rewrite this title The Masters LIVE: Latest updates and leaderboard as McIlroy begins title defence

There’s scoring to be had on the par-5 second: we’ve already seen eagles for Patrick Reed and Sam Burns, and birdies for Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry.

But Bryson DeChambeau groans “oh no” as he sends his booming drive so far left that it disappears from sight – the American is forced to take a penalty drop.

Chipping into the breeze, DeChambeau’s pitch down the slope ends up high on the green and still a good way off from the hole. So that will be a bogey-six on the opening par-5 for DeChambeau.

Leaderboard: -3 Reed (2); -2 Olazabal (9), Burns (5), Lowry (3)

Here we go again. A year on from that incredible final day at Augusta, Rory McIlroy returns as Masters champion and gets his opening round underway. Bidding to become just the fourth man to win back-to-back Masters, McIlroy sends his first shot off the week towards the left of the fairway. He leans and winces as it rolls towards the pine straw.

Patrick Reed, meanwhile, has eagled the par-5 second to take the outright lead. It’s still correct to say that there’s a former champion leading the way, as Jose Maria Olazabal is knocked off.

Leaderboard: -3 Reed (2); -2 Olazabal (8), Burns (4), Lowry (2)

Two played, two under for Shane Lowry. Is he out to keep the Green Jacket in Irish hands? He’s picking up where Rory McIlroy left off, at least.

Matt Fitzpatrick was scrambling to make his par on the first after driving into the trees – but manages. Bryson DeChambeau has a look at opening birdie, but rolls wide.

There are also early birdies for former Masters champions Patrick Reed and Dustin Johnson.

Leaderboard: -2 Olazabal (8), Burns (4), Lowry (2)

Masters champion Rory McIlroy speaking before the start of his title defence.

“It has felt very different this week. But it’s the morning of a tournament and those same feelings come back. You’re nervous, you’re anxious. It’s a new golf tournament and it’s business again. I want to get off to a good start.

“For me, I want to stay patient on the front nine. It can play difficult. You want to be under-par through three, but if you’re not, it’s ok. I stayed patient on the front nine last year and I was rewarded on the Saturday. I want to play my way into the round.”

“It’s great if we can continue to have a rivalry. I don’t see any problem with that.

“If anything, it kind of helps create more buzz around the game of golf. Do I respect him as an individual? One hundred per cent.

“Do I want to beat him every time I see him? Absolutely. There’s no question about it.

“But I think that’s what’s so brilliant about the game of golf is that juxtaposition, having that sportsmanlike respect and then wanting to just absolutely beat the living you know what out of him.

“It’s one of those things like I got him at Pinehurst, he got me here, and I hope there’s more of those to come because it’s great for the game.”

Jose Maria Olazabal continues to tick along nicely – five pars in a row as he negotiates Augusta with all the calm and experience of a two-time champion to remain in the lead of the Masters at -2 (through seven).

There are plenty of players up and away now. Shane Lowry has birdied the first, while Max Homa has eagled the par-5 eighth. There’s an eagle, too, at the par-5 second for Sam Burns due to a stunning approach.

He joins the 60-year-old Olazabal on -2.

Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy famously played together in the final round last year – with McIlroy giving his playing partner the cold shoulder, much to the American’s apparent irritation.

Well, they’ll be close together on the course this afternoon. A look at the upcoming featured groups:

15:07 Bryson DeChambeau (US), Matt Fitzpatrick (Eng), Xander Schauffele (US)

15:19 Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Collin Morikawa (US), Russell Henley (US)

15:31 Rory McIlroy (NI), Cameron Young (US), Mason Howell (US*)

15:43 Viktor Hovland (Nor), Patrick Cantlay (US), Alex Noren (Swe)

Tommy Fleetwood has twice been a runner-up at the US Open and finished third at the Masters in 2024.

Will this be his year? The Englishman will be starting his latest bid for a major championship shortly and many believe he has the game to tame Augusta.

But Fleetwood’s first objective will be to outshine his eight-year-old son, Frankie Fleetwood.

Frankie’s quest to try and clear the water during the annual par-3 contest has gone rather viral over the last few days.

Nearly a century on from the first Masters tournament, Augusta National remains a true test of psychology, strategy and skill which takes decades to understand.

Lawrence Ostlere reports:

I think you could file Carlos Ortiz’s first five holds of this year’s Masters under a ‘nightmare start’.

The Mexican is +7 through five, having made bogey, double bogey, bogey, bogey and double bogey.