Rahm, like main rival Scheffler, hasn’t quite been firing on all cylinders yet today but slow and steady wins the race.

He puts a 41-foot putt on the sixth close, tapping in for the par to stay even for the day.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Now that’s more like it Scheffler!

Considering he was the red-hot favorite for The Masters this week, Scheffler’s start was pretty underwhelming, I’m not going to lie.

But he’s caught alight and is heating up. And we all know once he gets hot, there’s no stopping him.

H epicks up his second birdie of round one thanks to a corker of a tee shot at the par-three sixth, which he tops off with an 18-foot putt.

Two-under and on the leaderboard.

And we have our first Tiger sighting!

The legend has arrived at the practice ground ahead of his round with Jason Day and Max Homa at 3.54pm ET/8.54pm BST.

We’re also gifted with a first look at Woods’ first Masters outfit that’s not Nike. The 48-year-old dons his new line, Sun Day Red, for the first time at a major championship since splitting from Nike in January.

It’s a blush pink polo and sweat vest set, which, while not as vibrant as his hot pink look from his 2022 comeback, is still a slight nod to the azaleas of Augusta.

The wind has picked up at Augusta, if the rustling pines are anything to go by, which could be contributing to the modest scores.

Van Rooyen and Willett have both hit snags on the back nine after hot starts with the former dropping to two-under and the latter to one-under.

However, considering he underwent shoulder surgery seven months ago, it’s miraculous Willett is even playing so he’d probably take it to be honest.

Wyndham Clark joins his playing partners, Smith and Hovland, at one-under.

He gets in the red thanks to a beautifully delicate chip, which sets up an nice and easy birdie putt.

It’s one of the most famous – and terrifying – holes in golf but DeChambeau makes easy work of it.

The big hitter manags to walk off Golden Bell in two after safely flying his tee shot across Rae’s Creek like a dart to the center of the green to within 17 feet of the pin. He then rolls in the birdie putt to claw his way back to three-under after a dropped shot at the ninth.

McIlroy follows up his bounceback birdie with another bogey.

His tee shot at the par-3 fourth finds the bunker and, while he manages to get it out, he leaves it high and above the hole. He’s left with a tricky putt back down the hill to save par. It doesn’t come back in like he expects it to and it slides right past the left edge of the hole. He sinks the four footer back for bogey.

My god, it’s the hope that kills you.

Oh Rory, Rory, Rory. Every year it’s the same. The hype, the hope, the belief.. only for McIlroy to crack under the prssure.

This year it’s only taken until the second for his first bogey, missing a par-save putt from six feet.

But – and thank god there’s a but – he bounces back on the next hole, making aends from the same distance to claim that shot back.

Bounceback birdie and the Grand Slam is still on… ish.

Meanwhile, it should also be a birdie for Scheffler but he somehow missed from four feet.

Wyndham Clark is the only one of his group not to take advatage of the par-five second, Pink Dogwood, as both Viktor Hovland and Cam Smith make their first bridies of the day.

And as promised, the Norwegian’s shirt is BRIGHT. It’s not quite the same level as last year’s first-round floral design but it is certainly something. Would love to be in the room when Lindeberg unveils its designs to Hovland.

Ryan Fox has flown to the top of the leaderboard with an eagle at the par-five eighth rocketing him to five-under.

He leapfrogs Van Rooyen, who sits second. Meanwhile, Willett and DeChambeau have both taken a tumble down the leaderboard to two-under.

-2 D Willett, B Chambeau and others

Nick Dunlap is taking the pitturesque route around Augusta National with the 20-year-old seeing the course from every angle on his first time at The Masters.

He was wayward left off the tee on the first and is again at the third. He chips out of the detritus and into a bunker.

Tee shot? Tick. Approach shot to 10 feet? Tick. Unfortunately for Rory McIlroy, his putt drifts by the hole and he has to settle for par at the opener.

He’s joined by Scheffler and Schauffele in an absolutely star-studded grouping. They all safely play the first in level par.

Now, Scheffler is the obviosu favortie for a second gree jacket this week. It’s just a matter of whether he can stick around to see iut the full four rounds.

Scheffler and Sam Burns are soon-to-be fathers although that could come at the expense of playing at the Masters this weekend due to their very pregnant wives potentially going into labor during the tournament.

According to Todd Lewis, of the Golf Channel, if either player gets a call that their wives are going into labor anytime between Thursday and Sunday then they would immediately pull out of the major and do everything they can to get to hospital.

Harris English came agonozingly close to the first hole-in-one of the 88th Masters.

The American’s tee shot on the par-3 sixth skirts around the edge of the hole, just teasing him.

