move this, Bill Haas, the camera angle is a little misleading. Coming

up straight at it. That was an 8-iron he launched that right up in

the air, right at it. And there is the release. Beautifully played by

Bill Haas. McIlroy not laying up. A little bit

further down than Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed.

He has hoisted it miles in the air going right to left. And a terrific

shot from McIlroy, where Adam Scott was earlier. Chance for eagle for

Rory. This for the round of the day so

far, this for a 68 for Bill Haas. In she goes, out on his own, Bill Haas.

Dropped a shot at the 17th, but that was his only blemish after his bogey

at the first. Plenty of birdies in there as well. The putter was hot

for Bill Haas today, he is the leader.

McIlroy, then, eagle putt. We saw this for Adam Scott, his attempt

wandered way off to the left. McIlroy seems to have judged it

better. Beautiful putt. But look at it now. Leaves himself the uphiller

for the birdie. Dubuisson, Victor, at the 6th.

2-over. That isn't what the French were

anticipating and hoping. But that is better. Spun out! Victor, that was

some shot. So near. Have another look at this. Watch it bounce, jump

and look, look, look. Ooh, unlucky. Unlucky. But a certain two.

Garcia. On the seventh for his three. Yes, the putter continues to

work. Garcia, many people tipping him to finally get the major. A

couple of bogeys in there but three birdies.

This tee shot of Dubuisson, without the pin in the hole, it would have

been in for a one. But the man from Cannes, or from Nice now, in the

south of France, in his first Masters, gets back to 1-over par

after six. Now, can McIlroy get his birdie on

the 15th? Monster drive, towering second

shot, two good putts. That is how you treat the par fives on the back

nine. Back to 2-under par. Snedeker on the 18th, he of the

short, quick swing. Ooh, it just... That is a round of 70. He is the 6th

player thus far to score 70. Oosthuizen at the 12th. He and his

caddie, much deliberation about the club. Why, I don't know, there is

not a breath of wind. It should be simple enough, the

160-odd yards today. And it came up at least a club short. I find it

staggering that they should make such elementary errors on such a

perfect day. Bill Haas with that 68, son of Jay

Haas, who finished second 20 years ago. -- finished third. His great

uncle won the 1968 Masters. Defending champion Adam Scott with

three holes to go. Rory McIlory on the first page of the leaderboard

with two holes to go. Now, from the drop zone or thereabouts, Louis

Oosthuizen in the water, we saw him in the water, Scott in the water, a

few players misjudging it. So that will be to drop just one shot.

Lee Westwood on the 6th, 1-over par. They like it. Online. And a beauty.

Very difficult to get close at the 6th hole. Fine shot.

Oosthuizen to drop one at 12. Found the water. A few have done today.

First real mistake today, going well, despite that bad back of his.

Lee Westwood for a birdie at the 6th.

Smooth, smooth, smooth. And beautifully done. A two.

Another one he has just launched straight up in the air. Oh, boy.

That little bit of extra grass caused him to misjudge that. That is

quite a bit uphill. Mickelson on what has become the

difficult seventh. That is gone. It is all the way off the green.

It is extremely difficult to judge. Plus, they tend to cut the fringe

grass towards you and the ball hops and skips and it makes it difficult.

As you said, very difficult to judge. Well, that is just OK.

Mickelson making a mess of the seventh. Just barely off the green.

He pitched it all the way of the green. This is a triple bogey seven.

Well done on the 14th two Adam Scott for the 2-part par.

Not bad. He got off to a slightly slow start with a double bogey at

the 1st. The seventh green is proving troublesome for Justin Rose.

