Brooks Koepka, who has won two of the last three majors, held a share of the first-round Masters lead with Bryson DeChambeau while three-time champion Phil Mickelson was one shot off the pace on Thursday.
Koepka, who missed last year's Masters with a wrist injury, used a combination of jaw-dropping power and laser-like irons to card a six-under-par 66 to sit atop the leaderboard with Bryson DeChambeau, who came within inches of a closing eagle.
American Koepka, who does not have a top-10 finish in three starts at the Masters, enjoyed a four-hole birdie run from the 12th to pull ahead but had to settle for a share of the lead after DeChambeau closed with four consecutive birdies.
DeChambeau, who was playing two groups ahead of Koepka and nearly aced the par-three 16th, almost walked into the clubhouse with the outright lead but his approach at the 18th rammed into the flagstick and settled inches away for a tap-in birdie.
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of The Masters as day one gets underway in what is one of the most eagerly anticipated weeks of the golf calendar.
Outside of the Ryder Cup years, The Masters is surely the most anticipated event in the golfing calendar.
It's the first major of the year, played every year at Augusta National with a Green Jacket as the prize after four days of highly contested competition.
87 players start the tournament this year, but only one will come out victorious.
Will Rory McIlroy finally complete his career grandslam? Can Patrick Reed successfully defend his title? Will Tiger Woods roll back the years and win his 15th major?
Stay with us over the course of the next four days as we follow all the action to find out.
The Masters is a joyous week for the world of golf, on the Wednesday Augusta hosts the annual par-3 tournament, where the players relax and enjoy a fun tournament with their friends and family.
However there is a certain dark aura that surrounds the tournament. In the 58 times the pre-tournament has been played no winner has gone on the wear the Green Jacket the following Sunday.
Yesterday's victor Matt Wallace may have already doomed his week at Augusta after he defeated 61-year-old Sandy Lyle in a play-off.
Only time will tell if the curse of the par-3 claims another victim.
Selected Tee-off times:
2:14pm BST - Danny Willett, Brandt Snedeker, Takumi Kanaya
2:47pm BST - Charl Schwartzel, Charles Howell III, Eddie Pepperell
2:58pm BST - Sergio Garcia, Tony Finau, Henrik Stenson
3:31pm BST - Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Viktor Hovland
3:53pm BST - Tommy Fleetwood, Xander Schauffele, Gary Woodland
4:04pm BST - Tiger Woods, Haotong Li, Jon Rahm
4:15pm BST - Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Cameron Smith
5:10pm BST - Bernhard Langer, Matt Wallace, Alvaro Ortiz
5:32pm BST - Alex Noren, Keegan Bradley, Matthew Fitzpatrick
6:05pm BST - Zach Johnson, Ian Poulter, Matt Kuchar
6:16pm BST - Francesco Molinari, Rafael Cabrera Bello, Tyrell Hatton
6:38pm BST - Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Jason Day
6:49pm BST- Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose, Justin Thomas
7:00pm BST - Jordan Spieth, Paul Casey, Brooks Koepka
2:47pm BST - Charl Schwartzel, Charles Howell III, Eddie Pepperell
2:58pm BST - Sergio Garcia, Tony Finau, Henrik Stenson
3:31pm BST - Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Viktor Hovland
3:53pm BST - Tommy Fleetwood, Xander Schauffele, Gary Woodland
4:04pm BST - Tiger Woods, Haotong Li, Jon Rahm
4:15pm BST - Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Cameron Smith
5:10pm BST - Bernhard Langer, Matt Wallace, Alvaro Ortiz
5:32pm BST - Alex Noren, Keegan Bradley, Matthew Fitzpatrick
6:05pm BST - Zach Johnson, Ian Poulter, Matt Kuchar
6:16pm BST - Francesco Molinari, Rafael Cabrera Bello, Tyrell Hatton
6:38pm BST - Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Jason Day
6:49pm BST- Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose, Justin Thomas
7:00pm BST - Jordan Spieth, Paul Casey, Brooks Koepka
The Masters hasn't gone to a Monday finish since 1983 but the weather due this week may change that.
Thursday: A light wind in the morning and an average temperature of 28˚C, set to be the best day of the tournament so players will want to cash in.
Friday: Showers from early afternoon to go with temperatures of 30˚C and there is a chance of thunderstorms. A morning tee-off time is more desirable.
