Complete live Masters coverage throughout the day, including photos, live leaderboard and more.
Refresh this page throughout the day for live blog coverage of the 2022 Masters. The live leaderboard is available here, or under the live blog coverage below.
4:30 p.m. - Grimacing, but Relieved
Tiger Woods walks to the 18th green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
A few days ago, we weren’t even sure if Tiger Woods was going to play at the Masters. Now, he’s completed his opening round, with a 1-under 71.
Tiger played it safe early, with pars on the first five holes. He then went birdie-par-bogey-par to close out his front nice at even-par.
On the back nine, he was a little off kilter, but still managed to string together pars on 10-11-12, before going birdie-bogey-par-birdie-par-par. He got a little lucky with a drop out of a puddle on 18, and it helped him close with the par.
Welcome back indeed.
Oh, and as is our theme today, we also managed to curse Cameron Smith. He finished with a double bogey, but still sits atop the leaderboard at 4-under.
508 days since his last competitive round, Tiger Woods shoots 1-under 71 in Round 1 of @TheMasters. pic.twitter.com/M6hPZfNqj3
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) April 7, 20223:45 p.m. - The Cameron Smith Show
Cameron Smith of Australia walks to the 13th green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Yes, we just posted about Cameron Smith, but he’s just destroying Augusta National right now.
Here’s his round: Double-par-par-par-birdie-birdie-par-birdie-birdie for a front 9 2-under, and back 9 he’s par-par-birdie-par-birdie-birdie-birdie.
For the math challenged, that’s good enough to lead at 6-under, with two holes to play in his first round. He’s two clear of Sungjae Im at 4-under.
Tiger Woods just hit an incredible putt on the difficult 16th hole. He’s now 1-under, and tied for 8th.
1:40 p.m. - Uh Oh Tiger
Tiger Woods walks across the seventh hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Well, don’t let it be said that we aren’t reporting both sides of the Tiger Woods drama today.
After a wobbly start that he managed to punch through with pars, and then a birdie, things have gone a little sour.
He salvaged a par on 7, after a drive into the pine straw. But then he was all over the place on the par 5 eighth hole, coming in with a nasty bogey 6.
And then on the par 4 9th hole, he pulled his drive into the trees, wincing in pain and holding his back. He showed a noticeable limp as he walked to his ball. His attempt to make the difficult green failed, as his shot rolled back off the front.
We’re gonna wait to hit update… and thankfully, we did. Tiger drilled an aggressive par save on 9. He’s even par through the front 9.
Meanwhile, there’s another new leader, as Joaquin Niemann – playing in the group with Woods – holed out on 9 for an eagle, and is 3-under at the turn.
Niemann's eagle-2 at the par-4 ninth:pic.twitter.com/QigJ8M3wlz https://t.co/FZFpRDdUf8
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) April 7, 20221:15 p.m. - A New Leader
Takumi Kanaya of Japan plays his shot from the first tee during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
There’s a new solo leader in the first round, as Takumi Kanaya is on top at 2-under through just two holes.
Kanaya, playing in his second Masters, has birdies on the first two holes. He’s in a bit of trouble on 3, but so far, has the lead.
Nine other golfers, including that Tiger Woods fella, are one shot back at 1-under.
(We literally hit update, and Tiger bogeyed the 8th. He’s now even par. Sorry again, Tiger.)
1 p.m. - First Leader in the Clubhouse
J.J. Spaun and caddie Mark Joseph Carens line up a putt on the first green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia.
Congratulations to J.J. Spaun! He’s the early leader in the clubhouse at 2-over, 74.
Spaun was in the first grouping with Jose Maria Olazabal, who finished at 5-over, 77.
His lead will be short lived, as others start to come in after their first rounds, but for now, he’s the “leader.”
12:40 p.m. - A Thing of Beauty
It may not last long, but we had to take a second to appreciate seeing Tiger Woods in red numbers at Augusta National.
A perfect tee shot on the par-3 sixth gave Tiger a tap in birdie. He’s looking good so far. Let’s see how the endurance is as the day goes on.
And of course our curse strikes again. Tiger just shanked his drive on 7, and is in some pine straw to the right of the fairway. Sorry, Tiger.
Tiger reaches red numbers in the 86th Masters. #themasters pic.twitter.com/yhaEU4i32T
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 7, 202212:30 p.m. - Tiger Drains a Bir... Oops
Tiger Woods reacts to his shot from the fourth tee during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Tiger Woods knocked in a solid putt on 5 to get his first birdie of the day. Well, at least he thought he had.
Everything about the putt looked good, but somehow the golf gods managed to lip it out at the last second, giving Woods his fifth par of the day.
Meanwhile, Tony Finau just hit a shot so far off course on the par-3 fourth hole, he had to yell “FORE!” to avoid hitting patrons. It left him with a pitch to the fairway to try and save the hole. He’s 1-under for now.
Oh and by the way, in the time it took us to write this, Tiger took a 6-iron on the Par 3 sixth and nearly aced it. He’ll have another shot at birdie in a moment.
12:15 p.m. - On to the Afternoon
Shane Lowry of Ireland reacts to his shot from the fourth tee during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
As we complete the morning hours of Day 1 of the 2022 Masters Tournament, let’s take a look at where we are so far:
- 8 players are currently under par (this is changing every second it seems);
- Henry Higgs currently leads at 2-under;
- Tiger Woods has returned to Augusta and has four pars to start his wobbly, but safe round so far;
- Vijay Singh is at the bottom of the leaderboard at 6-over among the 50 golfers on the course so far;
- Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama is 1-over through 3
11:50 a.m. - Defending Champ on the Course
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan reacts after making par on the first green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The 2021 Masters champion, Hideki Matsuyama is back on the course at Augusta National.