He seemed to get a nice, clean contact. And excellent shot from

there. Not the easiest of two putts. Adam Scott, just the one

blemish, but a tidy start to the defence of his Masters title? Can he

go back to back? Adam, many people would be happy

with an opening rounds of 69 at Agusta. What do you think? It was

great. I played really well. I love the couple out there, but I am not

complaining. What was it like playing a competitive round as the

defending champion? It was great. I enjoyed every moment of it. The

applause was just a little bit more than ever before. It was certainly

appreciated. I had a great time. This looks pretty good. No, it just

carries on that little bit extra. Patrick Read. Frustrating finish for

him. Bogey, bogey, bogey. Not the cleanest scorecard ever, but it is a

dream come true for Patrick to get to play in the Masters. Just a bit

of a rough finish. Burst time he has ever three parted the 18th.

There is a sort of deathly hush now around the 18th. Dinner will taste a

lot better if this goes in. Raking part, 71. -- breaking par, 71.

The British amateur champion. Well done to Eric Porteous. It is back to

4-over. And on this opening day it is the

31-year-old from North Carolina Bill Haas who leads the way. He has made

a very good start. 18 of them are under-par and Marie McIlroy has

started with a round under-par as well. Let's get his thoughts on

that. 71 seems a good score. How do you

assess it? 71 was pretty good today. It was a difficult day, especially

for a Thursday. The greens have not got that fast, but they are drying

out and getting faster, especially with the wind position, anything on

the part is great. Could you feel the greens trying out? Yes, you

really could. From the 14th and 15th, you could feel them drying

out. How much do you have two brain in your natural attacking instinct

out of respect for Agusta? A lot. I did a good job of that today. What a

scene that is. Stephen Gallacher is having a shot of the green. That is

a gem. What a wonderful shot. 19-year-old Matthew Fitzpatrick had

a tough start alongside Adam Scott, but one or two shining moments.

Let's hear from him. Quite simply, how was that? It was

tough. After my double bogey on the first, it was hard to get back. Just

a birdie on the second calmed my nerves a bit. There were some shots

in the middle of the round that cost me. A bit disappointing, but fairly

happy. Oh, no! Slightly longer and much more difficult. It has been an

untidy round for a couple of the players.

Inside lift. He was raised there. A birdie, and he deserved a birdie. He

moves into bread figures. In she goes for the Frenchman! A birdie on

the ninth hole. He is not to be denied here. That is the way to

finish. Back to level in his first Masters. Steady, steady!

Treacherous. This is fiddly for the Dustin Johnson. Not too pretty so

far. That is very well done. Very well done indeed. Not much of a

raw, the crowd is a long way away, but that was very well done indeed.

This ties in for a birdie to go to 3-under. -- Louis Oosthuizen.

Are you kidding me? Yes! A miracle. What a hits-macro! -- what a putt!

That was quite remarkable. Come home in 30 now, Phil.

It is worth another look. It seems to have gone past the hole here.

Watch how it turns right and comes back on itself and almost like Tiger

at the 16th. He can't believe it either. A wonderful look of

amazement on his boyish face. And it is a three. It jolly well is! That

was just fantastic. What a putt. A longish bunker shot now forced even

Gallacher. That is terrific. That was well judged. Bubba Watson at the

13th. It just notched its way to the

right. The greens have had a lot to do with today's high-scoring.

Two players have broken 70. I thought there would be a whole

gaggle of them under 70. Very good first round. 70 and a quarter

Stephen Gallacher. -- 71 fourth Stephen Gallacher. Oh, my goodness!

There is a raw for you! That is a guaranteed crystal. Fantastic

therefrom standing by. -- San mean by.

The difficult birdie opportunity, but he has done it. Louis Oosthuizen

to save par. Oh, no. He has given it a wrap.

He totally misjudged the speed on the first one and misread the

second. A disappointing bogey for Louis Oosthuizen.

Marc Leishman to get into the red figures. Beautifully done. And Marc

Leishman onto 1-under par. Oosthuizen's second shot. Maybe the

finest swinger of the golf club in the game today. That is effortless

power. Well judged. Perfectly pin high.

