San Francisco Frontiers - 'Free' McIlroy launches his Masters repeat bid

The world number two, who completed a career Grand Slam by taking his first green jacket last year, is trying to join Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus as the only back-to-back Masters winners.

McIlroy, a five-time major champion, sent his tee shot at the first hole under pine trees left of the fairway, then was short of the green but bounced onto the putting surface and sank a five-foot par putt.

McIlroy said before the start he relished "being free in my swing and in my thoughts" on the first tee before challenging the lightning-fast Augusta greens.

"It's going to be a tough test," McIlroy said. "The wind is going to be up. Greens are going to get firm. It's certainly not going to be a birdie-fest.

"It's going to require patience. It's going to require more of a mental grind maybe."

World number three Cameron Young, who won last month's Players Championship, opened with a bogey, playing alongside McIlroy.

Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, seized the early lead at three-under par.

The American sank a six-foot birdie putt at the first then holed out from off the green at the second for eagle.

A pack on two-under included Kurt Kitayama after birdies at the par-three sixth and par-four seventh.

Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal, the 1994 and 1999 Masters champion, birdied the par-five second and par-three third holes then parred his way through the front nine.

The 60-year-old Spaniard, among the first players on the course, sank a birdie putt on the second hole and curled in a 30-foot birdie putt at the third.

England's Tommy Fleetwood birdied the second and third holes.

Ireland's Shane Lowry, the 2019 British Open winner who sank the trophy-clinching putt for Europe in last year's Ryder Cup, began with back-to-back birdies but fell back with a double bogey at the par-three fourth.

Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 and 2024 US Open champion, made a bogey at the second.

The American won LIV Golf titles last month at Singapore and South Africa and pressed McIlroy in last year's Masters final Sunday group before sharing fifth.

Alongside DeChambeau were England's Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, and compatriot Xander Schauffele, the 2024 British Open and PGA Chamoionship winner.

World number one Scottie Scheffler, a four-time major champion, launches his quest for a third Masters crown in five seasons at 1:44 p.m. (1744 GMT) in the penultimate group alongside fellow American Gary Woodland, who two weeks ago won his first title since the 2019 US Open, and Scotsman Robert MacIntyre.

Spain's Jon Rahm, the 2021 US Open and 2023 Masters winner, is also among the afternoon starters, going off alongside Sweden's Ludvig Aberg, a 2024 Masters runner-up in his major debut, and American Chris Gotterup at 1:08 p.m.

U.Campbell--SFF