Masters live golf scores, results, highlights from Thursday’s Round 1 leaderboard

Masters live golf scores, results, highlights from Thursday’s Round 1 leaderboard

The sight of lush fairways, towering magnolias and blooming azaleas can only mean one thing: it’s time once again for a tradition unlike any other.

The sports world will shift its gaze to Georgia this week for the 87th playing of the Masters Tournament. For the next four days, the world’s best golfers will navigate the rolling hills and pristine greens of Augusta National Golf Club. Come Sunday afternoon, only one will earn the privilege of slipping on the iconic green jacket.

This year’s event will be unique for a number of reasons. For one, it will provide us with another rare chance to see Tiger Woods tee it up against the game’s best. The 15-time major winner has played in only one PGA Tour event this calendar year: the Genesis Invitational back in February. He made the cut that week, ultimately finishing tied for 45th. Who knows how many more times we’ll be able to see Woods tee it up at Augusta as his competitive career winds down?

MORE: Can Tiger Woods contend at the 2023 Masters?

It also represents one of the first times we’ll be able to see PGA Tour players and LIV Golf players go head-to-head. The breakaway LIV tour has rocked the world of golf since its inaugural event last summer, with many of the world’s best players turning their backs on the PGA Tour to join the Saudi-funded league. Former PGA stars like Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and Phil Mickelson will be back playing against their former rivals in a reunion that is sure to create some tension.

Defending champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is the clear favorite this week, but he’ll face stiff competition from a stacked field that includes other superstars like Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and more.

MORE: Who will win the Masters 2023? Odds, betting favorites, expert picks for the green jacket

The Sporting News is tracking all the key moments from Thursday’s Round 1 at the 2023 Masters Tournament:

Masters leaderboard 2023

Click here for the entire 2023 Masters leaderboard.

Masters live updates, highlights from Thursday’s Round 1

(All times Eastern.)

4:17 p.m.: Koepka knocks it on the green in two on the par 5 15th hole and two-putts for his birdie. That moves him to -5 with three holes left to play. On the other side of the course, Jordan Spieth is moving up the leaderboard with three straight birdies. He’s in a tie for sixth place at -4. 

4:02 p.m.: Here comes Sam Burns! The 26-year-old Louisiana native got off to a blazing fast start with two birdies and an eagle in his first three holes, and he just added another birdie to get to -5. He’s fresh off a win in the WGC Match Play event just a couple of weeks ago, and he’s definitely one to keep an eye on this week.  

3:46 p.m.: Jon Rahm stuffs an approach shot to a couple of feet on the 18th hole and taps in for birdie to tie Hovland at the top. What an amazing round of golf after a terrible start with a double bogey on No. 1. A dive into the stats reveals he is leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of the field in strokes gained from tee to green, which bodes well for him the rest of the weekend. 

Rahm strokes gained tee-to-green: 6.89

Next best is 4.10.

That is an absolutely absurd round of golf.

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) April 6, 2023

3:37 p.m.: Disaster for Rory McIlroy on the 7th hole. He hit his drive in the trees, punched out, dunked his approach into a bunker and failed to get up and down. That’s a double bogey, dropping him to +2. 

3:23 p.m.: Hovland finishes his day with another great save, this time out of the same greenside bunker Woods found. That’s a seven-under 65 to open his week, his best round ever in a major. 

A flawless first round from Viktor Hovland. #themasters pic.twitter.com/rG2IYkhmCj

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023

3:16 p.m.: Woods gets a bad break after his drive on the 18th hole and faces an awkward stance with one leg in the sand trap. He’s able to chase it up into the greenside bunker with his approach, but he can’t get it up and down and he drops a shot on his final hole of the day. He finishes at +2, and he has some work to do to make the cut tomorrow. 

3:07 p.m.: Rahm sinks a birdie putt on the 16th hole to pull within one of Hovland, the closest anyone has been since this morning. If it wasn’t for that four-putt on the first hole, Rahm would more than likely have the outright lead right now. 

2:56 p.m.: The conditions are perfect for scoring out there right now, but as always, there are quite a few players struggling. Bubba Watson shot a five-over 77 today, Matthew Fitzpatrick is currently +2 through six holes, and Bryson DeChambeau — who once called Augusta National a “par 67” for him — is +4 through 12 holes. 

2:47 p.m.: A nice approach on the 16th hole sets up a second consecutive birdie for Woods. He’s back to +1 for the day with two holes left in his opening round. Meanwhile, Adam Scott just made an eagle on the 15th hole to vault up to -5 and into a tie for second place. 

Back-to-back birdies 👀@TigerWoods is feeling it at #theMasters pic.twitter.com/BECtvtezEn

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 6, 2023

2:34 p.m.: After a wayward drive, Hovland can’t get another birdie on the par 5 15th hole. But Schauffele can. He sinks a short putt to cut the Norwegian’s lead to just two shots. The third member of that group, one Tiger Woods, drains a bomb for birdie to move back to +2. 

