What he said: The best quotes from The Masters opening round
Jordan Spieth (The 21-year old Mr. Consistent carding a superb eight-under 64 to take the outright lead at the end of Day 1)
“Eight under here is nothing to complain about.
“Just in the zone and hitting some shots. I saw the scoreboard and tried to make a push.”
Rory McIlroy (The World No 1 is looking to become the sixth man to record a career Grand Slam)
“Anything under par is a decent score.
“If I can drive the ball the way I did today, maybe hit a few iron shots a bit closer, maybe convert a few more, I should be OK.”
Justin Rose (Moved into a share of the lead earlier in the day with a superb 67)
“I guess just playing in the group I was playing in today was a highlight – playing with the defending Champion gave it a nice atmosphere out there on the golf course.
“The nice momentum keeper for me was the up-and-down I made on number four.
“There’s really no point getting ahead of yourself.
“I felt like I’ve been practising well the past two or three weeks, but it was nice to take it into the arena today.
Charley Hoffman (Shared the clubhouse lead for a short period alongside Rose at -5)
”When it’s a little bit damp like it was today, you can be aggressive at some pins.
”I knew I could be aggressive.”
Russell Henley (The Georgia boy opened with a four-under round 68)
“Obviously, it’s fun to shoot under par at Augusta, and I’m just very thankful I could finally shoot one in the 60s.
“I think this course is going to get harder and harder, and the pressure gets more and more.”
That’s the kind of thing you are dreaming of as a kid. Tom Watson (Became the oldest player to shoot an under-par round at Augusta at 65)
“It’s fun to be able to at least be in red figures at Augusta National.”
”Perfect conditions. No wind. Greens are very soft,” Watson said. ”It was there for the taking.”
“At my age, it’s a minor miracle.”
Danny Willett (The debutant offered an astounding 50ft eagle putt at the 13th)
“It was brilliant out there.
“The 1st tee was awesome. Obviously there is a different way of announcing off the 1st tee, 7:56 tee-time, second off; there were already 20,000 people around the course.
“It was just really special.
“That’s the kind of thing you are dreaming of as a kid,” he said of his amazing eagle.
Ryan Moore (an average two over round for the 32-year old from Washington)
“I guess they felt they needed me there to boost the TV ratings,” he said of playing alongside McIlroy and Mickelson.
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