Masters 2013: Leishman and Garcia Set the Pace as Woods Prowls

Marc Leishman and Sergio Garcia are the clubhouse leaders on six-under par after day one of The Masters at Augusta.

Both players carded a round of 66 and lead American Dustin Johnson, who bogeyed 17 to drop back, by one shot, and are two further clear of a group of six including debutant David Lynn, former champions Trevor Immelman and Fred Couples as well as Rickie Fowler.

Lynn is joined by English pair Lee Westwood and Justin Rose, who are both two-under, while world No.1 Tiger Woods also shot 70 and USPGA champion Rory McIlroy is level par through 18 holes.

Guan Tianlang, the youngest player to ever compete at The Masters, is on course to make the weekend cut after a one-over 73, which included four birdies, two of which came at statistically the course's toughest hole at the 10th and then the 18<sup>th

But the day firmly belonged to co-leaders Leishman, who has one career PGA tour win at last year's Travelers Championship, and Garcia, who continues to enjoy a revival in his career in his 30s.

The Spaniard has 17 previous top ten finishes at majors, the last coming at the 2011 Open Championship, but a top 15 place at Augusta last year appears to have set the Ryder Cup vice-captain up for a go at the green jacket in 2013.

"The first 10 holes was amazing," said Garcia, who said 12 months ago he could never win a major.

"I felt so good and hit so many great shots. Even though I was hitting four, five or six-iron into the greens, it felt like I was 10-15ft away all the time, and it's hard to do that on this course."

Leishman meanwhile is in unchartered territory and only reached the weekend at one major last year and having missed the cut in his only previous Masters appearance, the 29 year old was delighted to conquer his demons.

"The first time I was here I was like a bit of a deer in headlights, I guess," said Leishman. "I found myself looking around a little bit too much and not concentrating on getting the ball in the hole, which is what you need to do.

"To be here is awesome and to be sitting here is pretty cool. But, you know, it's only Thursday afternoon, so a lot of golf to play. But I feel good about my game."

The European challenge at the top of the leaderboard was stifled by the trials of the fancied Ian Poulter, who finished 10 shots back on four-over, and three-time major winner Padraig Harrington, who made two double-bogeys on his way to a six-over 78.