Saturday: Less chance of rain than day two, but again thunderstorms are possible and winds are set to pick up.
Sunday: More thunderstorms are forecast after 2pm and showers are likely all day. If play cannot continue they will finish on Monday.
Monday: Perfect conditions.
The Masters is officially underway!
Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus have just hit the ceremonial opening shots and golf's most prestigious tournament has begun.
Adam Long, Andrew Landry and Corey Conners are the first grouping to tee off this afternoon.
Patrick Reed, last year's champion, says having to give back his green jacket at the end of the week can inspire him to successfully defend his title at Augusta.
This time last year Reed won his first major by finishing one shot clear of Rickie Fowler and earning the famous green jacket in the process.
Champions are only allowed to take their jackets away from the course for the first twelve months after their victory, before returning them to be permanently stored in the clubhouse prior to the following season’s renewal.
"It’s been amazing having the jacket around,” Reed said: “Travelling with it and allowing other people to see it was definitely a treat.
"Knowing I have to give the jacket back at the end of the week makes me more motivated to win another one."
Picking the winner of the Masters is always tough.
But with the Players Championship already under his belt this year, is it time for Rory McIlroy to put on the Green Jacket.
McIlroy, playing alongside Rickie Fowler and Cameron Smith in the opening two rounds, is seeking to complete the career grand slam.
He's won the US Open twice, the US PGA and the Open but the Masters has alluded him.
In 2011 Rory led the tournament by four shots before the final day but a horror round of 80 ended his chances.
Top 10 finishes at the Masters since 2013 will stand him in good stead and the rain this week will suit McIlroy's long carry.
But can Rory overcome the mental scars of Masters past and claim the Green Jacket for himself?
The opening group are through the first hole.
Conners leads the Masters with a par at the first. Landry and Long are both one over after making bogey.
Ian Woosnam, Keith Mitchell and Kevin Tway are next on course with Shane Lowry, Mike Weir and amateur Kevin O'Connell following them.
The honorary starters Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus, hit the opening shots of the 2019 Masters tournament.
The 1st:
Woosnam, Mitchell and Tway all make par at the first.
Overcast conditions with warm temperatures due later in the day.
The 1st: 'Tea Olive'
'A slight dogleg right that plays uphill. Drives to the left may catch the trees. The hole requires a precise second shot to an undulating green. A poorly struck approach may result in a difficult two-putt.'
In 1935, the hole featured a left fairway bunker that was later removed. A greenside bunker, front and left, was added in 1951.
The 2nd:
Landry birdies the second to move back to level par alongside Conners, a par for Long keeps him at one-over.
Tee-off:
Angel Cabrera, the winner in 2009 is next on course alongside Aaron Wise and Justin Harding.
The 1st:
Bogeys for Lowry and Weir, whilst amateur O'Connell makes par.
The 2nd:
Kevin Tway moves to -1 with a birdie at the 2nd. He's the first player under par so far.
The 1st:
Mixed fortunes at the 1st as Wise and Cabrera bogey whilst Harding makes birdie. He joins Tway at -1.
Tee-off:
Danny Willett, 2016 Masters champion, Brandt Snedeker and 20-year-old Japanese amateur Takumi Kanaya are out on the course.
The 1st:
Snedeker and Kanaya (A) birdie 'Tea Olive' to take a share of the lead. Willet makes par.
The 3rd:
Landry, Long and Conners through three, Conners +1, Landry and Long at level par.
Tee-off:
59-year-old Fred Couples, Si Woo Kim and J. B. Holmes are next up to tee off on Masters Thursday.
The 2nd: 'Pink Dogwood'
'No. 2 is a dogleg left which may be reachable in two. Large, deep greenside bunkers demand special attention on the second shot.
Originally, the green was guarded by a lone bunker on the right. That bunker was reduced in size in 1966, and a left bunker was added in 1946.'
The 3rd:
Tway, Woosnam and Mitchell negotiate the third with pars.
Tee-off:
South African Branden Grace, Emiliano Grillo and Lucas Bjerregaard will tee off in the next few minutes.
Leader board:
There's a five-way tie at the top of the leader board:
Tway: -1 through 3
Harding: -1 through 2
Snedeker: -1 through 1
Kanaya (A): -1 through 1
Holmes: -1 through 1
Please allow a moment for the live blog to load
