Masters 2022: Sungjae Im Leads After Day One As Tiger Woods Stars On Return

SIGNING OFF

Anyway, that's all from me on a thrilling day of action from Augusta National. The big story, of course, is the incredible comeback of Tiger Woods. After 508 days out of action, he lit up the Masters with a one-under 71 that has him just four shots off the lead held by Sungjae Im. 

Thanks for following along with us; we'll be back tomorrow to do it all over again!

BIRDIE FOR FITZPATRICK

The Englishman makes a steely birdie on the last to get into red figures at one-under and and the day in a tie for 10th. McIlroy's sand save salvages a disappointing one-over 73 that could have been better and also could have been worse. He'll certainly be hoping for the former when he resumes his quest for the career Grand Slam tomorrow. 

The last shot of this day one belongs to Brooks Koepka, who tapped in for a bogey and a back-nine 41. The American was -2 through 9 holes but now has a mountain to climb to get back into Masters contention.

BOGEY TO FINISH FOR SPIETH

After a wayward tee shot, Jordan Spieth has to settle for a closing bogey and a two-over round of 74. Seven shots back, he'll need to get off to a flying start tomorrow, although I'm not sure his game is there. He continues to look uncomfortable with whatever it is he is working on. 

In his group, Viktor Hovland makes a four to finish level par and Xander Schauffele joins Spieth with a disappointing birdie-free 74.

ROUND 2 TEE TIMES

Check out the tee times for round two from Augusta National. Tiger Woods and Cam Smith feature among the late starters, while the likes of overnight leader Sungjae Im and Rory McIlroy will be out in the morning wave. 

With conditions set to deteriorate as the day goes on, it could be a chance for the early starters to make a move through the field.

PARS TO FINISH FOR RAHM AND CANTLAY; BOGEY FOR ZALATORIS

An excellent sand save from the right-hand bunker on 18 keeps Cantlay within two of the lead after a round of 69. A par for Rahm brings to an end a disappointing 74, while Zalatoris salvages a bogey to post a one-under 71. 

The Spaniard has been on a troubling run of form and will need to find something early on Friday if he's to have a chance of slipping on the green jacket come Sunday evening.

His run of under-par rounds comes to an end at 15, while Zalatoris increases his to five from five.

PACE OF PLAY STRIKES AGAIN

We're nearing the five-hour mark since the group of Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka and Matthew Ftizpatrick teed off. They're wandering up the 17th and I'm getting tired. Get on with it, folks.

This remains an issue that needs fixing.

EXQUISITE TOUCH FROM JOHNSON

From wide left of the green on 18, Dustin Johnson manufactures a brilliant escape shot from within the galleries to crucially save par. The 2020 Masters champion will be satisfied with his day's work as he sits just two back after opening with a three-under 69.

Alongside DJ, reigning Open champion Collin Morikawa finishes with a one-over 73 that never really looked like being anything else, while Billy Horschel has to settle for a two-over 74.

BOGEY FOR DJ

Dustin Johnson makes his first bogey of the day after missing from 5ft on the difficult 17th to fall back into a tie for third on -3. A poor tee shot on the 18th leaves him with work to do to avoid finishing his round on a really sour note. 

Behind, Rory McIlroy misses a good chance for birdie on 15 before finding the back-right bunker on 16, leaving a devilishly tricky recovery shot.

THREE BIRDIES IN FOUR FOR PATTY ICE

From nowhere, Patrick Cantlay is within three of the lead courtesy of three birdies in four holes. The latest has just come on the par-3 16th to the tricky back-right hole location. 

Alongside Cantlay, it looks like Jon Rahm's under-par streak is about to come to an end. A bogey at 16 has the Spaniard +2 again and in danger of blowing himself out of green jacket contention.

IM IN THE CLUBHOUSE AT -5

When it's going your way, it's going your way. After shortsiding himself in the greenside bunker on the right with his second to 18, Im's splash out is travelling at pace before hitting the hole and finishing within tap-in distance. 

