AUGUSTA, Georgia (AP) – A Masters breakthrough on Thursday:
LEADER: Paul Casey opened with a 7 under 65, matching his lowest level at the Masters.
TRACKING: Webb Simpson and Xander Schauffele at age 67.
INCOMPLETE: Of the 44 players who did not finish, Justin Thomas had five under 10 holes.
TIGER TALES: Tiger Woods had a 68, matched his lowest level at the Masters, and was his first ghost-free circular in a primary since the opening circular at Hazeltine at the 2009 PGA Championship.
PLAN OF THE DAY: From the trees to the right of 9th Street, former Masters champion Patrick Reed hit a low that cleared the bunker and ran just below the hole for a hint of birch.
JOY OF THE DAY: Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player won the loudest applause of some three hundred more people who piled up around the first tee for the honorary outing.
STATISTICS KEY: Larry Mize, the 62-year-old former champion, averaged 247. 4 yards in his two units measured. Bryson DeChambeau’s distance was 334. 6 yards. They all threw 70.
TONOTER: Casey’s first 65 shots were 16 strokes bigger than the first at the Masters last year.
QUOTEWORTHY: “Many new features today. It’s kind of like that all year round. The fact that we can compete for a Masters this year, given all that is happening, is a wonderful opportunity for all of us. . . “Tiger Woods.
TELEVISION: Friday, 7:30 a. m. to the end of the first circular (ESPN); 1 p. m. until 5:30 p. m. (ESPN).