Jordan Spieth hits on the first fairway in opening round action of the Masters golf tournament in Augusta on Thursday. Herman birdied the first two holes, but then bogeyed three holes in a row from the fourth.The American won by four strokes last year with a record-matching 18-under par total and two months later he added the US Open crown. (Photo: AP )Austrian Bernd Wiesberger sank a seven-foot birdie putt at the seventh hole to reach two-under par and grab the early lead in Thursday’s first round of the 80th Masters.Seeking to become just the fourth player — after Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods — to win back-to-back titles, the 22-year-old Texan pushed his approach to the first off to the right of the green.

Spieth got the defense of his Masters crown off to a steady start.He enjoyed his moment in the spotlight as the first competitor to tee off shortly after Masters legends Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player performed their roles as honorary starters.Jordan Spieth hits on the first fairway in opening round action of the Masters golf tournament in Augusta on Thursday.Spieth is part of a trio of new generation favourites alongside Jason Day and Rory McIlroy who were under threat from a bunch of hardened former champions.Playing conditions were ideal after heavy overnight rain had softened the fairways and greens, although the breeze was expected to stiffen for the late starters..The early pace at one under after a few holes was set by Thai veteran Thongchai Jaidee, 66-year-old legend Tom Watson, 2010 British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen and England’s Lee Westwood.Spieth set out at 9:48am (1348GMT) in the company of England’s Paul Casey and rising young US amateur Bryson DeChambeau.

First man out was, Jim Herman, a 38-year-old journeyman who won his first tournament in 106 tries at the Houston Open on Sunday to punch the last ticket into the first of the year’s four majors.Wiesberger, who shared 22nd last year in his Masters debut after an opening 75, owned a one-stroke edge on a host of rivals that included 66-year-old Tom Watson, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, France’s Victor Dubuisson and Englishmen Lee Westwood and Paul Casey.But a beautiful chip from a difficult position left him with a tap-in putt for par and he stayed at level par through two holes.Some favourites with early birdies on the front nine included defending champion Jordan wholesale instant hot water faucet Spieth, fellow American Rickie Fowler, South African Louis Oosthuizen and 2007 winner Zach Johnson, who took the green jacket in cool conditions such as those on offer this week at Augusta National