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Louis Oosthuizen came back from three holes over-par to shoot a one-under 71 at the Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday to lie six behind the first round Masters leader Jordan Spieth.
Oosthuizen, who has a runners-up finish at the Masters, but has yet to win the coveted Green Jacket, bogeyed the first, fifth and seventh hole before pulling one back at the eighth.
He then played five birdies and two bogeys on the back nine for his one-under finish.
Spieth, who won the season-opening major in 2015, dropped just two shots on the day. His first came at the par-four seventh, but he then played an eagle on the eighth.
He managed six consecutive birdies starting on the 13th before playing a bogey at the last hole to finish the day on 66 for a two-shot lead from Matt Kuchar and Tony Finau, whose participation had been in doubt right until he teed off, after twisting his ankle while celebrating a hole-in-one at the par-three tournament on Wednesday.
Charl Schwartzel, who won the Masters in 2011, finished one shot behind Oosthuizen, shooting a par 72, which included a double-bogey on the 10th.
“It was good. I felt good and I swung the club well. The first nine was solid, I played one under.
“The only mishap I had was on 10, and I did not even hit a bad golf shot there. But that is what happens at this course. You don’t have to hit a very bad shot to make a double bogey.
“But other from that, I played really well. Par is a good start. If you are playing well, you can get a stretch where you can make birdies.”
Branden Grace, who is widely tipped to become the next South African Major winner, managed four birdies, but also played five bogeys for his round of 73, but stays in contention.
Masters rookie Dylan Frittelli struggled on his first-ever competitive round on the course and a triple bogey on the par-three fourth and a double bogey on the 14th saw him finish the day on five-over 77.
He said he felt the course was fair.
“I think that’s a good way to describe it. It wasn’t too difficult, the pins are fair, it was pretty benign conditions with the wind.
“I really enjoyed it. Totally different to the practice rounds. Obviously it firms up a lot and the fairways became quicker and greens are definitely travelling a foot or two faster than they were in the practise rounds.”
He believes he is still in with a chance to make it into the weekend, saying he is looking to shoot under par in Friday’s second round.
“Two, three under would be nice ... Today I just wanted to get off to a good start. I did that today through three holes but that triple there set me back and I had to change my mindset and try to make a few birdies on the last few holes.”
Trevor Immelman, who won in 2008, but has since spent much of his time struggling with injuries, carded a 78.
Tiger Woods, who was making his first appearance at the Masters since 2015, finished the day on one-over 73, saying that he was pleased with that.
“I wanted to make sure that I stayed in the race and you can see that the leader board is really bunched up. I am definitely in there.”
Defending champion Sergio Garcia suffered a complete meltdown at the 15th, seeing his ball race back from the green into the water five times to record the worst-ever score at the hole with 13. He finished the round with an 81 with only English amateur Harry Ellis carding a worst score.
The Spaniard struggled to explain what happened to him at the hole. “I don’t know. I don’t know what to tell you. It’s one of those things. I feel like I don’t know, it’s the first time in my career where I make a 13 without missing a shot. Simple as that.
“I felt like I hit a lot of good shots and unfortunately the ball just didn’t want to stop. I don’t know, you know, it’s one of those things. So it’s just unfortunate, but that’s what it is.”
The second round gets under way on Friday.