Perfect speed. Perfect read. A birdie on No. 15 for Tiger Woods. #themasters pic.twitter.com/91ftFa7e2r

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023

2:12 p.m.: Hovland makes one of his first big mistakes of the day on the 14th hole, pulling his approach shot way left. But just like on the 10th, he hits a fantastic recovery shot and drains the par putt to stay bogey-free on the round. His lead has been cut to four shots with Schauffele and Brooks Koepka both reaching -4. 

2:10 p.m.: What a start for Sam Bennett! The 23-year-old chips in for eagle on the second hole to get to -3. This Masters stuff is easy. Scheffler also makes his short eagle putt to get to -2. 

Amateur Sam Bennett starts his first round at the Masters with a birdie on No. 1 and an eagle on No. 2. #themasters pic.twitter.com/JMnYRl1SgW

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023

2:05 p.m.: Scheffler hits another fairway on the second hole and sticks a magnificent approach shot to about a foot on the par 5. That will be a tap-in eagle, and our defending champion is already off to an excellent start.

Scottie Scheffler begins his title defense with an eagle on No. 2. #themasters pic.twitter.com/vf6UNHXWVm

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023

1:57 p.m.: Will anyone be able to catch Hovland this week? He is playing some unbelievable golf right now. Another birdie on No. 13 has moved him to -7, four shots clear of the group tied for second. 

Viktor Hovland makes two birdies in Amen Corner after carding a four on No. 13. #themasters pic.twitter.com/usUqa1eDYD

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023

1:49 p.m.: Scottie Scheffler’s title defense is underway. He splits the fairway on his drive and finds the green on his approach, but he can’t convert the birdie putt. However, his playing partner, amateur Sam Bennett, knocks in his birdie putt on the first hole of his Masters career. The kid is impressive.  

1:37 p.m.: How about a one-under 71 to start the week for 63-year-old Fred Couples? He bogeys the last hole, but he’s still tied for third after his opening round — and beating a lot of guys half his age. He is also the oldest player to break par at The Masters since Tom Watson in 2015.

Fred Couples opens the 2023 Masters with 71 (-1).

At age 63, he’s the oldest player to break par at #TheMasters since Tom Watson shot 71 at age 65 in 2015.

— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) April 6, 2023

1:23 p.m.: Viktor Hovland is absolutely on fire right now! He drains a lengthy birdie putt on No. 11 to move to -6, three shots ahead of his nearest competitors. Woods pushes his approach on the same hole way right and has to scramble for a bogey after a miscued pitch shot. That drops him back to +3, a full nine shots worse than his playing partner. 

1:01 p.m.: Woods slings a draw around a tree with his approach shot on No. 10 and his ball nestles up to within about 15 feet of the hole. It was a beautiful shot, but he can’t pay it off with the putt and he’ll have to settle for a par. Hovland gets himself into a real tough spot behind the greenside bunker on the same hole, but he pulls off a miraculous up-and-down to stay at -5. Everything is going his way right now. 

A display of skill from leader Viktor Hovland. #themasters pic.twitter.com/XjUOR0SONm

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023

12:48 p.m.: Hovland does make his birdie putt to move to -5 and post a 31 on the front nine. One hole behind him, Jon Rahm hits his second shot to within a few feet on the par 5 8th and rolls in the eagle putt to move into second place at -3. He’s rebounded magnificently after that brutal four-putt on his first hole of the tournament. 

Jon Rahm eagles hole No. 8 to move to three under par and into solo second place. #themasters pic.twitter.com/SLdYsZxD0B

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023

12:37 p.m.: Hovland is absolutely locked in right now. He just put another approach shot to within a few feet on No. 9 and he has a great chance to get to -5 at the turn. Woods took an awkward-looking swipe at a ball below his feet and it ended up well right of the green. He has some work to do. 

12:27 p.m.: Woods finally picks up a birdie after hitting a beautiful pitch within inches of the hole on the par 5 8th hole. That moves him to +2 on the day. His playing partner, Hovland, also birdies the hole to take the outright lead at -4.

Nearly an eagle for Tiger Woods on hole No. 8. #themasters pic.twitter.com/7XfulYE6JL

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023

12:15 p.m.: Ireland’s Shane Lowry just rattled off three straight birdies to join the leaders at -3. He’s a major champion, having lifted the Claret Jug at the 2019 Open Championship. 

12:05 p.m.: Woods is really struggling with his putter so far. He just missed another short par putt on No. 7 to fall to +3. If this continues, he won’t be around for the weekend. 

11:52 p.m.: Hovland sinks a nice birdie putt on No. 6 to move to -3, while Young gets up and down from a greenside bunker on No. 4 to remain tied with Hovland for the lead. Woods continues to hang in at +2, but he could really use a birdie soon.

Viktor Hovland regains a share of the lead at No. 6 #themasters pic.twitter.com/kC0NZb5puT

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023

11:32 a.m.: Wow, what an incredible start for Young! Three birdies on his first three holes have moved him into the solo lead at -3. Meanwhile, Woods misses a short par putt on No. 5 to drop to +2. Rough start for him. 

11:26 a.m.: A birdie on hole No. 4 moves Schauffele to -2. He stuck his tee shot to about a foot on the 240-yard par 3 and rolled in the putt. 

