Masters Leaderboard 2016: Updates on Golf's Top Scorers on Thursday

The first round of the 2016 Masters got off to a fine start on a bright, windy Thursday morning at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

Jordan Spieth took an early lead and is looking to don the green jacket for the second year in a row when all is accounted for, but he'll have to beat out a crowded field and world No. 1 Jason Day to do so.

Day comes into the tournament having won his last two events, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play. Spieth hasn't fared quite so well as of late, finishing no better than 13th place and missing one cut (Northern Trust Open) since winning the Hyundai Tournament on January 7. 

Here's a look at the live leaderboard, which will update throughout the competition. Below is a quick look at the golfers off to a quick start on Day 1. 

Early Thursday Results

Spieth wouldn't disappoint on Thursday morning, moving to four under on his first 10 holes. He was the leader at the turn with a score of three under through the front nine. ESPN Stats & Info noted that Spieth has become accustomed to strong starts to rounds at Augusta: 

It was exactly the start the 22-year-old Texan needed, knowing just how packed the field is this year at Augusta.

“This year’s Masters might be the hardest one to win in quite a while as far as the depth of the field and the quality of golf being played by people who play Augusta National very well,” Spieth said, per USA Today's Steve DiMeglio.

There were plenty of golfers keeping pace with Spieth in the early going. Paul Casey briefly joined Spieth as a co-leader with three birdies and no glaring errors through his first 10 holes, but Spieth would birdie the 10th hole to take back sole possession of first place in the early going.

Bryson DeChambeau, just 22 years old and grouped with Casey and Spieth to start the tournament, acquitted himself well early on with a birdie on the No. 2 hole but couldn't make up ground after that.

The Masters Tournament provided a glimpse of his early birdie, along with those of a few other big-name golfers: 

Dustin Johnson, still in search of his first major, went two under on his first nine. He bogeyed the No. 2 hole but bounced back with birdies on the No. 6, No. 7 and No. 9 holes.

Golf Channel's Justin Ray pointed out that early rounds usually aren't a problem for him at majors:

Matthew Fitzpatrick had to like his start, notching birdies on his first two holes of the tournament. Keegan Bradley accomplished the same feat. The early action proved to be full of quality golf.

Spieth's early lead will certainly pique interest in the tournament, as he puts pressure on the field and looks to become the first person to win back-to-back Masters since Tiger Woods pulled off the feat in 2001-02.