AUGUSTA, Ga. — Maybe the tone of the opening day of the 2018 Masters tournament was set when the defending champion, Sergio García, hit five balls into the pond in front of the 15th hole for an eventual eight-over par 13. It was the highest score ever registered on the 15th hole at the Masters, which has been played here since 1934.
Later, Jordan Spieth, the 2015 Masters champion who was slumping not long ago, endured a topsy-turvy front nine before roaring through the back nine in four under par, finishing with a six-under 66 and a two-stroke lead after the first round.