Dustin. Something went wrong with his drive. He's duffed it. He's

chunked it. We talked about this earlier, maybe the most difficult

third shot in of golf. Off a down slope, an awkward yardage and

sometimes it can make a fool of you, even the best players. That was

ugly. Oosthuizen played a terrific second shot here, now a great

opportunity for birdie. This would be a wonderful round for

Oosthuizen. Get in. Yes, indeed. Oosthuizen with

the closing three and that will give him a round of 69, only the third

man to score under 70 after Bill Haas and Adam Scott. And for a man

who has been really struggling with a back injury, that is wonderful

stuff. He went back to a yardage he was

much happier with. He made the mistake of laying up too close, he's

going to pay the price. HAZEL IRVINE: Louis Oosthuizen has

had an absolutely dreadful year, with cortisone injections in his

back, he has been fighting injury and, in fact, hardly played at all

in the majors of 2013. He missed the cut here 12 months ago. So it is

terrific to see the return to form of a former Open champion.

3-under today, how pleased are you with that? Very pleased, a good

start, but a lot of golf to go. The greens were really, really slick

this afternoon, so you can expect the next three days to be really

firm and fast so you have got to get yourself in the right spot.

Dustin on the 15th. This for six, though. Paying the price for a

horrible third shot, little wedge shot, just chunked it, very heavy

into the water, and this is two shots on a hole where you would

expect to pick up. Bernhard Langer, the evergreen

Bernhard. Second to 17. Bubba Watson, the chance of a three

at 15. It will be a birdie. And the

champion from two years ago is looking mighty fine.

Now, Mickelson, let's see how deft his hands are. Down the slope. It

needs to go. It will gather pace. Beautifully judged by a man who has

been round this course 100 times before and more.

Bubba Watson, just hung it out there with his eagle putt but a birdie,

and the winner of 2012 goes 3-under par.

Mickelson for his birdie. A little pitch down to here.

So birdie on the 10th, birdie on the 13th. He has been clawing his way

back in after that horror show on the seventh.

Francesco Molinari playing well at the moment. This for a two on the

16th. Molinari rolls it in. He is on an upslope and he has a

little loft here. Has to be careful he doesn't pop it in the air too

high. Very nicely done. Played it well. A

magical break. He can't get out, he is stranded!

Another massive tee shot from Bubba. His second at the 17th, coming from

the ionosphere and landing. Like a bag of sugar. Terrific shot, he is

playing some wonderful golf this afternoon. Only three players so far

have broken 70 and he is well on the way to doing that.

Westwood. What a birdie this would be. Turn. And look at that go. Look

at that one go. Quick, staccato looking putting

stroke. Difficult to read this one, very

tricky to read. Has he read it? Well, Phil has battled his way back.

He has left himself a tricky left-to-righter here for his par at

the 14th. Shame. Second shot didn't deserve a

dropped stroke but he goes to 2-over, par-5 to come.

Now roll this one. Yes, gets his five. A little bit of luck and then

a whole lot of skill deserved it. A working man's par, they used to call

that. The difficulty of this one is it is

on a downslope and some of the grass is quite tight and against you,

perhaps. Mickelson tested. Mickelson's Masters is unravelling

in the very first round. It is a rather sad end here at the

18th for Bernhard Langer, his fourth shot. Going along so nicely. Get in

there, Langer, what a finish. A smile from the 56-year-old. Level

par round of 72 for the two-time champion, wonderful stuff. I think

that is one of the rounds of the day, myself. Took five at 12,

dropped two shots there, and to get round in level par, well, younger

and more promising players are taking 76 and 77. Well done, young

sir. Fifth shot coming up. It is a par-5...

A chance. HAZEL IRVINE: Bernhard Langer, at

56, coming home with 72, a remarkable finish, as you saw at the

18th. He was in contention on the last day 12 months ago, do you

remember? Let's hear from him at the start of this campaign.

