Patrick Reed Seizes Control at Augusta as Tiger, Phil Falter

At least they don’t have to worry about the game’s two biggest stars, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. But on his first swing back at the Masters, Woods hit the ball straight into the crowd.

As the 82nd edition of the tournament teed off Thursday, Norman said Woods, who is a four-time Masters champion, is a worthy contender but nothing to be excited about.

In Tiger’s four wins at the Masters – 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2005 – he has opened with rounds of 70, 70, 70 and 74, respectively.

Woods made bogey on the opening hole with a sand wedge from the fairway. He chose to tee off on No. 1 with a 3-wood instead of a driver, heeding the advice of his wife (and former caddie), Justine. Spieth made birdies at Nos.

But after an encouraging return to competition this year that included a trio of top-12 finishes in three of the five tournaments he played, Woods arrived at Augusta National as one of the favourites. He’s hoping that changes today, beginning on the second. From there Woods hit a low stinger toward the green that hit someone in the gallery and he was unable to get up and down. His round was highlighted by his bold decision on the par-5 15.

But Sergio Garcia faces a long weekend hanging around to present the Green Jacket to this year’s victor, the defending champion finishing third from bottom on 15 over after a 78, with his tournament effectively over following his disastrous 13 at the 15th on day one.

He almost drove the green at the par-4 third and chipped past the hole. It plopped down 5 feet away. The birdie try slips by the right edge and it’s a par.

Reed shot a 6-under 66 in the second round Friday, moving to 9 under for the tournament and giving him a two-shot lead over Marc Leishman heading into the third round. His second shot squirted right and into the gallery he just repositioned.

Perhaps looking ahead a couple of days also played into Leishman’s decision to rope-hook that 5-iron around the trees.

Kuchar had five birdies on the back nine to join him on 68.

He would be forced to take a penalty for an unplayable lie and would then have to drop in the woods among those bushes as he could go no nearer the hole.

Woods found a greenside bunker at the par-3 fourth.

“I’m still in this golf tournament“, Spieth said. But just as he did in the first round, Woods sank a long bogey putt to give himself a fighting chance of making the cut.

Then it all went wrong at the par-4 ninth when he hit his drive into the trees on the left.

Things began ominously for Woods, 42, when he missed the green from 94 yards after a flawless drive at the first hole, leading to a bogey. He chipped out and missed a 20-footer. “I got a standing ovation on the range”.

Woods became the last pro in the field to make a birdie or better at a par-5 hole by two-putting for birdies from 40 feet at 13 and 35 feet at 15. There will always be a place for those with experience – especially at a course such as Augusta National. It’s up by the green, but it’s going to be an awfully tough up and down to make birdie. “Even though I’m a lot behind, if I play a special weekend, shoot two rounds in the mid-60s, you never know”. His course management was suspect and there were a number of times where his distance control was really off. He hit his ball to the front of the green at nine, but it spun back off the green and down the hill in the fairway.

China’s Li Haotong, who shot 69 in his Masters debut, was six-over on Friday’s front nine. He missed an 18-footer from the fringe for par.

Jordan Spieth: Three weeks ago, Spieth looked lost and frustrated.

His tee shot at the par-3 12th came up short and rolled into renowned Rae’s Creek.

One of those who will be missing the cut is defending champion Garcia, who endured a awful return to Augusta on Thursday, specifically the par-5 15th where he dumped five balls in the water and racked up a 13.