AUGUSTA, Ga. – Jordan Spieth had everything go his way Thursday in the Masters, so he should have known how the shot would turn out without even asking.

In the lead and in the trees, he slashed a 7-iron toward the green and started barking instructions at the golf ball until he saw it bound onto the 14th green. He never saw it smack into the pin and settle a few feet away. He only heard one of the loudest cheers of the afternoon.

“What happened?” Spieth said to his caddie.

Something special.

With six birdies in a seven-hole stretch, Spieth flirted with a major championship record he didn’t know existed and atoned for his lone mistake with one last birdie putt for an 8-under 64. It was the best opening round at Augusta National in 19 years, gave him a three-shot lead and stole plenty of buzz from the Grand Slam bid of Rory McIlroy and the return of Tiger Woods.

“It’s one of the better rounds I’ve ever played,” he said.

That wasn’t the case for McIlroy, though his round wasn’t awful. The world’s No. 1 player saved par four times on the front nine and scratched out a 71. Woods had three birdies in his round of 73, and while it was the first time since 2007 that he shot over par in the first round of the Masters, it was looked upon as progress. Most peculiar about his first round in two months was that his short game saved him.

But the day belonged to Spieth, a 21-year-old Texan who at least got into the Masters record book as the youngest to lead after the first round.

An even more significant record was within his reach, and he didn’t even know it.

Spieth went to 8 under with that birdie on the 14th hole, and then he blistered a driver down the fairway on the par-5 15th hole, just 228 yards to the hole. That’s when he started thinking about a 62 because he had never shot 10-under par as a pro.

But he hit hybrid over the green and wound up making bogey. Only later did Spieth realize that 63 was the best score in any major, and only two players had done at the Masters – Greg Norman in the first round of 1996 and Nick Price in the third round of 1986.

“So that’s a little frustrating,” he said before he paused with a wry smile. “But I’m certainly OK with the day.”

It wasn’t that big of a surprise.

Spieth shared the 54-hole lead last year at Augusta with Bubba Watson until a four-shot swing over the last two holes of the front nine as Watson pulled away. Plus, he might have been the hottest player coming into this Masters.

In his last three events, he won, finished second and lost in a playoff. The biggest challenge he faced was to keep his expectations from growing taller than a Georgia pine, and to make sure he was well rested.

Whatever the formula, it worked.

“What a player,” Els said after a 67, his best score at the Masters since Phil Mickelson beat him with a birdie on the last hole in 2004. “You just cannot see this kid not win many, many majors. I think he is by far the most balanced kid I’ve seen. Jordan, he’s got that little tenacity to him and he’s really got a fighting spirit, and he’s the nicest kid in the world. … He’s a special kid.”

Els played the par 5s in 5 under and briefly had the lead until Spieth went on his birdie spree. Hoffman finished with an eagle and two birdies over his last four holes.

Day looked to be the most dangerous. Twice a contender at Augusta in the last four years, he made five straight birdies on the back nine until he lost momentum with a bogey from the bunker on the 17th. Still, three shots behind after one round wasn’t a bad place to me.

McIlroy has more work.

Coming off successive major victories to close out last year, McIlroy needs only a green jacket to become the sixth player with the career Grand Slam. He has never started a Masters with this much historic significance in play, or this much attention.

McIlroy smashed his opening drive right down the middle, The rest of his game was a bit off.

He hooked a drive into the hazard on the par-5 second and had to scramble for par. He stubbed a chip short of the green on the 350-yard third hole and had to fight for another par. McIlroy picked up two birdies on the par 5s on the back nine to salvage his start.

“It could have been a round that got away from me,” McIlroy said. “I just stayed patient, realizing that it’s a 72-hole tournament. It was good to get into red numbers.”

That wasn’t that difficult to achieve on a day of soft conditions that made even the tough pin positions a little more accessible. Thirty players in the 97-man field broke par.

Woods wasn’t one of them.

He opened with a three-putt bogey from about 40 feet. He had one bad adventure on the ninth and escaped with bogey. But there was not a sign of struggle from his short game, except for a bunker shot on the par-3 fourth hole that went over the green.

Most telling was early on the back nine. Woods saved par from the bunker right of the green on No. 10. Facing one of the scariest shots on the course, he pitched beautifully to save par on the 11th. And after a tee shot into the water on No. 12, his wedge to 2 feet allowed him to make bogey.

