JOIN USFormer FedExCup champion Bill Haas tied his lowest score in a major to snatch the lead at the Masters on Thursday while holder Adam Scott experienced a real sense of deja vu in the opening round.
American Haas, whose great uncle Bob Goalby landed the coveted green jacket in 1968, recovered from a bogey five at the opening hole to set the pace on four-under 68.
Scott, bidding to become only the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters, missed only four fairways but failed to make the most of his birdie opportunities on the greens as he returned a 69 to match his effort at the same stage last year.
Bubba Watson shared second place on 69 along with Scott and the player the American left-hander defeated in a play-off here in 2012, South African Louis Oosthuizen.
Rory McIlroy, the 12-1 pre-tournament favourite along with Australian Scott, launched his campaign with a 71.
World number one Tiger Woods may be missing from this year’s lineup following back surgery but there was no shortage of thrills on a sun-kissed day at Augusta National.
The 31-year-old Haas hit the front after bagging three birdies on each nine, including a six-footer at the last that gave him his first three at the 18th at the 17th career attempt.
The pin at the final hole was typical of the tricky flag positions on day one, tucked in on the corner of the putting surface.
“Birdying 18 was a huge bonus,” the 2011 FedExCup winner told reporters at the opening Major championship of the year. “I made some nice putts today, a couple of 20-footers, and that can certainly make a difference.”
Haas, the son of former US Ryder Cup player Jay senior, refused to get too carried away with his performance.
“I was leading last week after the first round and finished 37th,” he said of the Houston Open, “So I know there's tons of golf left.”
Scott felt less than comfortable with the shortest club in the bag, as evidenced by his three-putts for par on the long 13th and 15th. The world number two was also one of several victims of the notorious Amen Corner stretch -- holes 11, 12 and 13.
“At the 12th I received the most incredible ovation I've ever had but I struck my worst shot of the day,” said Scott after he dumped his nine-iron into Rae’s Creek and took a double-bogey five.
Argentina's Angel Cabrera, the player beaten by Scott in a playoff last year, had a day to forget as he plunged to a 78 that contained a triple-bogey seven at the 11th.
US Open champion Justin Rose (76), 2007 Masters winner Zach Johnson (78), WGC-Match Play champion Jason Day (75) and US PGA winner Jason Dufner (80) also struggled.
Former world number one Luke Donald was unable to turn around his recent poor form, slumping to a 79 highlighted by a quadruple-bogey eight at the ninth that featured a two-shot penalty for grounding his club in a bunker.
Triple Masters winner Phil Mickelson veered from the sublime to the ridiculous as he ballooned to a 76, matching his previous worst opening round at the championship in 1997 and 2007. The left-handed American suffered two sevens in his round but also curled in a snaking 60-foot putt for an unlikely birdie three at the 10th.
Leading scores
(after 18 holes): 68: Bill Haas (US); 69: Adam Scott (Aus), Louis Oosthuizen (SA), Bubba Watson (US); 70: Marc Leishman (Aus), Brandt Snedeker (US), Gary Woodland (US), Jimmy Walker (US), KJ Choi (Kor), Kevin Stadler (US), Jonas Blixt (Swe); 71: Fred Couples (US), Rickie Fowler (US), Miguel Angel Jimenez (Esp), Matteo Manassero (Ita), Rory McIlroy (Gbr), Jordan Spieth (US), Francesco Molinari (Ita), Stephen Gallacher (Gbr); 72: Nick Watney (US), Bae Sang-Moon (Kor), Bernhard Langer (Ger), Kevin Streelman (US), Graeme McDowell (Gbr), Steve Stricker (US), John Senden (Aus).