The Masters: Cameron Smith’s rollercoaster ride sets clubhouse lead despite final-hole disappointment

Smith, winner of the Players last month, was well-fancied going into the tournament, but started and finished his round with a double bogey.

Fortunately there were eight birdies in between for the Australian in an extraordinary round. Smith had put distance between himself and the field as he stood on the 18th tee, but then hit a bad drive, a poor wedge and three-putted to drop two shots.

It took Dustin Johnson, winner of the November Masters in 2020, ten holes to join Smith on four under. Birdies on the second, seventh, ninth and tenth saw him get off to a perfect start, banishing the memories of last year when he missed the cut as defending champion.

Sungjae Im had two bogies to start his back-nine, but bounced back with an eagle at 13 before a birdie at another par five, the 15th, took him to five under and the solo lead.

Earlier in the day, new world number one Scottie Scheffler picked up from where he left off at the WGC Matchplay with an opening round 69 to leave himself firmly in the top five. A bogey at the final hole was the only blip on his scorecard, as he looks for an astonishing fourth win in the space of two months.

It was far less positive from Justin Thomas, second-favourite going into the tournament. His usually stunning approach play deserted him in a round of 76 that leaves him battling just to make the weekend. Thomas was joined on four over by Bryson DeChambeau and Louis Oosthuizen.

The story though, as ever, was Tiger Woods. He defied all that he has gone through over the last 14 months to shoot a one-under-par 71 in a typically patient round of golf. The five-time Masters champion declared afterwards: “I am right where I need to be.”