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 Spieth, the hottest player in the game over the past six months,
raised hopes of shooting the first 62 at a major championship before
he ran out of steam over the closing stretch to fire an
eight-under-par 64.
The 21-year-old recorded his only bogey of the day at the par-five
15th, where he overshot the green with his third, but signed off in
style by draining a 20-footer to birdie the last.
"I'm very pleased, it was nice to get off to a good start," said
Spieth, who birdied four of his first nine holes on a receptive,
rain-softened layout at Augusta National to race to the turn in
four-under 32.
"The course was as gettable as I think it will be this week today.
To make nine birdies out here, you know, that's a dreamy round for
me. It was a lot of fun."
Spieth finished three shots in front of American Charley Hoffman,
2013 U.S. Open champion Justin Rose of England, four-time major
winner Ernie Els of South Africa and Australian Jason Day.
World number one McIlroy, in pursuit of a career grand slam of the
four majors, hit a couple of poor chip shots on his front nine on
the way to a 71 that left him seven strokes off the pace.
Four-times champion Woods, who shares the brightest glare of the
spotlight with McIlroy this week on his much anticipated return from
a two-month hiatus while retooling his swing, often struggled off
the tee and on the greens as he opened with a 73.
"It was a good day, I felt like I hit the ball well enough to shoot
three under par," said Woods, who decided only six days ago to
compete at Augusta National after struggling badly with his short
game in his two tournament starts this season.
"I made maybe two dumb mistakes out there. The only thing I
struggled with was the pace of the greens, which were much slower
than we expected. You know, I'm still in it. I'm only nine back. And
we have a long way to go."
While Woods' golfing fortunes have plummeted over the past year,
McIlroy's have soared and he is bidding to become the seventh career
grand slam winner following Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben
Hogan, Bobby Jones and Gene Sarazen.
GOOD SCORING CONDITIONS
On Thursday, however, the Northern Irishman failed to make the most
of good scoring conditions as he mixed three birdies with two bogeys
in front of massive galleries at a steamy Augusta National.
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"I just kept telling myself to be patient out there today," said
McIlroy, the tournament favourite.
"It was a tricky day. The wind was swirling a little bit. Pin
positions were tough. Anything under par I felt was a pretty good
score."
While McIlroy found conditions to be tricky, players such as Els,
Rose, Hoffman and Day went birdie hunting as they climbed up the
leaderboard.
"I just knew that if I could just be patient and give myself
opportunities, especially on the back nine, I could get something
going," said Day, who reeled off five consecutive birdies from the
par-three 12th before he bogeyed the 17th.
"It's good momentum going into tomorrow."
South African Els, who has recorded six top-10s in 20 Masters
appearances, got to six under before he slipped back with a bogey at
the par-four last.
"I just want to keep grinding," said the 45-year-old, who had never
previously shot under 70 in the opening round at Augusta National.
"There's a lot of golf to be played, but it's a really nice start."
Bubba Watson, seeking to join Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Woods as
the only players to win consecutive green jackets, bogeyed the final
hole for a 71 to finish in a large group that included 2011 champion
Charl Schwartzel of South Africa.
Long-time fan favourite Phil Mickelson, a three-time winner at
Augusta National, opened with a 70.
(Editing by Frank Pingue/Greg Stutchbury)
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