Masters 2016 Leaderboard: Latest Scores and Standings from Thursday at Augusta
Jordan Spieth has begun the defense of his Masters championship.
Spieth had a wonderful year in 2015 as he not only won the Green Jacket at the famed Augusta, Georgia course, he followed that up by winning the U.S. Open in the season's second major.
Spieth has not gotten off to the same start in the 2016 golf season that he did a year ago, but he was one of the favorites going into the tournament. According to Odds Shark, Spieth was the third choice behind Jason Day and Rory McIlroy at odds of 10-1. Day is the favorite at 7-1 and McIlroy is right behind at 17-2.
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There had been some fear about the weather on the first day of the Masters after early forecasts called for possible rain storms on Thursday. While it did rain overnight, there was no delay in the start of the tournament.
The conditions were not ideal, however, because of the wind. Those winds were expected to pick up in the latter portions of the first round, which would make it more difficult for golfers like Day and McIlroy who started later in the day.
Winds are expected to influence the Masters throughout the tournament, and they could be particularly treacherous on Saturday's moving-day round, according to Weather.com.
Day would like to make it two major championships in a row. He had his breakthrough at the PGA Championship last summer when he played spectacular golf in winning at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. Day also comes into the Masters playing sensational golf this year, having won his last two tournaments.
McIlroy is playing to earn the lone major championship that escaped his grasp to this point in his career. McIlroy, 26, has four major championships to his credit, but he is not playing as consistently as Day at this point, and he will have to pick up his game to meet the challenge of the career grand slam.
| Jason Day | 7-1 |
| Rory McIlroy | 17-2 |
| Jordan Spieth | 10-1 |
| Rickie Fowler | 11-1 |
| Bubba Watson | 12-1 |
| Adam Scott | 12-1 |
| Phil Mickelson | 14-1 |
| Dustin Johnson | 16-1 |
| Justin Rose | 18-1 |
| Henrik Stenson | 20-1 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | 25-1 |
Bubba Watson has full confidence when he plays the Masters, as he has two green jackets to his credit. Watson's power is his calling card, but there's a lot more to his game than just hitting the long ball. Watson is very creative, and he is able to see and execute shots that most of his competitors can't match. He ranks as the No. 1 player on the tour when it comes to strokes gained tee to green.
Adam Scott is another serious contender in the Masters, as he is enjoying a wonderful year as the leader in the FedEx Cup points race. Scott is a former Masters winner, and he has been through the wringer of the back nine on Sunday as well as the added rigors of winning a playoff to gain the green jacket.
The only question about Scott is his putting. When he is putting the ball with touch and accuracy, he can win any tournament because his swing is so picture perfect, and he strikes the ball as well as any player on the tour.
Phil Mickelson is always a crowd favorite at Augusta, and that should only be enhanced since Tiger Woods is not on hand to draw the biggest crowds. Mickelson has won three Masters titles, and he would love to add a fourth green jacket. Mickelson's ability to hit his wedges and get close to the hole often works to his advantage at the Masters.
Many golf fans are still waiting on Dustin Johnson to come through with a huge performance at the Masters. Johnson has had a series of painful finishes at the major championships, and he struggles badly with this final-round play. He is averaging 72.57 in the final round, a figure that ranks 170th on the tour.
If Johnson can overcome those tendencies, he has a chance to pick up his first green jacket.
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