Masters 2017: Live Updates for Leaderboard Scores on Friday

The 2017 Masters Tournament will not be the starry, world-beating slugfest many hoped. Back problems wiped out two of the world's most prominent golfers, as Tiger Woods withdrew weeks ago with his ongoing issues and an ill-timed fall cost Dustin Johnson a chance to grab his first green jacket.

The result was a still-good-but-slightly-disappointing field, which is now highlighted by Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day. So, yeah, maybe not so disappointing. All three had their respective adventures in Thursday's first round and find themselves staring up at the leaderboard.

Charley Hoffman, who shot a seven-under 65, holds a four-stroke lead over the field heading into Round 2. Hoffman had his best major tournament performance at Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia, in 2015, finishing in a tie for ninth. He's never finished any better than tied for 29th in any other major.

Here is a look at the Masters live leaderboard and assessment of how the leaders should fare Friday.

Masters Leaderboard

Leaders

Charley Hoffman (-7)

Strip away the scores, and Hoffman seems like your typical random Round 1 leader who falters during the weekend. These happen at seemingly every major. A lesser-known pro gets red hot over the first 18 holes, gets a bunch of glowing press and then fades as the more consistent (read: better) players take over.

Hoffman fits that bill in a lot of ways. He's 40. He's won on tour just four times in his career since turning pro in 2000. He hasn't made the cut in five of his last nine majors. While ranking 52nd in the world is still enough to get him a steady paycheck on Tour, Hoffman is a weekly grinder who wasn't on any lists of contenders coming into the week.

That said, he shot seven under. Hoffman dropped in nine birdies, including five on the back nine, as he opened up a huge lead over the field. His five-birdies-in-six-holes stretch from No. 12 to No. 17 was probably the best golf you'll see from anyone all week. There aren't even 20 players who shot par or better on the difficult Augusta course Thursday; Hoffman shot seven shots better.

If Hoffman shoots even for the remaining 54 holes, he has a real shot at winning the green jacket.

William McGirt (-3)

Ironically, the person directly behind Hoffman on the leaderboard is the one a spot behind him in the world rankings. McGirt fired off a three-under 69 in Round 1, steadily racking up pars while carding four birdies against a bogey.

"I played on Tuesday with Bubba and Jordan joined us," McGirt said after the round, per Jeremy Cross of the Daily Star. "I've also picked some guys' brains over the last few months.

"I'm lucky enough to know a few members here, and I've spoken to a few caddies, and they've been happy to share their knowledge with me."

This is McGirt's first Masters tournament. The 37-year-old, who turned pro in 2004, was cut during each of his first three tries at a major before a surprising tie for 10th last year at the PGA Championship. He also won last year's Memorial Tournament and made the Round of 16 in this year's Match Play Championship.

Having never played the course before, it's hard to see him contending well into the weekend. Augusta tends to reward familiarity. But he'll make the cut barring some sort of falling apart, and that's a win in itself.

Lee Westwood (-2)

It was a tale of two completely opposite nines for Westwood, who sits alone in third place. Westwood made the turn at three over after carding four bogeys on the front nine and held that score all the way through No. 12.

Then, in one fell swoop, Westwood turned on the jets and charged up the leaderboard. He carded five straight birdies to end his round at two under and is back in position to contend into the weekend at Augusta.

The 43-year-old has finished second twice in the Masters, first in 2010 and then again last season. He also finished as a bridesmaid at the 2010 Open Championship and also has top-three outings at the U.S. Open and PGA Championship.

There is perhaps no more accomplished player on tour to never win a major. A five-hole stretch took Westwood from fighting for his life Friday to perhaps on the precipice of his first major.