Masters 2018: Predictions, Live Stream and TV Coverage Hub for Friday

Jordan Spieth once again has set the pace at the Masters.

Spieth has played 17 rounds of golf as a professional at the famed Augusta, Georgia, course, and he has led or shared the lead at the end of nine of those rounds.

That includes this year's first round, as Spieth fired a 66 to take a two-shot lead at the end of 18 holes. Is there any reason to think he won't have at least a share of the lead after 36 holes?

Television Schedule for Friday, April 6

Television Broadcast: 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on ESPN

On the Range: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Featured Groups: 9:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Amen Corner: 10:45 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Holes 15 and 16: 11:45 a.m. to 7 p.m.

TV simulcast live stream: 3-7:30 p.m. on Masters.com  

That may be doubtful, but there are a couple of issues facing the 24-year-old three-time major winner. The biggest of those is the quality of talent in this field.

Spieth is going to have to contend with Matt Kuchar, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and other golfers including Justin Rose, Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson before this event is completed.

Here's a look at the updated leaderboard.

Spieth won this event in 2015 and finished second in 2016. He knows that there is a long way to go before the green jacket is handed out Sunday night, and the first thing he has to do is stay calm and not get too excited just because he is leading at the end of the first round.

The other issue is consistency. While he has been brilliant throughout his career at the Masters, Spieth has not been having his best year in 2018. He tied for third in last week's Houston Open when he closed with a 66, but he struggled before that tournament.

"This golf course, specifically, brings out a lot of feel in my game, and I think that's advantageous," said Spieth, per Kyle Porter of CBS Sports.com. "I don't do well in domes or driving range shots, and you don't have many of those out here."

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Tony Finau and Matt Kuchar are the closest competitors to Spieth, and both golfers are four-under par. Finau appeared to be in significant trouble after he dislocated his ankle while celebrating a hole in one in Wednesday's par-three tournament, but he had an MRI Thursday morning and he was given the go-ahead to compete, and he fired an impressive 68 in his first round.

Kuchar also looked calm and effective in his round, and he has demonstrated that he can stay close in the majors. He would like to do more than that this time by earning the green jacket.

Rory McIlroy was quite sharp in firing a 69 in the opening round, and that comes shortly after he ended an 18-month winless drought with a victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month. Henrik Stenson, Patrick Reed and Charley Hoffman are among the seven golfers who finished the first round at three-under par.

Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler are both at two-under and lurking, while Louis Oosthuizen and Xander Schauffele are both one-under par.

Justin Rose, who has finished in second in two of the past three Masters, is at even par, while Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson are both one-over.

All of these players will be going after Spieth, but they are going to have to execute extremely well for 18 holes to make inroads into his lead and possibly catch him.

Predictions

Spieth clearly enjoys playing at Augusta, and he was quite sharp in the opening round as he birdied five straight holes on the back nine to move into the lead. Spieth will probably face a challenge at one point in the tournament, but it's not going to be the result of him falling apart.

Look for Spieth to break par and hold on to the lead. He will almost certainly get a challenge from McIlroy, who is coming close to peak form. Reed and Oosthuizen will also make key moves up the ladder.

When the second round is over, Spieth should have a small lead over McIlroy, Reed and Oosthuizen, setting up a spectacular weekend of golf at the Masters.