“It’s my strength again,” Woods said.

But he was nine shots behind, and that was going to take a strong effort to overcome.

It wasn’t the start Canadians were hoping for.

The duo of Corey Conners and Mike Weir could not find their grooves early Thursday morning, shooting 8-over and 10-over par, respectively.

The 23-year-old Conners started steady with four straight pars, before running into trouble with a string of bogeys. The Listowel, Ont., native had his hands full with the famously quick greens of Augusta National—averaging 1.89 putts-per-hole with two three-putts.

The National Amateur Squad member managed to finish the day on a positive note, birdying the par-4 18^th . Conners will look to ride that momentum into tomorrow’s second round.

Paired alongside Conners in the 8:18am tee time was 2003 Masters Champion, Mike Weir. The Brights Grove, Ont., native had a difficult time mirroring his championship form, carding a 10-over par 82.

“Oh, a ball of laughs,” Weir told the Vancouver Sun’s Cam Cole.

“It’s just getting the strength and endurance in this (right) arm to last longer. It just seems to fatigue. In my mind I want to keep my swing short but the arm just keeps bending — and that’s just the ligament and the strength in my forearm.”

Corey Conners’ Scorecard:

Click here to view a summary of Conners’ round.

Mike Weir’s Scorecard:

Click here to view a summary of Weir’s round.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Charley Hoffman considers himself quite the veteran of the Masters. Whenever he’s not playing, this storied tournament is must-see TV for him.

Playing, however, is much more fun than watching.

Being in contention after the first 18 holes is even better.

Playing Augusta National for just the second time, and first since 2011, Hoffman put his unusual experience to work Thursday. He turned in his best round here with a 5-under 67, and he’s much happier playing than being frustrated by having to watch at home.

“That means I wasn’t winning golf tournaments,” Hoffman said. “So my main goal is to win golf tournaments, and obviously you have to win golf tournaments to get here to the Masters. And no, I think the Masters does a great job with TV. It’s just a fun tournament to watch and all the great past champions, and I think it’s the one if I’m not in, I do tune in.”

Hoffman earned his spot this week by winning the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Mexico in November – the final PGA Tour event of the 2014 calendar year. That was his third career title and first in 109 starts. That was the second drought after going 105 starts between his win at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in 2007 and the 2010 Deutsche Bank Championship.

The wait between titles was so long that Hoffman and his wife, pregnant at the time of his second win in 2010, celebrated the win in Mexico with their 4-year-old daughter Claire. Adding to the joy? Knowing he was Augusta-bound once again.

“I was just trying to win a golf tournament on the PGA Tour so I could get back here,” Hoffman said.

His tee time at the Masters made his return even more special. Hoffman started in the first group in a twosome with Brian Harman following the ceremonial tee shots by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. Once Hoffman saw the schedule, he bought a couple flags and got autographs from Nicklaus and Palmer to auction off for his foundation.

“Gary walked away so I went, I’d better get Jack and Arnie before I lose it all,” Hoffman said. “I’ll try at some point to get Gary to sign the two that they signed, and that would be pretty cool.”

If he can keep up his play, Hoffman could get that chance soon. He started off with five birdies, an eagle and two bogeys. A man who likes to play quickly said he appreciated the honor of being in the first group because that gave him the chance to hit and go with no waiting.

Hoffman had to shake off some nerves after getting those autographs as he hooked his tee shot into the ninth fairway before hitting back and two-putting to save par. Then he birdied three of his next four holes, taking advantage of softer greens thanks to a humid morning. His longest birdie putt was from 4 feet on the par-5 No. 2.

After a bogey at No. 11, he stuck a 20-degree hybrid from 240 yards to 12 feet for eagle on the 530-yard par-5 15th. Then he birdied Nos. 16 and 18, finishing by sticking a 6-iron to 3 feet for a score that was two strokes better than any of his four rounds here in 2011.

Hoffman has played well this year, tying for second at the Humana Challenge. He also was the first-round lead at Valero Texas two weeks ago with an opening 67 before tying for 11th. He then tied for 11th in Houston before coming to Georgia.

“It’s the coveted green jacket you want to get,” Hoffman said. “I’m trying to approach it like if I get in position, I’m going to be aggressive. If I get out of position, I’m going to try to get back in position just like any other golf tournament. It worked today. I don’t know if it’s going to work tomorrow or the next day, but I’m going to try to keep my game plans I have going into it.”