But we’ll settle for the tap-in birdie though, eh Harris?

And he’s off! McIlroy’s quest for the coveted Green Jacket – the only prize to evade his glittering career so far – continues.

McIlroy’s drive looks in fine nick on the opening hole – he’s flushed his ball 354 yards down the middle of the fairway.

Playing partners Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele are safely away too.

Ahead of them, the trio of Rahm, Fitzpatrick and Dunlap all way away from the first with pars.

McIlroy has been working with legendary swing coach Butch Harmon in recent weeks in the hope of rediscovering his spark and finally clinching a career Grand Slam.

And his former agent Chubby Chandler believes Butch may just be the key to unlock golf’s Holy Grail for the Northern Irishman.

The Butch effect will kick in this week. What does Butch do? Butch caresses their ego, takes them back to where they were, tells them how good they are, pats them on the arse and sends them out and says ‘nobody is going to beat you next week’.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Rory makes a big run at it next week, because his game will go back to how he used to play, he’ll have Butch’s words of encouragement in his mind and he’ll have been told how good he is for three days.

Even in Rory’s world you need to be told how good you are every now and again.”

The Masters was in the palm of his hand in 2011, suddenly he lost it and then it became the one he hasn’t won. The whole set of circumstances conspired against him and now The Masters is everything to him.

Ladies and gentleman, now driving, your 2023 champion.

Jon Rahm gets his title defense underway! Despite ultimately emerging victorious, the Spaniard will be looking to avoid a similar start to last year when he opened with a double bogey.

There shouldn’t be too much trouble as the LIV Golf defector blasts one down the middle of the fairway.

But it’s ‘fore left’ for his playing partners 2022 US Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick and Nick Dunlap.

Dunlap is making his first appearance at The Masters after becoming the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson in 1991 in January.

Forget the Pimento Cheese, I’ll have what Rahm’s having!

Jon Rahm served up a feast of his own Tuesday night and my god, it looked mouthwatering.

The great and the good of golf gathered for a last supper on Tuesday night at Rahm’s Masters Champions Dinner, one of the final traditions before the action finally begins at Augusta.

Defending champion Rahm welcomed his guests with an Iberian themed menu that included a deeply personal touch he wanted to share with his fellow champions, ahead of his quest to again conquer one of the finest courses of them all.

The 29-year-old Spaniard started with a mix of tapas and pintxos, including spicy Basque chorizo, and ‘Mama Rahm’s Classic Lentil Stew’ – and dish made exactly to his grandmother’s recipe by chef Jose Andres, who helped Rahm design the menu.

The Rahm family recipe was followed by crab salad before offering a choice of ribeye stake or turbot and concluded with puff pastry cake, served with custard and Chantilly cream.

It’s almost lunchtime down in Georgia but luckily for the patrons at Augusta National, they can feast for a pittance.

But they’ll face a tough choice: Pimento Cheese or Egg Salad?

That is the question that has divided patrons at The Masters for decades.

Of course I’m referring to the two iconic sandwiches that have been sold at Augusta National since the 1930s which have become a cult classic, not just at the historic tournament, but all around the world.

As many patrons who have made the iconic once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Augusta will tell you, the sights, the sounds and the atmosphere make the first major of the year so special. But they almost never forget to mention the food options that are available, which are in a league of their own for both quality and price.

Here’s your early leaderboard update:

-1 D Willett, C Lamprecht (a) and four others

Mickelson’s 2023 Masters is often forgotten about, despite him managing to finish second.

His 2024 Masters doesn’t appear to be following a similar pattern. The Lefty bogeys the first after his iron into the first green comes up a tad short. He then chips to eight feet leaving a tricky putt for par, which he can’t drop in.

Is appears Augusta – where he won three Masters titles – can’t inspire Mickelson to turn around the lackluster game he’s been suffering through on LIV.

Garcia’s fellow LIV rebel Bryson DeChambeau is also out on the course but he’s enjoying a much better start.

The American has birdied his first three holes to sit atop the leaderboard. Not too shabby, Bryson, not too shabbing at all.

This is the man who declared that Augusta National, one of the most prestigious courses in golf, played as a par 67 for a player like him. Spoiler alert: DeChambeau has yet to ever play Augusta in 67. In fact, since making that claim in 2020, DeChambeau has only finished under par once,

But maybe, just maybe, this could be the year Bryson.

It will be hard to miss Sergio Garcia today. Although he’ll be hoping everyone will have somehow missed his opening tee shot.

It appears Garcia is refamiliarising himself with the aboreal sights of Augusta National after his time away on the rebel circuit.