The Korean cleans up to post an opening 67 and take the solo clubhouse lead at -5.

CARELESS BOGEY FOR MCILROY

Is there a more frustrating golfer to watch than Rory McIlroy? I'm honestly sick of his nonsense. After battling hard to get back to one-under, two good shots on 14 set up another birdie chance for the Northern Irishman...

...Five minutes later, he's heading to the 15th tee at level par after a typically careless three-putt. A big four holes coming up for the 32-year-old methinks. 

MORIKAWA ON THE MOVE

I knew there was a reason I'd backed Collin Morikawa. After a tentative opening 11 holes, the two-time Major champion is finally back to level par, with the American adding a birdie at the par-5 15th to the shot he picked up at the 12th. 

Encouragingly, he's also stuck it to within 15ft on the 16th to get into red figures for the first time today.

MUCH-NEEDED BIRDIE FOR RAHM

Jon Rahm makes a timely birdie on the 14th to get back to just +1 for the day. The Spaniard is on a run of 15 consecutive under-par rounds at The Masters, which is just one shy of the record held by Tiger Woods. 

Also joining him on the mark but going the other way is Brooks Koepka. After a solid front nine, the four-time Major champion has made three consecutive bogeys from the 11th to the 13th.

TIGER WOODS: 'JUST BASICALLY FREEZING MYSELF TO DEATH'

While most will be able to chill out and relax after completing their opening round, the work continues for Tiger Woods. The 15-time Major champion described the gruelling process he has to go through in order to recover after the laundry list of injuries he has suffered with during his career.

"Lots of ice baths. Just basically freezing myself to death," he said. Rather you than me, Tiger...

CLOSING BOGEY FOR WESTWOOD

It's a respectable 72 to start for Lee Westwood after a closing bogey dropped him back to level par. Incidentally, it's his worst start to The Masters since 2015 but he remains in good position to make a run this week.

Elsewhere, Im cleans up for par at 16 to remain on his own at -5, and McIlroy faces a tough second on the par-5 13th after smashing his tee shot through the fairway into the pine straws.

SPIETH IN THE WARS

I'm not sure what I'm finding harder to look at: Jordan Spieth's new swing rehearsal or the ghastly shirt he's sporting at Augusta National today. While I work that out, he continues to struggle. 

At +2, he's now found the water on 13 with his second shot and will do well to salvage a par. 

SO CLOSE!

Viktor Hovland could hardly have come closer to making the first hole-in-one on Augusta's famous par-3 12th since 1988. 

Check it out below...

NEW LEADER

Cam Smith has finally been usurped at the top of the leaderboard. A straightforward birdie four at the 15th for Sungjae Im moves the Korean to -5 and into solo first place, a shot clear of Smith and Dustin Johnson.

A couple more birdies to close out his round and he'll beat his best ever round of 66 at Augusta National from the opening day in 2020.

RORY BACK IN THE RED

That's more like it from McIlroy. He joins the shortlist of players to make birdie on the 520-yard par-4 11th after draining a 25-footer. He'll be hoping to kick on and post an under-par opening round for the first time since 2018.

Elsewhere, Viktor Hovland bounces back from a double to return to level par with a tap-in birdie on the 12th. 

ICYMI: TIGER RETURNS TO ACTION WITH ONE-UNDER 71

Here's more on the big story of day one as Tiger Woods once again defied the odds to return to Augusta National after 508 days to shoot -1. He's still just three behind the leading trio and will be out tomorrow afternoon as he looks to put himself in position for an unfathomable sixth green jacket. 

Can he do it?

SHOT OF THE DAY?

Harold Varner III channeled his inner Phil Mickelson to produce one of the best shots of day one. From the pine straw at 13, the tap-in birdie got the American back to +1 and back withing five of the lead.

Take a bow!