AUGUSTA, Ga. – They shared the lead going into the weekend 50 years ago at Augusta National.

Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player were together again Thursday morning in another familiar role. Each hit a drive off the first tee to start the Masters. And then golf’s “Big Three” shared memories and jokes about their games and friendship.

They combined to win the Masters 13 times – they were the only winners from 1960 through 1966. It was in 1965 that they were tied at 6-under 138 after two rounds. Nicklaus jokingly said he only remembered the third round. That’s when he matched the Masters record with a 64 and wound up winning by nine shots.

Palmer hit the tee shot even on Thursday though he is recovering from a dislocated shoulder.

The Big Three hit their tee shots as Honorary Starters. The 2015 Masters has officially begun. #themasters https://t.co/lDuzNvKmYf

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 9, 2015

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Owning what is arguably the most beautiful golf course in the world apparently isn’t enough for members of Augusta National. Soon they may lay claim to the world’s most beautiful parking lot, too.

Chairman Billy Payne hinted as much while fielding questions following his annual “State of the Masters” address.

The club recently bought a roughly 2-square-mile parcel of land just north of the golf course that has been used as a parking lot for the Masters. Berckman’s Road, which currently separates the two properties, will be diverted farther north to form one contiguous parcel.

“While it will continually be maintained every year as a parking lot, it will look appropriately as though it belongs inside the fences of Augusta National,” Payne said.

“Imagine parking … a few years from now in a very beautiful park, and walking to the admissions gate without having any interference by cars or carts. It will be a straight, uninterrupted walk, a beautiful walk. We’re pretty good at landscaping, as you know,” he added a few moments later to laughter, “so you can kind of imagine what it would look like.”

Asked later whether the expanded parcel would encourage the club to consider expanding the golf course itself – hole No. 5, which abuts Berckman’s, is the only likely candidate at the moment – Payne replied, “Yes, through time it will, yes.”

The parking lot wasn’t the only long-term beautification item on Wednesday’s agenda.

In yet another tribute to the soaring loblolly pine known as Eisenhower’s Tree – felled during an ice storm in February 2014 – club officials said they had managed to preserve a seedling that may be replanted someday.

The tree stood guard along the left side of the 17th fairway about 210 yards from the tee. It so frustrated former president and Augusta member President Dwight Eisenhower during his rounds here that he campaigned for years to have it removed. Nature finally took care of that.

“While we learned last year that the absence of the Ike’s Tree … did not impact scoring average on the hole, who knows what the future holds or what future chairmen might decide to do with these priceless specimens,” Payne said.

Following the withdrawal of Australian Marc Leishman, there are 97 players in this year’s field. Payne said Masters officials intend to keep the number around 100.

“We look at that periodically, and we are prepared if necessary to make changes to the qualifications. … The restricting factor to the field size is the amount of daylight hours during early spring. We already push the envelope very closely when we get at or about a hundred players.

“If it regularly got more than that, we would have to do something,” he added. “I don’t know what it is, but we would do something.”

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Kevin Streelman beat Camilo Villegas on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff Wednesday to win the Par 3 tournament on the last day to relax at Augusta National.

Streelman and Villegas finished the nine holes tied at 5 under. They each opened with a par then a birdie before Streelman topped Villegas, who had not one, but two holes-in-one through his first eight holes.

Americans Ben Martin and Cameron Tringale tied last year’s Par 3 champ Ryan Moore at 4 under.

Streelman, who played at Duke, tied for 42nd last year in his best finish in three appearances at the Masters.

Winning the Par 3 contest has been considered a bad omen since no one has won both that title and the Masters in the same week. Streelman called it a fun day where his focus was on helping Ethan from the Make-a-Wish Foundation have a great day.

“Done all I can do,” Streelman said. “Now I’ve just got to go out and have fun and play.”

Villegas got his first ace on No. 4 along with Jack Nicklaus and Matias Dominguez of Chile. The Colombian followed that with his second hole-in-one of the day on the 120-yard No. 8, taking him to 5-under 22 and tying Streelman.

Holes-in-one are nothing new for Villegas who had the 14th of his career last week at home with a 5-iron. He said his pitching wedge on his first hole-in-one Wednesday kept trickling back and went in the hole. He used a 54-degree wedge on his second ace.

“The second one, we were a little more emotional there,” Villegas said. “We just kind of jumped. Enjoying it man.”

