Jordan Spieth reacts after his birdie on the 18th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 9, 2015, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Jordan Spieth watches his tee shot on the 15th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 9, 2015, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Jordan Spieth tees off on the 18th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 9, 2015, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Jordan Spieth holds up his ball a birdie on the second hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 9, 2015, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Ernie Els, of South Africa, tips his cap on the 18th green after his first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 9, 2015, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Bubba Watson,right, calls out with Justin Rose, of England, after teeing off on the 17th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 9, 2015, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Jason Day, of Australia, tees off on the 18th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 9, 2015, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Sergio Garcia, of Spain, watches his tee shot on the fourth hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 9, 2015, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Tiger Woods reacts after his second shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 9, 2015, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, walks down the ninth fairway with Phil Mickelson, right, during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 9, 2015, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Tom Watson reacts to his shot on the second fairway during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 9, 2015, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Ben Crenshaw acknowledges applause on the 18th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 9, 2015, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — A year ago, at this very place, Jordan Spieth provided a tantalizing glimpse of what the future might hold.
Only 20 and playing in his first Masters, Spieth was two shots ahead in the final round, looking all but certain to become the youngest champion in Augusta National history.
Even when he faded down the stretch, settling for the runner-up spot behind Bubba Watson, greatness seemed assured for this mature-beyond-his-years Texan.
Now, Spieth wants to finish the job.
"I'm a lot more confident in the way I can handle certain situations, and the patience level I have," he said. "I'm just going to try to take the same mental attitude into the next couple of days."
Spieth flirted with the major championship scoring record on Thursday, making eight birdies on the first 14 holes, several of them little more than tap-ins. A bogey at the 15th knocked him back a bit, but a 20-foot birdie on the final hole gave him an 8-under 64 and a three-shot lead heading to the second round.
It's not over, of course. Major champions Ernie Els and Justin Rose are right in the mix after shooting 67s. Jason Day, a perennial contender at Augusta, also had a 67 after ripping off five straight birdies on the back side. Sergio Garcia, still chasing that first major title, posted a 68.
But even so early in the game, Els knows what everyone is up against with Spieth at the top of the board.
"He's special," the Big Easy said. "Nothing stands out, because he does everything well. He's going to be tough to beat."
Here are some things to watch for Friday at the Masters:
GRAND SLAM RORY: Rory McIlroy has some work to do if he's going to become the sixth player to win the modern version of golf's Grand Slam. After opening with a 71, he was seven strokes back.
McIlroy is not used to winning majors from this spot. He led wire-to-wire at both the 2011 U.S. Open and 2014 British Open. He was one shot behind after the opening round during his victories at the PGA Championship in 2012 and '14.
TIGER TALES: Tiger Woods certainly improved his game during a two-month hiatus from the PGA Tour, but his immediate focus is on making it to the weekend. He was tied for 41st after shooting 73.
Woods has never missed the Masters cut as a professional.
While it's not unusual for the four-time champion to start slowly at Augusta National — he's broken 70 in the first round only once — this is not the player who once dominated the sport.
In all likelihood, Woods will need a few more tournaments before he's a serious contender. On the bright side, he did look completely healthy — especially on a couple of ferocious swings to get out of trouble — and his short game has improved greatly since early February, when he had trouble pulling off simple chips.
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