MCILROY SAVES PAR AT 10

Who knows how big that could be for Rory McIlroy. He's struggled to get anything going since an early birdie at the second but saves par from around 20ft on the difficult 10th to remain level par. 

Can he build on that and get into red figures before the day is out?

IM-PRESSIVE 

We have another name at the top of the leaderboard. Two mighty shots into the par-5 13th sets up an eagle for Sungjae Im, who joins DJ and Smith on -4. 

Behind, DJ recovers from nearly being hit by an errant shot from Jon Rahm to give himself a good look at birdie on the treacherous par-3 12th. Watch this space...

SHANK ALERT

Who doesn't love seeing the pros hit a flat-out shank? It makes me feel alive, anyway. This was a real beauty from Macknezie Hughes on the 15th. The curse of the Par-3 competition is alive and well it seems...

KOEPKA ON THE MOVE

After seven pars to start, that's back-to-back birdies for Brooks Koepka, who is looking to add a green jacket to his two US Open and two PGA Championship titles. He's seemed out of sorts this season but this would be the perfect place kick into gear.

SMITH ASSESSES HIS OPENING ROUND

The clubhouse leader made costly double-bogeys to start and end his round, but countered that with eight birdies in a 12-hole stretch.

Speaking after his round, he said: "Yeah it was just really solid. A couple of bad tee shots on 1 and 18 and the a couple of wedge shots where we just didn't judge the wind right and before you know it, you're making six. This place will bite you on the bum really quick if you're not on all cylinders - the stuff in the middle was really good, though."

Here's a closer look at the TaylorMade P7TW irons used by Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler to devastating effect. Hit the links below for a full rundown of their bag set-ups...

Tiger Woods what's in the bag?

Scottie Scheffler what's in the bag?

DJ!

Dustin Johnson is showing his Masters credentials. The 2020 champion pours in a right-to-left slider from the front portion of the 10th green for a second consecutive birdie to join Smith at the top of the leaderboard. 

Scheffler finishes with a closing bogey to fall back to -3 and a shot out of the lead. A disappointing way to end but a very solid opening for the World No. 1.

RAHM BACK TO LEVEL PAR

The Spaniard's round has failed to ignite but a timely birdie to close out his front nine could get the ball rolling for the World No. 2. 

Here is the par save that got the Big Cat in the clubhouse at -1.

Speaking about the round, Woods said: "I'm proud of my whole team, we worked so hard. People have no idea how hard we worked. We never took a day off. That led me to this. Lo and behold here we are and as of right now I'm only three back.

"That was a good one [on 16]. I got a little teach from Louis' putt. I gave it an extra ball and a half and poured it in."

On what the recovery process is like nowadays, he added: "It's lots of treatment, lots of ice baths and shivering and suffering. It's awful but it allows me to recover. It's pre- and post-round the recoveries are getting longer. But my team has done an incredible job to get me to this point. I told them my adrenaline would kick in and I know how to play and how to play this golf course."

SCHEFFLER JOINS SMITH AT THE TOP

The World No. 1 is quietly going about his business at Augusta National. He holes from a little over 10ft at the 17th to join Cam Smith atop the leaderboard at -4.

TIGER SAVES PAR ON 18

The five-time Masters champ was forced to lay up with his second after a wild drive but played an immense third to set up a gutsy closing par.

After 508 days out of competitive action following a fifth back operation and a car crash that almost cost him his right leg, a one-under 71 is an incredible effort. He's three shots off the lead as it stands with 18 holes in the book.

In his group, Joaquin Niemann finished on -3, while it was a disappointing +4 for Louis Oosthuizen.

DOUBLE BOGEY TO FINISH FOR SMITH

It's a disastrous finish for Cam Smith. He was out of position off the tee and gave himself an outside chance for par before three-putting for a costly double-bogey six. He still leads on his own at four-under but that'll hurt.