With his drive, the Spaniard takes a trip into the trees. He knocks his ball back out onto the fairway and somehow escapes with par.

Christo Lamprecht is more giant than amateur. Standing at an incredible 6ft 8in, the South African has gone full send.

A student at nearby Georgia Tech, he’s no stranger to Augusta and he’s putting his local knowledge and muscle to good use.

He hits his first tee shot 353 yards. I repeat, 353 yards! That leaves him just 89 yards into the green at the first.

Sometimes size does matter.

Olazabal has an, erm, interesting warm up routine to say the least.

A wet Augusta isn’t the warmest I guess, but surely he should be used to it having grown up on the Basque coastline!

For those of you just tuning in expecting to hear about big guns Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler, I have some bad news.

ICYMI, thunderstorms threatened The Masters this morning. They tried but the show is still going ahead, just a little late. Okay, a lot late.

Play was delayed two and a half hours meanin | Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick and Nick Dunlap aren’t going out until 1.00pm ET/6pm, while Scheffler, McIlroy and Xander Schauffele don’t tee off until 1.12pm ET/6.12pm BST.

LIV Golf asked its players which one of them would be likely to emerge from major season vicotorious.

Defending Masters champion Jon Rahm was a popular choice – no surprises there. While Brooks Koepka backed himself. Shock.

Gary Woodland has sealed one of the most heartwarming comeback stories at The Masters.

The 2019 US Open champion has got his tournament underway just six months after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor in September.

He only returned to the PGA Tour at the start of the year but was offered an encouraging sign when he hit the first hole-in-one of his professional career at Augusta National Golf Club.

In the traditional Par 3 competition on the eve of The Masters, which sees players take part in a light-hearted event with members of their families serving as caddies, Woodland achieved the feat from around 140 yards out on the sixth hole.

I bet Eckroat is wonder what he did to rub the gods of golf up the wrong way.

While the four at the top make birdies, the American starts his first-ever Masters appearance with a double bogey. That is brutal.

But don’t panic yet, Austin! Last year, a little-known Spanish golfer by the name of Jon Rahm – you may have heard of him – four-putted on the first to start his tournament with a double-bogey six. I seem to remember him going on to do pretty well…

And just like that Willet has opened the floodgates. His lead is extremely shortlived.

After the Englishman sunk the first birdie, everyone is getting in on the action.

Knapp, Van Rooyen and Moore all make ones of their own. Who said Augusta was hard?

It’s a tight one at the top… for now.

Hear that? That’s the chirping of the first birdie of the 88th Masters.

And it’s from Danny Willett no less. The 2016 champion dials in a crisp iron shot into the middle of the green, almost pin high for his second.

He has a great look at birdie and sinks the 19-foot putt for the early lead.

Not a bad way to start your first round of golf since September, Danny.

Next up is another former champion, 2016 winner Danny Willett, who is making a return from injury.

The Englishman is back ahead of schedule after recovering from a complex shoulder surgery.

He’s off alongside Austin Eckroat and German Stephan Jaeger.

The flag is whipping around on the first green but the skies look to be brightening slightly.

Van Rooyen and Knapp both walk off with pars, while Group 2 of former champion Jose Maria Olazabal, Taylor Moore and amateur Santiago de la Fuente also make tidy work of the first.

Flicking up and down your channel guide and yet not seeing a single golf shot? You’re not the only one.

While there are other ways to stream it, those who still watch traditional linear television are prevented from following the morning sessions of The Masters on Thursday through to Sunday.

So why is that the case? And how can a golf fan looking for their morning fix take it in?

Mail Sport has all the answers…

Augusta is known for its stunning flowers, particularly the azaleas and it appears the South African has really taken that theme and run with it. Let’s hope he’s got one that goes with green for Sunday.

Still doesn’t quite rival Viktor Hovland’s from last year though. I’ve had a peek at the Norwegian’s scripting for this week too and boy, are we in for a treat.

… from South Africa and the United States, Erik van Rooyen and Jake Knapp!

The pairing officially get us up and running. Van Rooyen, sporting a rather funky pink foral shirt, is up first. It’s a slightl slice that finds the first cut of rough but he should be okay from there. Shake off those first tee nerves Erik!

Knapp fires off a beauty up the left side of the fairway. Nicely done and his caddie agrees as he cries out, ‘Lovely!’

The Wednesday before The Masters often provides the sweetest moments of the week as the players taking to the par-3 course at Augusta with the wives or girlfriends and children acting as their caddies.

The glamorous WAGs and other family members don the famous white boiler suits caddies wear at Augusta, with some even having a crack at a couple of shots themselves.

