Masters 2015 Leaderboard: Live Updates and Storylines to Watch on Thursday
The 2015 Masters is finally upon us, and an elite field of golfers is set to navigate the treacherous twists and turns of Augusta National in an effort to claim the coveted green jacket.
Dealing with Amen Corner while staying clear of Rae's Creek is a difficult task in its own right, but inclement weather only increases the chances of finding hazards and posting big numbers. Luckily, according to Weather.com, a previously anticipated storm system appears likely to miss the track, giving players the opportunity to get off to a fast start Thursday.
Here's a look at the updated leaderboard for Augusta's Round 1 action:
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As Day 1 of the Masters continues, let's take a look at a few of the most prominent storylines to watch.
Rory McIlroy's Career Grand Slam
The world's No. 1 golfer is under plenty of pressure in the Masters. He's aiming to complete the career Grand Slam with a win at Augusta, a feat only six players—Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods—have ever achieved.
McIlroy hasn't been shy of sharing his thoughts about what's at stake with the media. Here's what he had to say during a press conference, via ESPN.com:
"What's at stake? A place in history. I think it's the big thing for me. Six other golfers have won a career Grand Slam. To join that list, you're getting up there with the pinnacle of what you can achieve in sport.
To write your name in the history books like that is what's at stake. That's what will be at stake in future years at Augusta if I don't win it this year, but the sooner I get it out of the way, the better.
"
It's great that McIlroy is confident, but he must continue to be cautious and respect the difficulty of Augusta National. If he presses too hard in an attempt to shoot a low number and claim his first Masters title, mistakes will be made, and he'll be swallowed up by the track as a result.
Keep in mind, Augusta hasn't been overly kind to McIlroy in the past. He earned a four-stroke lead on the final day of the tournament back in 2011, only to squander it away by shooting an 80. Last year, he did record his best finish in the event, tying for eighth; however, a second-round 77 prevented him from getting into serious contention.
Remaining cool under pressure and taking the birdies when they present themselves will be key for McIlroy to build momentum and finish strong this year at Augusta.
Tiger Woods' Return to Action
Ranked No. 111 in the world, Tiger Woods enters the Masters with his lowest position in golf's pecking order since 1995. That is mainly due to health issues and swing adjustments, as the former world No. 1 was forced to withdraw or missed the cut in a total of six of his previous nine starts.
One big story before the Masters was Woods' struggles around the green. He was plagued with the yips, which are caused by a mental lapse that triggers a glitch in the swing. Those yips caused Woods' short game to quickly deteriorate—something that would need to be repaired before tackling the tricky greens of Augusta National.
Before the tournament, Woods spoke of his drive to correct the issue during a press conference, via Bob Harig of ESPN.com:
"It was a slow and steady progression each and every day. We worked on it each and every day, just taking little bits of it, just improve each and every day. When the sun came up, by the time the sun set, I should be a better player than I was in the morning, and that was the case. This was our whole focus was just to get better incrementally. We don't need to make big, giant leaps or anything like that, but just incrementally get better.
"
Apparently, the strategy worked, as Woods looked fine during his practice sessions at Augusta National. However, a keen eye must still be kept on him. Fixing a swing glitch during practice rounds is one thing, but it's an entirely different situation under the pressure of a major tournament.
Bubba Watson's Quest for Back-to-Back Titles
Bubba Watson is this year's defending Masters champion, and he's aiming to win his third green jacket in four years. The lefty's game appears perfectly suited for Augusta National, as he's pulled off some tremendous shots on the difficult track in the past.
Although, Watson may have a bit of a burden in the back of his mind during the tournament. While he is a fan favorite, a secret PGA Tour survey showed that's not exactly the case when it comes to his peers. He was asked about the results during a press conference, via Harig, and here's what he had to say:
"Here is the way I take it: I take it as I need to improve as a man. I take it with pride. I need to get better. And I think over my career, since my rookie season to now, I've gotten better.
But obviously there's more room for me to improve as a man. And so hopefully next year or the year after, it improves. It's a challenge. It's great. I'm glad that it came out and it's going to help me improve.
So if it's a bad thing and people don't like me, then I've got to improve and prove them wrong.
"
It's never easy to hear that kind of news, and if Watson is bothered by the results and allows them to linger in the back of his mind, concentration could become an issue at Augusta. Chances are Watson will be just fine going forward, but this is certainly an intriguing development to watch.
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