The Aussie started and finished with a double and had eight birdies in between. Alongside Smith, Bryson DeChambeau had a round to forget at +4.

TIGER IN TROUBLE ON 18

Tiger Woods stands on the 18th tee at one-under after a monumental return to competitive action. Anything in red numbers would be beyond what even his most ardent fans would have expected, but he faces a battle to get in the house at that mark after pulling his tee shot on the last hole waaaaaaay left!

Hello there, I'll be steering this ship through to the finish buoyed by some kind words from Sam Tremlett, who is lucky enough to be out on the ground at Augusta National. 

It's a sad update to begin as Fleetwood misses from short range to finish with a bogey and a three-over round of 75. He'll need to improve on that tomorrow if he's to give himself a chance come Sunday!

HANDING OVER TO ANDY WRIGHT

I am now off and handing over to Andy Wright, arguably the best player in the Golf Monthly team. I will see you all again tomorrow!

BIG NAMES STRUGGLING?

There are some huge names that seem to be struggling on the over-par side of the leaderboard at the moment. These include;

Burns, Hatton, Leishman, Scott, Thomas, Fleetwood +2

Rose, Oosthuizen, DeChambeau +3

Also Matthew Wolff shot 81 and broke one of his clubs today (opens in new tab), sheesh. 

TIGER DROPS LONG RANGE BIRDIE

Woods fist pumps after holing a long range bomb of a putt for birdie at the 16th. He is back into red figures in what has been a topsy turvy round indeed

PADRAIG PRAISES AUGUSTA TEST

Playing at Augusta National for the first time in 7 years, Padraig Harrington shot a two-over 74, and he was very pleased with the test on offer from the course and conditions; 

"Personally, I would like the test that is there right now all the time. A little bit of wind, but also a little bit of give in the greens. When it gets very firm and fast like Monday afternoon, I think that can be harder because sometimes you punish the good shots, whereas in these conditions you can really hit a good shot out there and make plenty of birdies. And the bad shots still, obviously, you have to hit shots. The bad shots are still getting punished. I really liked the test that was there today."

SMITH IS A FREIGHT TRAIN

The Australian Cameron Smith has just birdied the 16th for his eighth of the day. He started the day with a double bogey at the first as well, hitting the lip of the fairway bunker when he bit off more than he could chew. What a player but still a long way to go

FASHION KLAXON

I believe the worst fashion choice of the day has been found, Viktor Hovland has decided to opt for pink pants with a white stripe down the seams. On the other hand I find Sandy Lyle's suspenders absolutely hilarious. 

TECHNICAL ISSUES

Apologies all but we had some technical issues with the blog but we are back in the game! Cameron Smith's putting seems to be perfect at the moment, Im is firing on all cylinders (shades of 2020), and Tiger's recovery play drew oohs and aahs from all in the media centre. That shot on 14, woah!

LEADERBOARD UPDATE

Quick check in on the leaderboard for you.

Smith -5

Im -4

Scheffler, Willett, Niemann, Berger -3

Kokrak, Schwartzel -2

A lot of players at -1. By the time I would have typed them out, this update would be obsolete

CONFIDENCE OF SCHEFFLER

Okay the flop shot Scottie Scheffler just played from the right of 11 was ridiculous. 9 times out of 10 I am knifing that straight into the water. See what I mean about how good the short game has to be here?!

Also Tiger's iron play continues to impress, hitting a great shot on 13. He will have an eagle shot of what looked to be around 20 feet or so.

OVATION FOR TIGER

Tiger raises his cap and the MASSIVE crowd stands for his arrival onto the 12th tee. He delivers as well finding the fat part of the green. Oosthuizen provides the drama as well finding the water

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

For those who want a challenge, take our quiz - Can You Name Every Multiple Masters Winner? (opens in new tab)

We have given you three in the image below so you are welcome! 