Tiger Woods had company playing the Par 3 for the first time since 2004. His 6-year-old son, Charlie, and 7-year-old daughter, Sam, caddied for him with girlfriend, Olympic skiing champion Lindsey Vonn, joining them. Woods even let his daughter handle his putting, and she showed a deft touch on the green.

“I’ll always have memories of my pop at Augusta and now Sam & Charlie,” Woods wrote on Twitter. “An amazing day.”

Tiger Woods with son Charlie, daughter Sam and Lindsey Vonn (Getty Images)

Family time is the best part of this event.

Ernie Els let his daughter Samantha putt. Caleb Watson looked adorable in his caddie suit and green hat following his daddy, two-time Masters champ Bubba from hole to hole. Brendan Todd had his hands full carrying son Oliver when not swinging a club.

“Definitely the best part was carrying my son, six-month-boy, all over showing him off to the crowd,” Todd said.

Nicklaus, the six-time Masters champ, looked like he just might win his first Par 3 title at the age of 75 after a hole-in-one on No. 4.

His iron shot bounced twice before taking a little hop spinning back into the hole. Ben Crenshaw and Gary Player each congratulated Nicklaus, and he celebrated with a double first-pump. Fans roared for a shot that got Nicklaus on the leaderboard before a 5-over finish.

“I never had a hole-in-one at Augusta,” Nicklaus said. “It’s funny. I had an interview this morning and I said, `Well, all I’ve got to do is go out and win the Par 3 and make a hole-in-one,’ and I make a hole-in-one. I had 3 under for the Par 3 and then choked.”

There were five aces Wednesday in all.

Watch the #par3contest holes-in-one from @jacknicklaus, @TrevorImmelman, @Afidominguez, and @CamiloVillegasR https://t.co/dvRqkvdri5

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 8, 2015

Canada’s Corey Conners didn’t record an ace, but he did fare quite well. The Listowel, Ont., native and Team Canada member tied for 6th at 3-under.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Tiger Woods played in the Par 3 tournament at the Masters for the first time since 2004, and he made it quite a family outing with girlfriend Lindsey Vonn at his side, and his children caddying for him.

Vonn certainly completed the family portrait on Wednesday with her flowing green dress matching Tiger’s shirt while Woods’ daughter, Sam, and son, Charlie, each wore green ballcaps and white caddie jumpsuits in their first turn in this event.

The Olympic skiing champion sure seemed to handle the role as stepmom well, keeping a watchful eye on the children, often leaning down to talk with them.

Woods let his 7-year-old daughter help with the putting, and she showed her father she can certainly roll the ball.

It seemed like a good time was had by all. There’s no doubt Woods enjoyed himself.

“These were memories for a lifetime,” he said.

With one of the most elite fields in golf headed to Augusta, here are Inside the PGA TOUR’s top 10 players to watch at the Masters Tournament in this feature from “Inside the PGA TOUR”.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – There are so many cameras at the Masters this week that practice rounds are beginning to resemble kids’ birthday parties back in the day.

Barred from bringing their cell phones on the course, fans adapted by going back to the future, dusting off pocket-sized digital cameras or their old 35mm bodies and lenses and re-learning how to use them.

But a quick refresher course is all they’re allowed. When play begins Thursday, fans will have to put them back on the shelves.

“Actually, the last time I had this out was Easter,” Wayne Watson said about the large black Nikon hanging around his neck.

And the time before that?

“No idea,” he said. “Probably the Easter before.”

More than a few of the fans lugging around similar equipment were, like Watson – who made the two-hour drive from Macon – experiencing Augusta National in person for the first time.

Most just planned to mosey around until something caught their fancy. Some had general targets in mind – a favorite player or two, the trio of back-nine holes reverentially dubbed “Amen Corner,” or the gigantic manual scoreboard alongside the first fairway.

Then there was the occasional experienced big-game hunter, decked out with camera bags and an array of lenses.

“I’m after Phil Mickelson,” said Kim McNeeley of nearby Aiken, South Carolina. “I got a great shot of him the last time I was here – 18 years ago.

“But there are plenty of guys more serious than I am,” she added. “I had to borrow this from a friend who just had a baby. A few minutes ago, I saw a guy actually loading film into his camera. Film. Now that’s old school.”

Stepping back in time produced more than a few comical moments.

