Im carded a five-under 67 to carry one-shot benefit over Smith; Dustin Johnson two in the back of and Woods 4 again in first professional match since November 2020 – Watch The Masters right through the week solely survive Sky Sports activities Golfing, with bonus feeds by means of the purple button
By means of Ali Stafford at Augusta Nationwide
Final Up to date: 08/04/22 1:06am
Sungjae Im holds a one-shot lead at The Masters (Related Press)
Sungjae Im holds a slender lead over Cameron Smith after the outlet around of The Masters, as Tiger Woods inspired on his go back to aggressive motion.
Im birdied his opening 3 holes and added every other on the par-four 7th, earlier than bouncing again from beginning his again 9 with successive bogeys to eagle the par-five thirteenth and select up every other shot on the par-five fifteenth to set the tempo at Augusta Nationwide.
The Korean’s five-under 67 moved him one forward of Smith, making his first get started since profitable The Gamers, who held the preliminary clubhouse goal regardless of beginning and completing his opening-round 68 with double-bogeys.
Smith carded 4 birdies in a five-hole stretch from the 5th and produced a identical run from the twelfth, in short taking him two transparent, earlier than the past due error dropped the Australian – one among six gamers who can finish the week as global #1 – into 2d spot.
“Simply stayed affected person,” Smith mentioned. “I like this position. I are aware of it gifts various birdies. I simply in reality needed to get in a groove. I hit an excellent pressure down the second one and went into the bunker, which once more used to be fairly irritating. After most certainly the fourth or 5th gap there, began getting on a little bit of a trot and began seeing the ones just right iron photographs pass beautiful shut.”
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Cameron Smith admits that Augusta will ‘chew you within the bum’ in the event you are not cautious after the Gamers Champion bookended his opening around with double bogeys
International #1 Scottie Scheffler held a proportion of the lead along Smith till cancelling out his penultimate-hole birdie with a final-hole bogey, with 2016 champion Danny Willett additionally on 3 below after carding the bottom opening around of his Masters profession.
Joaquin Niemann posted a hole-out eagle from the 9th fairway to additionally get inside two of the lead, whilst 2020 champion Dustin Johnson completes the quartet on 3 below after blending 4 birdies with a lone bogey all through his opening around.
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Joaquin Niemann holes out on the 9th to take the lead at The Masters
Tiger takes centre level
Two birdies in his final 4 holes noticed Patrick Cantlay signal for an opening-round 70, as Woods marked his first professional look since November 2020 via holing a 30-foot birdie on the sixteenth on his solution to a one-under 71.
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Tiger Woods says there’s nonetheless a protracted solution to pass after carding a gap around of one-under-par in his first aggressive get started in over 500 days
Woods admitted he were “saving” his frame all through his restricted pre-tournament follow following the serious accidents suffered in his automobile twist of fate final yr, including: “I got here up right here as a check run and used to be in a position to play 27 holes and I felt just right.
“The entire thought used to be to stay pushing however stay improving. That is the laborious phase each evening. I have been doing that, my group has been implausible. I figured as soon as the adrenalin kicks in and I am getting fired up I will have to be capable to care for my trade.”
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Tiger Woods rolled again the years and thrilled the Augusta consumers with a one-under-par around of 71
Blended fortunes for celebrity names
Reigning champion Hideki Matsuyama started his identify defence with a level-par 72 and Rory McIlroy stuttered to a one-over 73 after bogeying two of his last 5 holes, with Collin Morikawa and Jordan Spieth are six and 7 strokes in the back of respectively.
International No 2 Jon Rahm may be within the team on two over that accommodates Olympic gold medallist Xander Schauffele, with former primary winners Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas each suffering to opening-round 76s.
Watch The Masters this week solely survive Sky Sports activities Golfing, with further feeds and bonus motion all through all 4 rounds to be had by means of the purple button. Are living protection continues on Friday from 2pm.