SHORT GAME WIZARDRY

One thing I think we all take for granted is how good the short games of the top players are. Shane Lowry for example just holed out for eagle on 13, with a shot I can only dream of playing! 

Cameron Smith also just made a good putt on 12 to get to three-under and join the lead! There is so much going on and The Masters is truly the best time of the year!

IM INTO THE LEAD

Runner up at the 2020 Masters, Sungjae Im starts his 2022 tournament with three birdies in a row. I said to Elliott this morning that his swing is so good why does he not contend more but it seems I have inadvertently awoken the lion in his game

11 IS ALWAYS A BEAST

All the talk before the tournament start was the changes to the 11th hole but just like every Masters it is playing incredibly tough indeed. So far there has only been one birdie at the hole. (I cannot seem to find who did so, but whoever that was, well done). The wind is very strong down there today as well and it doesn't get easier with 12 to come...

SCHEFFLER INTO THE LEAD

World number one and most in-form male golfer on the planet, Scottie Scheffler has birdied the 9th to get into the share of the lead. Will he be in contention when the tournament actually begins on the back nine on Sunday? (That is two cliches in 15 minutes so I apologise)

POOR FINAU...

Once again Tony Finau has been made to wear a tough Nike polo. I love Nike gear big time but I swear every year The Masters apparel stands out... in a bad way...

Tiger does get up and down for par on 10 by the way. Nieman doesn't and drops into a share of the lead with Cameron Smith, Schwartzel and Lee Westwood. 

BIG GROUPS ABOUT TO TEE OFF

Some huge names are about to tee off in the next few groupings. First up is DJ, Horschel and Morikawa, followed by:

Zalatoris, Cantlay, Rahm

Spieth, Hovland, Schauffele

Fitzpatrick, Brooks, Rory

Let's see how they fare with the tough conditions...

10TH HOLE IS MENTAL

Is it a cliche and obvious to talk about the elevation change at 10? Yes. Does that make it any less crazy? No. I walked down this at the start of the week and couldn't believe how far down the hole goes. The second shot is really tough too given the downhill/sidehill lie players face. Proving my point, Tiger, Oosthuizen and Niemann all miss the green. 

FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE  MASTERS?

This is my first time at The Masters and one of my favorite things about it all is the lack of phones and cameras on the course. Every fan just being totally in the moment and watching shots as they happen. Also the shop merch is pure fire and the chicken sandwiches are delicious. What are your favorite things about Augusta? Lets us know via our Twitter @GolfMonthly

Back to the golf Tiger makes a scrappy par on 9 and Schwartzel and Westwood get to two-under. 

NIEMANN HOLE OUT

Joaquin Niemann plays the contours of the 9th perfectly, spinning back a wedge for a stunning eagle two. This gets him to three-under par and the lead on his own.

TIGER GRIMACING AFTER TEE SHOT

Woods comes over the top on his tee shot on 9, hitting it into the trees left. He then grimaces as he walks off the tee. Hopefully nothing serious to it

AUGUSTA PLAYING TOUGH

Not a lot of players are under par just showing how tough Augusta is today. Jose Maria Olazabal shot 77 today and thinks conditions could get more difficult this afternoon...

"I think the guys are going to have a tough afternoon, I think, if the wind picks up. We all know how difficult the golf course is when the wind blows here, and it's true that the greens are soft and that will make things a little bit easier, but I think Augusta is playing tough. You can see that by the scoreboard. There's not many guys under par."

RARE WEDGE ERROR FROM WOODS

Usually a wizard with wedge in his hands Woods hits two very poor wedges in a row, walking off with a bogey. He will be frustrated with that but one man who isn't today is JJ Spaun, making his Masters debut. 

He said earlier; 

"To be here, too, on my maiden trip to the Masters is incredible, and to be in the same field as him is just an honor, and it's something that I can say to my kids and grandkids for the rest of my life. You know, I competed against Tiger Woods at the Masters."

