Defending champion Jordan Spieth assumed his customary position on top of the leaderboard with a brilliant 66 as the 80th Masters got under way at Augusta National.
Spieth, who was second on his debut in 2014 and claimed a first green jacket with a record-breaking performance 12 months ago, carded six birdies and no bogeys despite swirling winds.
The 22-year-old, who is looking to become just the fourth player after Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods to successfully defend the year’s first major championship, led from start to finish after an opening 64 last year and was quickly into his stride again.
Spieth, who set records for the highest number of birdies (28) and lowest 36 and 54-hole totals in Masters history last year, finished in style with a birdie from five feet on the last to reach 29 under par for his nine competitive rounds at the Masters.
At six under par, Spieth led the early finishers by three shots with playing partner Paul Casey carding six birdies and three bogeys in his 69 to finish alongside last year’s joint runner-up Justin Rose.
Out on the course world No 1 Jason Day reached five under before a bogey at the 15th while Rory McIlroy, chasing a career Grand Slam this week, eagled 13 to move to three-under.
Irishman Shane Lowry also got to within a shot of Spieth before a bogey at 12 took him back to four-under.
For Ernie Els, though, the opening round quickly became a nightmare as he took seven putts from inside three feet on the first green to run up a sextuple-bogey 10, the highest score recorded on the 445-yard par four in tournament history.