Under-radar Aussies in Masters mix as Scheffler looms and Couples makes stunning eagle

Smith holed a long birdie putt on the 18th to sit equal 11th, a pleasing finale to what he feared was going to be a “long day” after hitting just six greens in regulation.

Day oozed control in parring his first 11 holes before back-to-back birdies helped him finish with a two-under 70 in a tie for seventh.

Lee (71) mixed grit and brilliance in his first event since winning a maiden PGA Tour title, his birdie putt on the last lipping out as he matched Smith at one under.

Canada’s Corey Conners was the early clubhouse leader at four under before world No.1 Scheffler drained two long birdie putts to card a bogey-free 68 and join him.

Brits Tyrrell Hatton (69) and Aaron Rai (70) were also in the top 10 before fast-starting countryman Rose (seven under), who was six-under through 10 holes, roared to a day-one 65.

The former world No.1, US Open and 2016 Olympic champion bogeyed the last but still notched a first-round Masters lead for a staggering fifth time.

World No.2 Rory McIlroy (even-par 72) surged to four-under through 13 holes as his crawl to a career grand slam - and the tantalising prospect of a weekend Scheffler shoot-out - gathered pace.

Striving for his first green jacket, and major of any sort since clinching a fourth 11 years ago, McIlroy missed a birdie putt on the 14th then sent his chip tumbling across the green and into the water on the 15th.

He settled for a double-bogey seven, then three-putted the 17th to lose two more shots, a discipline issue that Thursday’s honorary starter Nicklaus had noted “keeps him from getting where he needs to go”.

Day, meanwhile, cruised in a mistake-free round to keep the dream of a second major title alive.

“I’m definitely coming in under the radar,” the former world No.1 said.

“I’m not to the point of how Scottie has been playing, how Rory has been playing, some of the other guys.

“I feel very just comfortable with where my game is at right now.

“I’ve just got to do some work on the greens. Hopefully some more putts drop.”

Lee overshot his approach to the first and dropped a stroke that he immediately cancelled out on the second hole.

He was one-under at the turn and then scrambled nicely on the par-four 11th when his obstructed second shot sprayed right, narrowly missing newly-planted pines.

Lee, who battled the flu and a broken finger and still finished tied for 22nd at Augusta last year, was pleased with his best first-round effort - by two shots - in his fourth visit.

“Just lipped out,” he said of his putt on the 18th.

“It’s one of those things; if you’re giving yourself birdie putts at Augusta National, you’re doing a good job.”

Bryson DeChambeau (69), Ludvig Aberg (68) and the fast-finishing Akshay Bhatia (70), who mixed three bogeys and five birdies in his last nine holes, are all in the top 10.

Fred Couples, 65 and in his 40th Masters start, putted in from off the green on the first then eagled with a hybrid from 174 metres on the 14th.

The 1992 Masters champion ended up one under.

He’s now the second-oldest to break par and could extend his record as the oldest to make the cut after setting the mark two years ago.

AAP

Back nine: par, double bogey, double bogey, bogey, bogey, par, double bogey, bogey, double bogey (+11).

No birdies. Ouch. Finishes with 90.

It’s the worst opening round at the Masters since Ben Crenshaw’s 91 in 2005.

94 – Doug Ford (2000)
92 – Tommy Aaron (2003)
92 – Horton Smith (1962)
91 – Ben Crenshaw (2015)
91 – Horton Smith (1963)
91 – Chick Evans* (1960)
91 – Fred McLeod (1955)
90 – Nick Dunlap (2025)
90 – Chick Evans* (1959)
90 – Jock Hutchison (1956)
90 – Frank Souchak* (1954)

*denotes amateur