72, how good a score was that today? It was pretty good, it was tough out

there today. The wind was swelling, as Augusta is known for, especially

around Amen Corner. It got me today, I got wet, I was 3/411 and 12. I got

a birdie on ten, that was a bonus. I am glad I got it together, I was

ticked off, I had played ten holes solidly at 1-under and then blew

three shots on two holes but I've fought back nicely and very pleased

to finish on even par. What fresh horrors for Mickelson?

This is to drop just one. Oh, dear. Hadn't had a bogey at the

15th hole in the Masters since 2,000, an astonishing statistic --

since the year 2000. He still won't have a bogey, it is a double bogey.

A long way to go is the best way to look at it but two sevens on his

card. Lee Westwood, this is sadly for a

par. Way left, a whisker too hard. It stays out and they dropped shot.

-- a dropped shot. Bubba Watson can tap this in for a

bogey free 69. Terrific round of golf from Bubba today. Tied for

second place with Adam Scott and Oosthuizen. That is a pretty clean

scorecard, right there. As clean as it gets, three birdies and no bogeys

for Bubba Watson. HAZEL IRVINE: In contrast to Watson,

Luke Donald's round got worse. When he came off the 18th, a two shot

penalty for grounding his club in a bunker at the ninth, so he would

have to sign for an eight there and 7-over par round of 79 in total. As

for his compatriot, Lee Westwood, this was a par putt at the 18th. He

was in a greenside bunker earlier. So this one to finish off for an

even par round. Just slide spy. So an opening round of 73, the man from

Worksop appearing in his 64th major championship, a relatively clean

round and clean trousers to after a flirtation with the creek earlier.

Here is how he felt about it. I'm sure you will be annoyed at the

bogey on 18, but had you think you played? I played well, really solid.

If I can shoot a low score tomorrow, I am not far away, I can get into

the tournament properly. It is always important to take moments of

fortune here, you got one at 13. From your perspective, how important

is it to make those kind? Well, you know, if you are going to score well

around Augusta, you make the most of the par-5s, which I didn't today, so

tomorrow, I will try and get two or 3-under on the par-5s. We watched

your caddy with his head in his hands after you tried to jump the

water at 13. All well after that? He doesn't realise how athletic I am,

does he could mark that is a small leap for me. Well hopefully, a big

leap up the leaderboard tomorrow. Bill Haas has made the greatest

right up the leaderboard, he has when the FedEx cup here and knows

how to handle pressure. He is ahead of the trio, a posse if you like,

are major champions. Fred Couples, playing in his 30th Masters

tournament. Rory McIlory is well positioned at 1-under par. There is

a big group there. Further down, great news for Stephen Gallacher and

Graeme McDowell, level par put him in that group. He shot a 72 today.

And there is Jamie Donaldson of Wales, 1-over today. And Charl

Schwartzel, playing his very first event as a new father,

congratulations to the Schwartzels. So it has been a funny old day here

at Augusta, intriguing nonetheless, and we have got so much to look

forward to. In fact, it starts this evening, because later tonight,

Radio 5Live will have live commentary of the second round from

9pm. We will have day two's action tomorrow afternoon at 1:15pm.

Thereafter, we will have live coverage of the all-important third

and fourth rounds on Saturday and Sunday night. Staying in with us is

a must on Masters weekend and, this year, will have even more live

options for you to tailor your coverage just the way you like it.

As the tournament reaches its climax this weekend, we will have seven

live video streams available for your mobile, tablet, desktop and

connected TV. Get closer to the world's best on the practice range,

see the players through Amen Corner, follow the leading groups ball by

ball or catch up as they reach holes 15 and 16. It is the US Masters as

you have never experienced it before.

HAZEL IRVINE: And after staying up late with us on Saturday night, we

really hope you will make it an early Sunday morning as well,

because the London Marathon starts at 8:30am on BBC One, with Mo Farah

making his debut at the distance. Not to be missed either. So that is

it on the day when only four men broke 70, despite perfect

conditions. Mind you, it all adds up to the annual intrigue that is the

Masters. Goodbye.