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Scott leads Aussie charge at the Masters

3 minute read

Former champion Adam Scott is leading the Australian charge at the 2020 Masters, with Jason Day and Marc Leishman also in the mix after solid first rounds.

MARC LEISHMAN
MARC LEISHMAN Picture: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Former champion Adam Scott is looking forward to an early-morning assault on Amen Corner after he led the Australian charge during a weather-affected opening round at the Masters.

Scott rebounded brilliantly from a bout of coronavirus to sit four under par through 10 holes, trailing clubhouse leader Paul Casey by three shots, when the opening round was suspended due to darkness at Augusta National.

A near three-hour delay for thunderstorms means Scott now faces a marathon 26-hole Friday, starting with a 26-foot birdie look on the 11th.

He than confronts the tricky and iconic par-three 12th.

From there, Scott hits the scoring section of the course with holes 13 through 16 all playing under par during the first round.

The Masters was postponed from April to November for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Scott's place in the tournament he famously won in 2013 was briefly under threat when he was diagnosed with the virus last month.

But he made a swift recovery and was sitting in a tie for fifth spot after four birdies in a flawless front-nine 32.

Scott came out with an aggressive mindset, having seen early players going low, and vowed to continue the assault on return.

"You're going to have to make a lot of birdies out there. You're going to have to get some putts to go in, aim at some flags and hit some good shots and you'll get rewarded," he said.

Scott saw the irony in needing to test his energy levels in the long Friday ahead but backed his recovery and overall fitness to pull him through.

"It is a long course to walk and, when you're doing 27, it is helpful if you're in good shape in that no fatigue sets in and you can manage the next two days comfortably. Hopefully I'm up for that."

Fellow Australians Marc Leishman and Jason Day overcame rough starts to card two-under 70s.

They were sharing 21st position, five shots back of Casey, who notched a sizzling seven-under 65. Defending champion Tiger Woods lurks after a 68.

Day opened with two bogeys in his first seven holes before a run of five birdies in his next seven had the former world No.1 rocket up the leaderboard.

But he dumped his approach shot on the par-five 15th into water and took bogey, a mental error he'd vowed not to make pre-tournament.

"Unfortunately, took that gamble. Sometimes it just doesn't work out," an annoyed Day said.

In the middle of a six-month slump, Leishman produced a clinic with his ball-striking but was ranked 89th of 92 in putting.

"I could have shot a really low score today so it's a little frustrating but given where I've been, I'll take the 70 and move on," Leishman said.

"Hopefully I can keep hitting it this well. It might have been one of my all-time ball striking days. And if I make putts to go with it, then I might have a chance."

Cameron Smith was even par through 10 holes at the close of play and will begin Friday with a 75-foot look at eagle.

Amateur Lukas Michel settled for a four-over 76 in his Masters debut, the highlight coming with a chip in birdie on the 12th from a putrid lie off the green.

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