HOT START FOR KANAYA

Two holes, two birdies for Japanese star Takumi Kanaya. The last time he played in The Masters was 2019 with a T58 finish, and he leads with Gooch making a double on 10.

Meanwhile Woods, Oosthuizen and Niemann all come up short on 8. It is playing very long indeed today and the TV really does flatten out how steep that hill is. I was exhausted walking up it earlier!

LOW ROUND FOR SPIETH INCOMING?

I also watched Jordan Spieth on the practice putting green hole about 30 six-foot putts in a row from three different positions. A sign of a hot day for him on the greens? In other news Tiger splits the fairway on 8.

GOOD DAY EVERYONE

Hello and good day to all you Augusta fans. I just got in from the course and it is a glorious day for golf! Not a cloud in the sky and yet there are still gusts and blustery conditions. 12 in particular will be difficult to decipher...

HANDING OVER TO SAM TREMLETT...

I will bid you all farewell and leave you in the hands of Sam Tremlett. Sam was also at breakfast with me in the Augusta clubhouse this morning and then went out and followed Tiger for a few holes...

TIGER WOODS WHAT'S IN THE BAG?

TIGER MAGIC

I said we'd need to see some magic on the 7th for Tiger to make par and we just saw some. A pitch shot from about 25 yards up and over the bunker, to the back-right flag, finishes within two feet and it's the easiest of pars.

Next up is the par-5 8th hole and a birdie would get him tied for the early lead.

WOODS IN TROUBLE DOWN 7

First missed fairway of the day for Tiger who pushed a fairway wood into the trees. He's got 161 yards into the raised green with bunkers everywhere. Looks like he'll need some magic to make par.

TWO AT THE TOP

In non-Tiger related news, Talor Gooch - who has been playing seriously good golf this year - has joined Harry Higgs at the top of the leaderboard at two-under-par.

THAT TIGER SHOT...

So good.

TIGER WOODS IS UNDER PAR AT THE MASTERS

Didn't think we'd be writing that this time 10 days ago.

OOSTHUIZEN HOLES A BOMB

After what will have been an incredibly annoying double on the 5th, Louis holes a monster putt up the hill on the very next to get back one of the shots he dropped.

WOW TIGER!!

A 'cut' 6-iron into the par-3 6th nearly ended up in the hole - WOW! Woods' tee shot landed dead on line but just checked up to something like 3-4ft short. Amazing. He'll be moving to one-under-par.

THE TIGER STEP

This lipped out...

CAM SMITH CHIP-IN

Louis Oosthuizen look away now. From where the South African made double, Cam Smith made birdie.

The Aussie is one-under-par after starting his day with a double.

WOODS 5th PAR IN A ROW

He thought he had that. Woods strikes a lovely right-to-lefter that looks dead centre but lips out after falling left at the final moment. Tiger stepped in thinking it was a birdie.

Meanwhile Woods' playing partner Louis Oosthuizen has had a mare on the 5th after going long with his second shot, eventually holing a good four-footer for double.

TIGER HITS A BEAUTY

After a 287 yard drive down the 5th, Woods nails a long iron from 218 yards to within 15ft for a great look at a rare birdie on one of Augusta's toughest holes. The crowd, and Tiger, liked that one.

ANOTHER PAR FOR TIGER

Woods comes up short on the 4th and lags his putt up close for yet another par. Tough stretch has just started with 5, 6 and 7 to come before the par-5 8th where he'll be looking to pick up a birdie.

Joaquin Niemann, playing with Woods, holes a short birdie putt to reach one-under-par after a stunning iron shot in.

HIGGS TO -2

Harry Higgs birdies the 8th hole to reach two-under-par, your early leader at The Masters

PAR-PAR-PAR FOR WOODS

Tiger cleans up from 3ft at the 3rd hole after a shy first effort for his third consecutive par. Only one off the lead at the minute with five players at one-under.

LOWRY HITS THE PIN AT 4!