Matsuyama became the first Japanese golfer to win a major in 2021, and he’s started this year with a par on the first, and looks in good position to do the same on the second.
And the latest on Tiger (because why not), he has been a little off on each hole so far, but has still managed to save par on each of the first three holes.
11:35 a.m. - A Good Walk Spoiled
Vijay Singh of Fiji plays his shot from the fourth tee during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at work, right? Here’s hoping Vijay Singh operates under that mentality.
Singh finds himself on the bottom of the early leaderboard, as he sits six-over through eight holes.
He had a bogey on 1, 4, 5 and 6. And then a double bogey on 7.
And because we can’t help but tell you how Tiger is doing, he just missed a long birdie attempt, but came away with another par.
11:15 a.m. - Par on 1 for Tiger
Tiger Woods plays his shot from the first tee during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
It was an emotional first hole for everyone around the group including Tiger Woods.
Woods hit an errant 264-yard drive into the bunker, hit his second shot from 175 yards short of the green, chipped his third to about 10 feet away, and then drained his putt for a par.
None of that mattered though, as a giant crowd surrounded the hole, and let out a roar as the putt dropped. He’s back.
Welcome back. #themasters pic.twitter.com/3gJCXp5j95
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 7, 202211 a.m. - Introducing Harry Higgs
Harry Higgs lines up a putt on the first green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Welcome to Augusta National, Harry Higgs.
The Masters rookie was a star on the Southern Methodist University golf team, alongside Bryson DeChambeau and Kelly Kraft.
He started his Masters Thursday with a bogey on the first hole, but has since birdied the second, third and fourth holes and is tied atop the leaderboard with Min Woo Lee at 2-under.
And Tiger Woods is now coming to the tee box on 1. (And as we go to refresh this… Min Woo Lee just double bogeyed the sixth and is back to even par. And Higgs bogeyed the fifth to go back to 1-under. We really gotta quit jinxing these guys.)
10:30 a.m. - Tiger Time Lurking
Tiger Woods arrives to the course during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Just 14 months ago, doctors weren’t sure Tiger Woods would ever walk again after a horrific car accident. Now, he’s back in the Masters, where he’s won five times.
As the morning rounds continue, with little movement (four players are tied at -1 early), the 11:04 a.m. tee time for Tiger Woods is gaining anticipation.
Woods will hit the course with Louis Oosthuizen and Joaquin Niemann.
10 a.m. - Guido!
Guido Migliozzi of Italy reacts after making par on the first green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Another Masters rookie, Guido Migliozzi from Italy, is having a strong start to his first turn on the Augusta National fairways.
Migliozzi has birdies on the second and third holes and is 2-under on the day. Wait… we jinxed him. He’s about bogey the fourth hole. Oops.
9:40 a.m. - Welcome Back Paddy
Padraig Harrington of Ireland lines up a putt on the third green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
Padraig Harrington hasn’t played the Masters since 2015, but it looks like the Irishman is feeling good back on the course.
Harrington has birdied the third and fourth holes and now sits at -2, in the lead.
9:30 a.m. - Par 3 Curse?
Mike Weir of Canada lines up a putt on the first green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The Par 3 tournament on Wednesday is always such a treat for the golfers and their families (check out the gallery at the bottom of this page to see just how amazing it is).
But that seems to come with a price, as no winner of the Par 3 challenge has ever won the Masters Tournament.
Mike Weir finished tied for the best score Wednesday, and a nasty double bogey on the Par 4 first hole tells us the curse may be alive and well.
Weir has picked one of those shots back up with a birdie on 3, but it might be a good idea to miss a few putts on Wednesday next year.
9:15 a.m. - No Intimidation for Higgo
Garrick Higgo of South Africa exchanges clubs with caddie Nick Cavendish-Pell on the first hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Playing in your first Masters Tournament is usually a scary prospect. But for Garrick Higgo of South Africa, he doesn’t look scared at all.
Higgo drained a 14-foot birdie putt on the first hole, and is currently the only player under par, with 11 golfers on the course.
8:45 a.m. - The First Birdie
Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain and caddie Emilio Pereira walk across the first hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 07, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The first birdie of the 86th Masters Tournament has been carded. Jose Maria Olazabal drained a putt from 18 feet, just on the edge of the green on the Par 4 first hole.
He is now 1-under for his round, and his playing partner today, J.J. Spaun is at even par, after just missing a 38-foot putt for birdie.
Mike Weir, Padraig Harrington and amateur Austin Greaser are playing the first hole now.
8:30 a.m. - Time to Play Golf
It’s a wet day at Augusta National. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Jose Maria Olazabal and J.J. Spaun are on the first tee, and we have golf at a gloomy Augusta National.All the preparation is complete. Play well. #themasters pic.twitter.com/20J62geikM
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 7, 20228:15 a.m. - Honorary Starters Tee Off
Honorary starter and Masters champion Jack Nicklaus walks to the first tee during the opening ceremony. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Right on time, the honorary starters got us going today. With gloomy skies and lots of umbrellas still out, the three golf legends took to the tee.
Gary Player got things going with a joke about doing pushups earlier this morning, and a beautiful shot right down the fairway.
Jack Nicklaus then followed with a joke about not falling over, and hit a shot he clearly wasn’t pleased with, off to the right.
And for the first time as an honorary starter, Tom Watson celebrated his 45th anniversary of his first Masters title. “I would like to say how honored I am with Gary and Jack. To be a part of this thing, I am truly humbled.”
Watson then joked about how far Gary Player hit it, and fired a shot straight down the fairway.
The Masters is underway.
