Masters Tournament - Day one digest

Everything you need to know from day one at Augusta National Golf Club.

Rahm fought back from a nightmare start to share the lead while Lyle experienced a first in his final professional start as the 2023 Masters Tournament got under way on Thursday.

Here is everything you need to know from day one at Augusta National Golf Club.

Honorary starters kick things off

Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson officially got the tournament under way in traditional fashion on Thursday morning, hitting tee-shots on the opening hole before retiring to the clubhouse. Watson, who was taking part in the ceremony for the second time, unusually teed his ball up with his right hand. In reference to an accident in November which resulted in the 73-year-old undergoing shoulder surgery, he joked: "You don’t drive go-karts at my age!"

Woods almost lands eagle

As ever, five-time Masters Champion Tiger Woods had huge crowds following him on day one and he almost rewarded them with a spectacular eagle on the eighth. This impressive pitch shot was inches away from going in but he instead had to settle for a tap-in birdie on his way to an opening 74.

Hovland puts on a show

Playing alongside Woods, Viktor Hovland put on an exhibition for the fans as he made an eagle and five birdies in his 65. The Norwegian also pulled off a series of impressive par saves to keep his card clean. He co-leads after 18 holes alongside Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka. The highlight of Hovland's round was perhaps his eagle at the second, where he holed from 25 feet.

Rahm fights back

World Number Three Rahm was among the pre-tournament favourites along with Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, and he showed why as he produced the most impressive round of the day on Thursday. After four-putting the first hole for an opening double bogey, the Spaniard bounced back with an eagle and seven birdies over the next 17 holes to equal his lowest round at Augusta National.

Straka's brilliant birdie blitz

Sepp Straka turned in 39 after a disappointing front nine but the Austrian caught fire from the 12th hole, making five successive birdies to get to two under par.

Lyle experiences first on his last professional start

Former champion Sandy Lyle suffered an unwelcome first on his final competitive start before retirement as he accidentally snapped a club. "First hole and it wasn’t even over my knee," the 1988 winner joked. "It’s the first club I’ve broken here. Taken 40 years to do it, but it’s happened."

Couples rolls back the years

Fred Couples - the 1992 champion - shone on day one, with the 63-year-old signing for a one-under-par 71 which featured four birdies and three bogeys. He said: "It was a good day. It was a fun day. I actually played really, really well."