Tiger Woods faces an endurance test of 23 holes at the Masters on Friday with his first round halted at the 13th on one-under par – but the five-time winner impresses on day one

Tiger Woods finished day one of the Masters one under par on the 13th hole in Augusta
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  • The game was suspended due to darkness, making for a huge Friday for the legend
  • Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler make up the top two on the leaderboard
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Tiger Woods ended the first day of the Masters at one under par on the 13th hole, with bad weather forcing a two-and-a-half-hour delay in Augusta on Thursday.

Woods will be back at 8am local time on Friday morning to complete the final five holes before starting his second round.

Woods opened his 26th Masters with a birdie to a huge cheer at Augusta and overall he showed enough to suggest he could compete this week.

But the weather delay is far from ideal for the 48-year-old and his creaking body as he now has to play 23 holes on Friday as the tournament schedule moves to stay on track.

Woods made bogey on the par-3 fourth after sailing his tee shot over the green, but he got the shot back on the par-5 eighth with a two-putt birdie.

Tiger Woods finished day one of the Masters one under par on the 13th hole in Augusta

Woods will have to play 23 holes at The Masters on Friday in hopes of making the cut

Woods will have to play 23 holes at The Masters on Friday in hopes of making the cut

After 13 holes, Woods is one under par and close to the cutoff for the big tournament

After 13 holes, Woods is one under par and close to the cutoff for the big tournament

It is Woods’ first appearance since withdrawing from the Genesis Invitational in February with flu-like symptoms, and his first major in a year.

Woods finished at the Masters last year but withdrew before the end of the rain-interrupted third round, citing plantar fasciitis.

He underwent surgery on his left ankle later that month and has played little competitive golf since.

The five-time Masters champion would break a record held by Gary Player and Fred Couples if he makes his 24th consecutive cut this week at Augusta.

The top 50 players and ties after 36 holes, plus anyone within 10 shots of the leader, will play this weekend.

Bryson DeChambeau of LIV Golf had the lead in the clubhouse Thursday night at seven under, a shot ahead of Scottie Scheffler. Danny Willett, the 2016 champion, was a surprise name in fourth place alongside Homa at four under.

DeChambeau had his lowest start ever in a major, a clinical performance of power and putting, always a good recipe at Augusta National.

“I’m trying to be the best golfer I can be,” DeChambeau said. “I’m just in a place where I’m repeating a movement and trying to do the same thing over and over again.”

Scottie Scheffler is second after day No. 1 at this year's Masters tournament at six under par

Scottie Scheffler is second after day No. 1 at this year’s Masters tournament at six under par

Bryson DeChambeau is the clubhouse leader after the first day at The Masters, at seven under

Bryson DeChambeau is the clubhouse leader after the first day at The Masters, at seven under

He made five birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine, including a two-putt birdie on the par-5 15th when his risky shot under a pine tree cleared the water in front of the green and left him 40 feet away.

“It cut down the tree. I hit four pine needles instead of five, and it worked perfectly,” DeChambeau said, not quite freed from his meticulous calculations.

Scheffler, meanwhile, carded a bogey-free 66 – his first ever at Augusta – and looked typically impressive.

“Anytime you can explore this golf course without bogeys, you’re going to have a pretty good day,” he said.

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