And yesterday was no different as the families took to the course again.

Augusta National has witnessed many iconic moments but Jack Nicklaus may have just provided it with its most adorable.

While being instructed to get into position for the traditional photo of the honorary starters and their caddies, the 18-time major winner shared a loving moment with his wife of 64 years, Barbara, who’s on the bag.

‘I’ve got my caddie right here,’ he declared while wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

An incredible player and loving husband. Get yourself a man who can do both, ladies!

88-year-old Gary Player and 84-year-old Jack Nicklaus both make quips about the struggles of bending down to place the ball on the tee in their ripe old age.

But even well into their 80s, the icons both fire off decent tee shots. You never lose it… not that I ever had it.

Last but not least is Tom Watson, the young gun among this trio at the age of 74, and after taking a little dig at Nicklaus also finds the fairway.

And with that, Augusta chairman Fred Ridley declares the 88th Masters chamoionship underway!

For the course analysts out there, here’s where the players will – or should – be firing today…

We are just moments away from finally seeing some action.

In less than ten minutes the honorary starters will get the 2024 Masters underway.

In one of the many beloved Masters traditions, three legends of the game will take to the first tee to hit the ceremonial openeing shots.

This year, the trio of all-time greats, includes Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson.

It’s not just the golfers who are getting in on the action…

There was at one point last summer a hope that by the time the game’s best players were arriving down Magnolia Lane once again that the great divide would have healed itself.

Talks between the PGA Tour and the PIF continue around a merger, but it’s the Saudi-backed circuit who have proved themselves to be the ultimate poker player.

LIV gambled big again in its offseason over the winner, splashing out $500million to lure reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm to its plight, but the big-money wager could pay off at Augusta National.

Greg Norman’s band of merry men will rock up to Augusta for the second year since tearing the golfing world in two. Except this year, they won’t be scoffed at. This time they come with a spring in their step.

Many of you will surely be wonering what the weather delay means for Tiger. And honestly? It’s not looking good.

The 15-time major winner will now not tee off until 3.54pm ET/8.54pm BST, meaning his chances of finishing a full 18 today are… zero.

The 48-year-old will have to play the rest of his first round tomorrow morning before hitting the course again for his second. With probably four to six holes to play on top of the 18 tomorrow, it’s going to be a tough task for Woods and his body.

With the weather delay pushing tee times back, here’s a refresher of what that means for the big names…

1.00pm ET/6pm BST | Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Nick Dunlap

1.12pm ET/6.12pm BST | Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele

1.24pm ET/6.24pm BST | Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Smith

3.54pm ET/ 8.54pm BST | Tiger Woods, Jason Day, Max Homa

4.30pm ET/9.30pm BST | Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood

The Masters has now verified Garcia’s report. Great inside knowledge, Sergio.

Play is officially delayed until 10.30am ET/3.30pm BST, shoving all tee times back by two and a half hours.

The Spaniard will tee off at 11.42am/4.42pm just as he reported.

Pretty decent from him to be fair. It must be difficult keeping up with tee times these days after two years of shotgun starts on LIV Golf.

We have an update… just not from The Masters.

There’s a light at the end of the storm, according to 2017 champion Sergio Garcia.

The LIV Golf rebel has insisted the show will go on as he took to X to reveal his new tee time of 11.42am ET.

That’s a two-and-a-half hour delay from his original start time, meaning it’s likely we won’t see any play until at least 10.30am ET (3.30pm for you Brits).

Last year, Tiger Woods, five-time winner of The Masters, was forced to withdraw following the third round after limping around Augusta in visible agony.

12 months and another surgery later, Woods is back and eyeing a sixth win.

If everything comes together, I think I can get one more. Do I need to describe that any more than that, or are we good?

I still think that I can [win]. I haven’t got to that point where I don’t think I can’t.

The good news is that major championship golf is finally back after 263 days of waiting.

The bad news is that we’re being made to wait just a little longer.

The weather down in Georgia has delayed the start of play with the first round not expected to begin before 9am ET – that’s 2pm for those of you across the pond – per The Masters itself.

It’s finally here. Happy Masters Thursday!

Welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of the first round of the first major of the year as we bring you all the action from Augusta National… when it finally gets going, that is.

The good ol’ Georgia weather has delayed the start of play as thunderstorms roll in over Augusta but fear not, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, regining champion Jon Rahm and, of course, Tiger Woods will all be teeing it up on the iconic rolling fairways later today.

In the meantime, we’ll be bringing you all the updates. So settle in, slip on your green jackets and get ready for the first major of the year.