Marc Leishman. (AP)
Marc Leishman, of Australia, holds up his ball after finishing the first round. (AP)
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Sergio Garcia has turned in a bogey-free round to claim a share of the Masters lead.
Garcia shot a 6-under 66 Thursday, leaving him tied with Marc Leishman and matching the Spaniard’s best score ever at Augusta National.
This is a course that has never suited Garcia’s game — especially his shaky putter. But he breezed around without a bogey on his card for the first time since 2002.
It’s still a reach to think this might be the place where Garcia wins his first major championship. He’s had only two top-10 finishes in 14 Masters appearances.
But the way he played in the opening round could mean a change in fortune.
Dustin Johnson is one stroke back at 67. Tiger Woods is just four shots off the lead after a 70.
Lynn is feeling good about the way things are going, too. In just the second major appearance of his largely overlooked career, he finished second behind Rory McIlroy at Kiawah Island.
He moved from the European to the American tour this year, a change that seems to have rejuvenated his passion for the game.
“It’s given me a second wind,” Lynn said. “Everything is new. I’m going to different places every week, different courses. It’s like I’ve started my career again almost.”
Guan Tianlang of China is just getting started. At age 14, he was the youngest player to ever qualify for the Masters.
Guan got off to a shaky start, making bogey on the first hole, but he showed remarkable poise. When the ball dropped into the cup for a birdie at the third, he pumped his right fist. Another birdie at the 13th — his third of the day — left him with a respectable 1-over score.
The kid was followed by his parents and several family friends, but inside the ropes Guan relied heavily on his playing partner, two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw, chatting frequently and soaking up every bit of advice that he could.
About three hours before Woods teed off, the tournament began with ceremonial shots from three of golf’s greatest players — 83-year-old Arnold Palmer, 77-year-old Gary Player and the 73-year-old Nicklaus.
Palmer was clearly pleased with his effort, which settled right in the middle of the fairway. He pumped his right fist as the crowd roared.
“The only nerves are to make sure you make contact,” Nicklaus quipped. “It doesn’t make a diddly-darn where it goes.”
Rickie Fowler matched Lynn’s 68, Jim Furyk and Zach Johnson opened with 69s, while Woods was joined at 70 by a large group that included Lee Westwood, Brandt Snedeker, Justin Rose, K.J. Choi and Jason Day.
If Woods is in contention heading to the weekend, he’ll likely have plenty of competition.
“Obviously, Tiger is Tiger,” said Scott Piercy, who played in Woods’ group along with Luke Donald. “He’s always going to be that target. He knows it, and that’s how he wants it. But there’s a lot of people getting closer. And the golfing gods, or whatever you want to call them, have a lot to do with winning. A bounce here, a bounce there. A lip in, a lip out.”
Three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo said about 20 players could win the Masters, all from what he referred to as the second tier but “pretty darn good.”
Donald, Rose and Ian Poulter. Snedeker and Bill Haas. Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel.
Not to mention three-time winner Phil Mickelson, defending champ Bubba Watson and former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy.
“Yes, Tiger is the favorite,” Faldo said. “He’s strong. He’s determined. We will see. But he’s going to be chased by a lot of really good players.”