Thursday at the Masters Comments


Jordan Spieth was the main story following Thursday at the Masters. The 21-year-old fired an 8-under 64 to take the first-round lead. Spieth, who finished tied for second in his first go-round last year, could have matched or broken the all-time scoring record of 63, but a bogey on the par-5 15th prevented that.

Though the young gun from Dallas led the conversations, there were other voices heard amid the pines at Augusta National Golf Club. Here are some of them.

Spieth - who carded nine birdies and that bogey to take a three-stroke lead entering Friday.

"I was very pleased. It's one of the better rounds I've ever played. Carried a lot of momentum into this week. And I think that was the trickiest thing leading into here to keep the momentum going, not wear myself out. I played less holes than I did last year prior to the tournament, and spent less time on the driving range and more chipping and putting. It helped today. I didn't drive the ball particularly well. Didn't strike the ball great. Got some good breaks and capitalized on some really good breaks today."

Justin Rose - the 2013 U.S. Open winner at Merion was among four players - the others are Charley Hoffman, Ernie Els and Jason Day - trailing Spieth by three strokes.

"I think it's just about playing good, solid golf, executing my game plan and giving myself a chance on Sunday. A lot can happen, so you have to keep it this golf course is all about executing your game plan. There's so many shots out there, especially around Amen Corner, that can ruin a scorecard. So there's really no point in getting ahead of yourself. One thing I've learned on this golf course is that if you do make a bogey or two, when you start to chase around here to make up for it, it's not always the best decision. I've definitely learned the hard way a couple of times, which was obviously a good experience. By playing well and swinging well, then I should be able to keep executing the game plan.

"I haven't been in contention to have those feelings of late. The Florida Swing, which is a stretch of golf I've normally really played well in, and normally get myself into contention quite regularly through the Florida Swing, and that hasn't been the case this year. I guess just that little sort of feeling of the spotlight being on you and the pressure there, and you know, the crowd and the energy and atmosphere that you normally get later towards the back end of a golf tournament, I felt like I had that feeling early today. It was just a nice bit of energy or adrenaline to really kick start my game. I felt like I've been practicing really well the last two, three weeks, and it was nice just to be able to take it into the arena today."

Arnold Palmer, Gary Player & Jack Nicklaus - the famed "Big Three" started the 79th Masters as the honorary starters and hit the ceremonial first tee shots. The trio has 13 green jackets among them and 147 collective appearances in the Masters. The 85-year-old Palmer hasn't wielded a golf club since dislocating his shoulder in December, but Arnie took his trademark slash at the ball and drove it down the left side of the fairway.

Six-time Masters' champion Nicklaus about hanging tough through 72 holes:

"The fitness side I didn't represent, okay (eliciting laughter). No, I think that basically, you're coming down the stretch, I don't think you're worried - I never thought about it. If I was in contention, I figured I knew what I had to do and just tried to do it. If you're not confident and you're not prepared, you won't be ready to do it. If you are prepared and you're happy with what you're doing, then you don't have a chance to get nervous or worry about it or even think about it. You just go play, and that's what I always did. When we got down to the end, if I had a shot at winning, then that was when I had to really make sure that I focused properly to do what I had to do. And I think the young guys still have that same situation."

79-year-old Player about Rory McIlroy's quest for a career Grand Slam this week:

"He's such a wonderful golfer and such a wonderful young man. I think he's prepared, and I think his story is the answer. He's worked out extremely hard. He's very fit. Because when you play every day, you don't realize what a difficult golf course this is to walk until you go and walk it yourself, and walk it from the back tees. It is very strenuous. Practice rounds and the tournament fitness is a great asset. Rory has had his adversity on the golf course having led, so now he's got a big challenge. So he's going to feel that stretch, but he's ready to tackle it and very, very fit. I think fitness and patience. I think Jack exemplifies the patience side."

Els - golf's "Big Easy" is making his 21st appearance at Augusta National; the four-time major champion is looking for his first green jacket.

"I just felt comfortable. I felt at ease for some reason. I felt patient. I've been working on some different shots on my driver. I'm getting a little on now, so I've been using - we have always been using a very heavy shaft, but I went with a lighter shaft. Been trying that for the last couple of months, and I think I've finally obviously found something nice, because I drove it nicely yesterday in practice and started feeling some good momentum. But, as you say, there's been no sign of any form (chuckling). So it's just been very special.

"The one positive has been recently I've been making a lot of birdies. At Bay Hill, I made 21 birdies; and Houston I made 20 birdies. So I was trying to, you know, drag something positive out of those weeks. So that means that when I'm on, I'm doing something well. But I've had the odd bad hole here and there. So I've been trying to stay patient today and felt very comfortable on the greens."

Hoffman - playing in the early wave, the 38-year-old from San Diego fulfilled a dream by getting the autographs of the "Big Three" before they started the tournament.

"It was cool getting up this morning and warming up with Jack, Arnie and Gary Player. There's not really puts the nerves at ease, really, watching those guys warm up. Out there at the putting green, I actually got Jack's and Arnie's autograph this morning; they were nice enough to do that. I was sort of scared, should I ask them, should I not ask them. My mind wasn't really on golf really, I was watching those guys.

"Come the first tee, I was a little nervous, hit a little hook over in the ninth fairway and was able to get back over to the green and settled nerves and a little two putt par; and was able to make birdie on the second and third, and that sort of calmed the nerves and I was ready to go."

Casey - on gleaning valuable experience from past champions during his previous seven Masters appearances.

"I've played a lot of practice rounds in the early days when I had the invite to come. I've been fortunate to play with Tiger, play with (Ben) Crenshaw, played practice rounds with (Ray) Floyd and (Bernhard) Langer, tournament rounds with Langer. So I've seen enough of the wily champions to know or witness how they have got around here. And there's different ways, but yeah, there is a way. And you don't forget it even though it's been three years (since his last appearance)."

The interview excerpts above are courtesy of ASAP Sports.