The 2010 Masters.

[a stoner]

Well it's all started online at amen corner and the course is playing very hard today by the looks of it. It's windy and with a threat of thunder storms always keeps things interesting. I'm hoping Ian Poulter win. With Lee Westwood on -1 and the leaders only on -2 with about half the field on the course it's set to be an thrilling first round. If anyone can break 68 then they will be pretty deadset for the first round lead.

[a stoner]

Surprised Woods is favourite I just don't see him winning after not playing for so long.

I'm hoping for an Ogilvy win.

 

Are you really that surprised? He has something to prove to himself and the rest of the world. If he comes out firing well then don't be surprised if he does all week. Looking back at history he does like to lead by example and with the break he has had and the practice he has been able to put in,without any prying eyes, I wouldn't be surprised at anything.

 

And Ogilvy is on the 13th at +4 with a birdy attempt.

[a stoner]

Toms is leader in the clubhouse at -3 with a nice round of 69 (ooer missus).

Westwood and Els are at -2 through 12 and 11 respectively.

[Mathewbet1]

Woods was found back suctlelling o'meras missus up the wrong'un in the 17th bunker after practice. Got a tip off.

[Mathewbet1]

Woods is 10 under before he's even started due to the 10 birdies hes had already this week.

[Mathewbet1]

His caddy carries a box of kleenex in his bag, just in case woods needs to crack one off in the bushes during the round.

[rondeco]

Any idea where woods opening drive finished up? Got it at 3/1 to miss the fairway..

[Hand Shandy]

Any idea where woods opening drive finished up? Got it at 3/1 to miss the fairway..

 

Straight down the middle, according to the BBC.

 

Betting fail.

[a stoner]

Any idea where woods opening drive finished up? Got it at 3/1 to miss the fairway..

 

Used the wind well to leave it 6 yards onto the fairway next to the bunkers. Great tee shot shame it settled into a pit in the fairway.

 

On another note. Tom Watson is carrying on from where he left off at the open last year and is in the club house with a -5 67. Not bad for a 60 year old who said the course was too long for him to compete on. Go Tom.

[rondeco]

Damn. At least I have him at 6/1 outright and Mickelson at 14/1. Good start by both so far. Had a long punt on Ben Curtis at 125/1 e/w as he finished strong in the Houston open. Looks like another betting fail!

[Newport]

Both of my lads within the reach of the lead. Zach Johnson at -2 and Mickelson at -5.

[Mathewbet1]

Good round from Couples considering he was playing in slippers.

[a stoner]

What a first day!!

50 year old Couples leads on -6 with Westwood, Mickelson, Choi, Yang and the 60 year old Tom Watson one behind on -5. Ian Poulter had a good steady round to finish tied for 7th with Kim, Watney, Barnes and Tiger shooting his lowest first round at the masters on -4 68.

Shame Mcillroy and Harrington had such bad starts I just hope they can turn it around tomorrow to make the cut.

[Mathewbet1]

All things considered woods -4 under has to be one the best rounds of his career, Its amazing how focused he looks.

[a stoner]

He only had one little paddy and he was very polite acknowledging the crowd between holes and after shots.

Even more stunning with the playing conditions and the fact he hasn't hit a ball in comp for 5 months.

Great round by Westwood too. Looks confident and sharp around the greens.

[Rex Banner]

Well it looks like I was wrong about Tiger, he doesn't seem to have missed a beat.

It looks like he will definitely be right around the top especially when you consider he usually starts a bit slow then dominates the weekend.

[Thomo123]

Im putting money on westwood to win and poulter each way, both look confident are striking the ball really well. Poulter chipping and putting well...i think he has a chance.

[a stoner]

Westwood and Poulter are both playing some of the best golf I have seen either play. Westwood has had 3rd place finishes in the last 2 majors, so he is getting used to the Sunday pressures of being right up there in a major. Poulter I think will have a good top 10 finish but I have a bad feeling he will drop away a bit on Saturday. Mickelson is worth watching just needs to get his putter working a little better then he would be a hot favourite for the title again.

[Thomo123]

Westwood and Poulter are both playing some of the best golf I have seen either play. Westwood has had 3rd place finishes in the last 2 majors, so he is getting used to the Sunday pressures of being right up there in a major. Poulter I think will have a good top 10 finish but I have a bad feeling he will drop away a bit on Saturday. Mickelson is worth watching just needs to get his putter working a little better then he would be a hot favourite for the title again.

 

Winning the world matchplay plus his performance at the ryder cup have really elevated his game to the next level. If he is in the hunt on sunday i dont expect him to fade away at all. I watched Westwoods interview after the round last night and like poulter they both looked really relaxed yet focused....almost tiger-esque. As you say Mickelson is always in with a shout round auguster if he gets the putter working as is ernie you shot a reasonable round despite a double bogey on the card.

 

I can se i really exciting sunday coming up....

[G Richards]

Westwood and Poulter look good. Woods came back strong and he will probably be the man to beat. Great round by Couples. I love his laid back style, like he's out having a stroll... in his slippers. Top man.

 

Really want Westwood to win this.

 

Hope Rory puts a good round together today too - was expecting a bit more from him.

[Mathewbet1]

Have to say the BBC's terrestrial coverage of the masters is awful. They could have put it live all the way through on say BBC 3. It starts at bloody 9 o clock on bbc 2 andTiger teas off at 6.45 ish. They are missing one of the best Masters for years. I also find Peter alis boring and cliched these days, he obviously got it in for tiger. He used to be funny, nowadays he comes across as a bitter senile bumbling old condger. Shocking coverage by the BBC much like their F1 coverage.

[niall]

Not just the BBC, the Masters committee have a restriction on the amount of coverage that can be shown for some ridiculous reason

 

Wikipedia:

Significant restrictions have been placed on the tournament's broadcast hours compared to other major championships, perhaps to increase the tournament's Nielsen ratings, or to reward ticket-holders. Only in the 21st century did the tournament allow CBS to air 18-hole coverage of the leaders, a standard at the other three majors.[63] Only three hours of cable coverage is scheduled for the early rounds each day. International broadcasters do not receive additional coverage, although they may take commercial breaks at different times from CBS or ESPN. As noted before, an additional hour of coverage each day is streamed online

[Thomo123]

Poulter and westwood tied for the lead at 8 under thru 14 and six holes respectively....looking good so far.

[Hand Shandy]

Westwood leading at -9, Poulter on -8.

 

Woods not far behind though...

 

EDIT - you beat me to it, although Westwood has just moved into the lead.

[a stoner]

Good job noone told Lee Westwood that the course is playing harder today than it did yesterday. Sitting pretty at the top of the leader board at -9 with Ian Poulter in second on his own at -8. Big Phil is on -6 and Tiger -5 .