AUGUSTA, Ga. (Sporting Alert) – Leaderboard after the first day of the opening round at 79th Masters Tournament at Augusta National on Thursday.
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Tiger Woods in action at the 2015 MastersAmerican Jordan Spieth leads the way with an 8-under-par 64, through 18 holes, one-off the course record at Augusta National.
“I was just kind of in the zone,” Spieth said after his impressive first round performance. “That’s one of the better rounds I’ve played.
“I got off to a good start, which is sometimes the hardest part of this Tournament.
“It’s a really fun round to shoot 64 at Augusta National. It’s pretty cool. I’d take three more.”
Spieth will take a 3-stroke lead into Friday’s second round, with Jason Day, Ernie Els, Justin Rose and Charley Hoffman all sitting second at 5-under 67.
Veteran Els, who has won four-time majors and is playing in his 21st Masters, offer huge praises to Spieth, and backs the 21-year-old to do great things as he develops in the future.
“That’s quite a nice story line,” Els told reporters. “Jordan is 21, and what a player. You just cannot see this kid not winning many, many majors.
“I think he is by far the most balanced kid I’ve seen.
“He’s got that little tenacity to him and he’s really got a fighting spirit and he’s the nicest kid in the world.
“I just love playing with him. I played with him last week and we had a ball.”
Meanwhile, Tiger Woods sits at 1-over 73 and will need to step things up in the second round or risk making the cut.
The American former world No. 1 acknowledged that he has work to do and must play a better round on Friday.
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy, meanwhile trails leader Spieth by seven shots, as he finished the day at one-under-par 71.
The 25-year-old Northern Ireland star, who is seeking to win his third major in a row this week, is happy to continue to be patient in his hunt.
“I just kept telling myself to be patient out there. It was a tricky day,” he said. “The wind was swirling a little bit.
“Pin positions were tough. Anything under par, I felt, was a pretty good score.
“Today was a pretty good day. I feel like I can do better. But happy after day one and go out and just try and do a little bit better tomorrow.”
| Leaderboard – Ongoing | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Total | Thru | |
| 1 |
 Jordan Spieth |
-8 | – | – | – | -8 | 18 |
| T2 |
Ernie Els |
-5 | – | – | – | -5 | 18 |
| T2 |
Charley Hoffman |
-5 | – | – | – | -5 | 18 |
| T2 |
Justin Rose |
-5 | – | – | – | -5 | 18 |
| T2 |
Jason Day |
-5 | – | – | – | -5 | 18 |
|
T6
|
Sergio Garcia |
-4
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
-4
|
18
|
|
T6
|
Russell Henley |
-4
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
-4
|
18
|
|
T8
|
Ryan Palmer |
-3
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
-3
|
18
|
|
T8
|
Bill Haas |
-3
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
-3
|
18
|
|
T8
|
Paul Casey |
-3
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
-3
|
18
|
