He’s done it! Tiger wins fifth Masters in dramatic Augusta finale

Masters report: What happened on Thursday at Augusta?

Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau are tied at the top after the pair blistered the back nine on the opening day of the Masters.

The American duo both shot rounds of 66 to edge one clear of three-time champion Phil Mickelson at Augusta National.

Koepka’s reputation as the man for the big occasion is only growing with every major championship.

The man who has won three of the last seven big four, including last year’s US Open and PGA Championship, was one under after nine but charged through the turn and Amen Corner with birdies at 10, 12 and 13 as well as 14.

He had to endure a 15-minute wait at the 15th and launched his drive right into the trees, but later produced a magnificent chip for a kick-in birdie and parred in from there.

DeChambeau was even hotter on the closing stretch, producing six birdies in the final seven holes, almost aceing the 16th, chipping in at the next before nearly dunking his approach on 18.

Mickelson, meanwhile, is bidding to become the oldest ever major champion at 48 years and 9 months.

Lefty has got the pedigree and his 67 included three birdies in the last four holes, while Ian Poulter, who picked up a trio of shots on the closing stretch, is one further back with Dustin Johnson.

Watch @TigerWoods' first round 70 in under three minutes. #themasters pic.twitter.com/c3QDJKr4qM

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2019

At one point during the opening day, there was a nine-way tie at the top at 3-under.

A bogey at the 17th saw Tiger Woods fall out of that group but the four-time champion is well placed at 2-under while Rory McIlroy is seven shots back after an up-and-down 73.

The Northern Irishman, searching for the career grand slam, fell to plus two after bogeys at 10 and 11 but fought back with birdies at the two par-5s on the back nine and the 16th only to close with two dropped shots.

Justin Rose, meanwhile, struggled to a 75 and there was only misery for Paul Casey, whose Masters dreams are in tatters after a nine-over 81.

Masters report: The talking points

No-one will come close to matching Sir Nick Faldo, who impaled his middle finger on the antler of a deer head after the first round of the Open in 2015, but Jason Day is constantly seeking new ways to join the bizarre club of golfing injuries.

The Australian, who was struck with vertigo during the US Open at Chambers Bay four years ago, needs a walking A&E department to cope with his brittle back.

This is not really what you want to see when your main bet (Jason Day) is lying underneath his physio after one and a half holes on Thursday… pic.twitter.com/BaPuWbRZQS

— Mark Townsend (@MTownsendGolf) April 11, 2019

Just a month after withdrawing from the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he was yet again in need of treatment on only the second hole at Augusta.

Apparently, Day re-aggravated his back problems by lifting up daughter Lucy before the round and, captured by cameras, seemed to require some pretty urgent treatment.

The physio’s magic hands had an immediate effect. Day birdied the 2nd and then got into red figures at the par-5 8th as he battled his way to a two-under 70.

He looked pretty tender throughout and may need some heavy treatment if he is to continue his challenge.

**

There’s something quite sad about watching a legend woefully past their best. There’s too much sentimentality in sport, though, and if you want your syrup poured with a ladle then Augusta’s your kind of place.

It’s an invitational tournament at heart, of course, and the green jackets can set whatever rules they want.

But will the patrons really have got any joy from watching Ian Woosnam eke out an 80?

He hasn’t made a Masters cut for a decade and won’t be here for the weekend either – largely thanks to a quadruple bogey on the 11th.

So thank god for Bernhard Langer, who kept the flag flying for the older generation with a fabulous 71, while Sandy Lyle also produced a fine 73.

I’m all for a bit of romance in the game but this is supposed to be a major championship – and that means the best of the best.

Should you be able to turn up year after year if you can no longer compete?

I want to see the old boys at Augusta, but let’s remember their greatness at the Champions Dinner and in the Par-3 contest – as we do with as Nicklaus, Watson and Player each year – rather than watching them dunk another ball into the 12th.

**

It’s a tradition at NCG towers that we stick our heads on the block and make our pre-tournament predictions.

Judge us kindly, but when it came to picking out this year’s tournament flop we didn’t miss the dartboard so much as hit someone in another room.

Masters report: Best quote

That was a bit of a grind.

– Tiger Woods

Masters report: Best moments

Excuse me, I’ve got something in my eye…

2019 #themasters Honorary Starters Ceremony@jacknicklaus @garyplayer pic.twitter.com/WRkE2RcB5F

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2019

Patton Kizzire was the first recipient of the lovely bit of crystal Augusta hands out for every eagle during the Masters…

From just short of No. 2 green, @pkizzire pitches in for the first eagle of #themasters this year. pic.twitter.com/D4sgi6kSrp

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2019

Rory hit a special out of the trees but this one, which set up a birdie at the 14th, was vintage Tiger.

Tiger Woods goes OVER the trees and on to the green from the second cut at the 14th hole. https://t.co/rpU5KDKc6b pic.twitter.com/SuMkRqghi5

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 11, 2019

But that was trumped by these two bits of magic from Bryson DeChambeau. Ladies and gentlemen, your shots of the day…

Golf is game of inches. pic.twitter.com/uwba1xaE6E

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2019

Golf is a game of inches… Exhibit C.#TheMasters @b_dechambeau pic.twitter.com/AbsgudKILQ

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2019

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