Parked in lawn chairs behind the first tee, two pals leaned in close as one tried to figure out how to take a “selfie” with a point-and-shoot camera – never mind that the term hadn’t even been coined when the camera was originally manufactured. Behind the seventh tee, Kevin Davis of Gibson City, Illinois, recounted the preparations he went through to make sure his 4-year-old digital camera was ready to roll.

First, he had to find it – “It took me awhile to remember where I left it,” he said, finally remembering it was in a desk drawer – and then make sure it was charged.

“I’ve got a big camera, but I didn’t want to lug that around,” Davis added. “That’s usually for family events.”

But he might have had second thoughts when his twin 5-year-olds saw the camera and realized it wasn’t a phone.

“They were scratching their heads,” he recalled. “They said, `Daddy, why is it so big?'”

The fact that so many wound up opting for the big camera likely had to do with the number of serious hobbyists. While many planned to share their photos with friends on social media, a few planned to commemorate the trip with a photo album – talk about old-school – and in the case of Wes Rackley, make quality 8×10 framed prints and give them as presents.

Few people, though, seemed as comfortable carrying around all the serious gear as Brett Pavel of Atlanta. He was at Augusta National for the 20th time – “I think that’s right,” he said, “because I’ve got at least 18 shirts – and said he has a camera around his neck at least once a week.

“My wife calls it my `pacifier,'” he laughed, “because our youngest son plays competitive soccer and she says taking pictures is the only thing that keeps me from cussing and yelling at the refs and everybody else.”

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Phil Mickelson wants another green jacket, just not for the obvious reasons.

The prestige, cold cash and silver trophy that accompany a Masters championship – the three-time winner has all that already. The reason Lefty likely wants this latest one is that, whenever the mood struck him, he could prank every playing partner in his foursome.

“I would put it in my golf bag and if it was chilly in the morning, I would pull it out. … I wouldn’t carry three around with me, but I would say, I’ve got two more if you’re cold,” he said to laughter. “But that’s just being rude.

“You’ve got to be careful who you say that stuff to,” Mickelson added quickly. “Some people can take it, some people can’t.”

Mickelson arrived here on the five-year anniversary of his last Masters win, but Augusta National was also the scene of his breakthrough in the majors. His 2004 victory ended an 0-for-42 streak in the game’s biggest tournaments, sparking wins in the PGA Championship and British Open to go along with those Masters triumphs.

“Winning this tournament, being a part of this championship, coming here every year to compete and try to add to that, is the greatest thing,” Mickelson said. “It’s what you think about in the off season when you’re putting in the work in the gym at 5:30 in the morning. You don’t want to be there; you think about the Masters and what you’re doing it for.

“This,” he said, “is what gives us the motivation.”

Mickelson will need plenty to turn around what’s been a rough patch – relatively speaking – in his resume. In seven events this season, he’s missed two cuts and his best showing is a tie for 17th, a result he managed for the second time at last week’s Houston Open. Save a runner-up finish at last year’s PGA Championship, his 2014 results – including a missed cut here – weren’t much better.

Mickelson acknowledged some of those troubles were the result of a letdown following his stirring 2013 British Open win.

“I could say maybe I got a little lethargic,” he said. “When I started last year, I was a little hurt and my speed wasn’t where it needed to be and my back was aching and consequently it led to a terrible year.

“This year in the offseason, I had a great offseason, and I’m in the best shape that I’ve been in. I’m able to swing the club fast again and practice without any discomfort, pain. So I feel like I’ve been able to put in the work and the time to get my game back. It’s come around a little bit slower than I thought it would. I really thought I would start the year out on fire and it couldn’t have been further from that.

“But I’m excited with what’s going to happen the rest of the year. I’m excited with where I see my game going. …It’s kind of like, you have got to take baby steps.”

Mickelson said the first step along that path was to play aggressively again, “getting my focus back to make birdies, and that mental intensity that’s needed to be able to get at pins and play holes properly and make birdies.”

That attitude was on display last week in Houston, where Mickelson led the field in birdies. But he cancelled those out with a number of loose shots that led to bogeys and worse. Lefty said the premium Augusta National places on the short game – arguably his greatest strength – should enable him to save enough pars to vault him into contention this week.

“I don’t feel like (my game) needs a lot of work like it did last year. Last year I felt like there wasn’t enough time to get ready. … This time, I feel like I’ve done the work,” he added, “and just need a little bit of fine tuning the next day and a half to get ready.”