Friday 10 April 2015 01:19, UK
Charley Hoffman said conditions at Augusta National allowed him to play attacking golf on the opening day of the 2015 Masters.
The American opened with a five-under-par 67 to set the early pace at the season’s first major championship.
He admitted: “When the course was damp like it was today, you can be aggressive to some of those pins towards the back of the green.
“I had the ability to do that this morning and I assumed it wouldn’t get too firm this afternoon or this week with the humidity the way it is.
“I knew that I could be aggressive today and put the ball in the right spot. The holes where I did it I was able to attack and the holes I didn’t’ I was able to get the ball back in position which is important out here.”
Hoffman opened with three birdies in his first five holes and then played the last four in four-under – which included an eagle at the par-five 15th.
As for the round in general, Hoffman added: "Coming to the first tee I was a little nervous, hit a little hook over in the ninth fairway and was able to get back over to the green and settled my nerves with a little two-putt par.
"I was able to make birdie on the second and third and that sort of calmed the nerves and I was ready to go.
"This is only my second Masters and obviously to follow those guys (honoury starters Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player) off the tee, it's pretty lucky and special.
"I'm honoured that the Masters gave me that opportunity and I sort of took advantage of it. I like playing early and I like playing at a decent pace, so I knew this was going to benefit my game pretty well."
Hoffman, who finished 27th on his only previous Masters appearance in 2011, has won three times on the PGA Tour.
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