11:22 a.m.: Another new name joins the early leaders: Adam Scott. He became the first Australian to win the green jacket back in 2013. Birdies on the second and third holes have moved him to -2. 

11:17 a.m.: 25-year-old Cameron Young has birdied his first two holes to move into a tie for the lead at -2. He is still looking for his first career PGA Tour win, but he’s been in contention at majors before. 

11:15 a.m.: A very uncharacteristically poor approach from about 50 yards leads to a disappointing bogey on hole No. 3 for Woods. He falls to +1 on the day.

11 a.m.: Jon Rahm with the worst opening hole of the day: He four-putts to double bogey.

10:52 a.m.: And there’s a birdie for Xander Schauffele on Hole 2; only Tiger failed to golf his way into the red figures.

10:52 a.m.: No harm no foul for Tiger, who centers his par attempt.

10:51 a.m.: Here’s an eagle on Hole 2, with Viktor Hovland sinking it to jump to the top of the leaderboard at 2 under. Fantastic start for the Norwegian.

Eagle on No. 2 propels Viktor Hovland into a tie for the lead. #themasters pic.twitter.com/1UDqVvJPsU

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023

10:49 a.m.: Tiger has a decent-enough look at birdie, but it just slides by and leaves him about 4 feet to salvage par. Not what he wanted on the first par-5 of the day.

10:40 a.m.: Tiger finds the bunker on Hole 2, but finds the fairway on his second shot — easy enough to turn around and get an up-and-down birdie.

10:31 a.m.: Meanwhile, there’s a birdie at Hole 6 for Adrian Meronk to join the leaders at 1 under.

Adrian Meronk birdies No. 6 to join the leaders in his first Masters appearance. #themasters pic.twitter.com/HHhBXZoiSz

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023

10:31 a.m.: Sure enough, Tiger two-putts for par, which is a pretty good start, all told. He’ll head to the par-5 second hole with a chance to get his first birdie.

10:26 a.m.: Tiger takes a short approach and is squarely on the green at Hole 1 … he’ll have a lag putt to make for birdie but is more likely looking at a two-putt par to start.

10:18 a.m.: There’s Tiger’s first drive of the day — to raucous applause — and it’s a nice little roller down the fairway. You can follow his first round with The Sporting News’ Tiger tracker.

Fore, please. Tiger Woods now driving. #themasters pic.twitter.com/ebFsAPve86

— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) April 6, 2023

9:55 a.m.: Henley very nearly gets a hole in one at the par-3 sixth hole, which would have been just the seventh on Hole 6 in Masters history. He’ll settle for a tap-in birdie.

9:50 a.m.: Nine golfers tied for the lead at 1 under, with Mike Weir having the most holes played, at eight.

9:27 a.m.: Following a bogey by McClean on Hole 5 and birdies by Scott Stallings, Russell Henley and Kevin Kisner, there’s a four-way tie for first at 1 under.

Scott Stallings breaks into red numbers with a birdie on No. 5. #themasters pic.twitter.com/s1ullfGKYw

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023

9:11 a.m.: McClean holes a birdie on Hole 4 — his second of the day. He’s atop the leaderboard at 2 under.

Matthew McClean, amateur from Northern Ireland, birdies the par-3 fourth hole to reach two under. #themasters pic.twitter.com/5zTI79vULn

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023

8:45 a.m.: The first player to birdie the opening hole in 2023 is one of the seven amateurs in the field, Matthew McClean — a 29-year-old optometrist from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

8:20 a.m.: Twenty years after becoming the first (and still only) Canadian to win the Masters, Mike Weir officially got things started in the first group off the tee along with Kevin Na. Weir made par on the opening hole, but Na had a rough start with a double bogey.

7:58 a.m.: Honorary starters Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson have taken their swings. Now it’s time for play to get underway at Augusta National.

For the second year in a row, Tom Watson participates as an Honorary Starter. #themasters pic.twitter.com/M7NlZrE31D

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023

7:10 a.m.: The hole locations for Round 1 are out:

Hole locations for the first round of the Masters Tournament#theMasters pic.twitter.com/8g9vx0z5A5

— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) April 6, 2023

7 a.m.: Get ready for Day 1 with Augusta National’s version of a hype video:

Welcome to the Masters. #themasters pic.twitter.com/vxLnWqVRFK

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023

MORE: Watch the Masters 2023 live on Fubo (free trial)

What channel is the Masters on today?

• TV channel: ESPN
• TV broadcast times: 3-7:30 p.m. ET
• Live streams: Masters.com, ESPN+, Fubo

The Masters will air live on ESPN for the first two days before shifting to CBS for Rounds 3 and 4. Televised coverage will begin at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, with Scott Van Pelt, Sean McDonough, Andy North and Curtis Strange handling commentary duties from Augusta.

Masters.com will provide free live streaming coverage of the tournament throughout the day beginning at 8:30 a.m. and running through the conclusion of play at around 7:30 p.m. ESPN+ will also carry a simulcast of the TV broadcast.

Here is the full breakdown of the Masters TV schedule (all times Eastern):

Masters tee times for Thursday

Published at Thu, 06 Apr 2023 20:22:00 +0000