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. (Chris Carlson/Associated Press)
AUGUSTA, Ga. — 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.
DEFENDING CHAMP: Bubba Watson, winner of the green jacket two of the last three years and trying to become only the fourth player to defend a Masters title, will need to do a better job dealing with the sweltering Georgia heat and lumbering pace of play before the cut is made.
Friday’s forecast calls for highs to again climb into the upper 80s, as they did on Thursday. Watson closed his round with two bad tee shots, forcing him to chip-in for par at the 17th and leading to a bogey at the 18th.
“I was just tired,” said Watson, who settled for a 71. “I was not committed, not focused.”
Watson has an afternoon tee time for the second round, so he’ll catch the hottest time of the day.
DEFYING FATHER TIME: Tom Watson has a chance to become the oldest player to make the Masters cut after shooting 71, the first time since 2010 that he’s broken par in the tournament.
“It’s fun to be able to at least be in red figures at Augusta National,” the 65-year-old Watson said. “At my age, it’s a minor miracle.”
The oldest player to make the Masters cut was Tommy Aaron, who was 63 when he played on the weekend in 2000.
Watson can’t hit it nearly as far as he once did, but he sure knows his way around the place.
“I’ve played the golf course enough times to know where I’m supposed to hit it and where I’m not supposed to hit it,” he said.
CRENSHAW’S FINALE: Ben Crenshaw will play the Masters for the 44th and final time after shooting an ugly 91, by far the worst round of his Augusta career.
The 63-year-old Crenshaw knew he didn’t have the game to compete, which was obvious from his scorecard: four bogeys, five double bogeys, a triple bogey and a quadruple bogey.
“I just played awful,” said Crenshaw, who won the tournament in 1984 and 1995. “I’m ready to get it over with.”
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