Masters 2018 Leaderboard: Live Look at Thursday Scores and Overall Predictions
Thursday is quickly turning into turn-back-the-clock day at the 2018 Masters.
At one point early in the morning at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, three players over the age of 50 occupied spots in the top five positions, with Vijay Singh bursting out to an early advantage at the top of the leaderboard.
In addition to a few older players putting themselves in the spotlight, Tiger Woods marked his return to the Masters with a birdie on the third hole to put an early jolt into the gallery.
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Justin Thomas, who won the last major of 2017, and defending champion Sergio Garcia also feature in the top 10 heading into Thursday afternoon.
For live updates of Thursday's first round at the Masters, you can use this link.
Overall Predictions
Spieth Starts Strong Once Again
Few players have had a handle on Augusta like Jordan Spieth in the last four years.
The 24-year-old is the owner of two of the best first-round scores in Masters history, as he shot 64 to start his wire-to-wire win in 2015 and carded a 66 in 2016.
Spieth, who tees off at 1:49 p.m. ET with Alex Noren and Louis Oosthuizen, didn't live up to the high standards he created at the Masters a year ago, as he carded a pair of 75s in the first and fourth round to finish out of the top 10.
Unlike most of the contenders for the green jacket, Spieth played last week at the Houston Open, and it turned out to be a beneficial call, as he placed in a tie for third with three low rounds in the 60s.
Outside of missing the cut at the Valspar Championship, the 2015 Masters champion has played well throughout the PGA Tour season.
In the nine stroke-play events Spieth participated in this season, he is averaging a first-round score of 71.2, while his average first-round mark at the Masters is 69.
Look for Spieth to build off his success at the Houston Open to get out to a fast start and once again position himself near the top of the leaderboard, as he shoots for success Sunday.
Rose Returns to Top of Leaderboard After Playoff Defeat
Last year's loss to Garcia in a playoff wasn't the first time Justin Rose featured at the top of the Masters leaderboard.
The 37-year-old, who starts in the last group Thursday with Dustin Johnson and Rafael Cabrera-Bello, placed in the top 10 each of the last three years and finished in the top 25 in eight straight years.
In two of his last three Masters, Rose recorded a first-round score in the 60s, while his mark from a year ago was a 71.
Not only is he one of the most experienced players in the field, Rose knows how to handle the pressure of a major championship, as he won the 2013 U.S. Open.
Unlike Spieth, Rose failed to put in a championship-caliber performance at the Houston Open a week ago, as he finished in a tie for 52nd.
However, the Englishman shot no worse than 72 and was seven strokes under par by the conclusion of the tournament.
If you add in his pair of top-five finishes from the Valspar Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational, Rose is one of the hottest golfers coming into Augusta.
If he replicates the performances from the last month, Rose is going to be right at the top of the leaderboard ahead of what should be a Sunday packed with big names fighting for the green jacket.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
Statistics obtained from PGATour.com and augusta.com.
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