The Augusta Masters, the first major of the season won in the 80s and 90s by Seve Ballesteros and José María Olazábal, began with a clear Spanish accent thanks to the formidable work of Sergio García, leader tied with Australian Marc Leishman, and Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, fourth.
Garcia, 33 years old and in his fifteenth consecutive Masters, seems to have really taken the reins of his golf, the baton of the masters Seve and Olazabal and the trick to Augusta National that has given him so many headaches.
There are 54 holes left and many vicissitudes to deal with, but the Spaniard, from the start, was the protagonist with a card of 66 strokes (6 under, no bogeys and six birdies), which equals his lowest round in the Masters (66 also the fourth round in 2004) and is his best start since he debuted in 1999, after fifteen rounds (his best start was 68 strokes in 2002).
Thanks to four birdies in a row from the 13th hole, Leishman managed to tie Sergio for the tournament lead at the end of the afternoon.
“This is not exactly my favorite course, but I try to make the most of every time I come here, some days better than others, and today (Thursday) was a good one,” said Garcia, who is desperately seeking his first Grand Slam title.
Both leaders are one stroke ahead of the American Dustin Johnson, in third place, and two ahead of a group of six players including the 2008 champion, South African Trevor Immelman, and Gonzalo Fernández Castaño.
The great favorite to win and current world number one, Tiger Woods, finished with two under (70), while his predecessor at the top of world golf, Rory McIlroy, had to settle for par after a round with five birdies and as many bogeys.
Another of the great attractions of the Augusta tournament is the 14-year-old Chinese player Tianlang Guan, the youngest player in the 77 editions of this tournament, who sealed one over the field (73).
José María Olazábal,two-time winnerof the Masters, shot 74 in his first round.
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