Friday 8 April 2016 10:55, UK
Defending champion Jordan Spieth described his first round 66 at Augusta as "one of the best" he has ever shot.
Looking to win his second Green Jacket in as many years, Spieth finished bogey-free, carding six birdies to secure a clubhouse lead.
However, the 22-year-old American insists that he will need to improve his iron play if he is to stay ahead of the chasing pack in the next three days.
"It's one of the better rounds I've ever shot," Spieth told Sky Sports. "I didn't feel like I had good control on my iron swings today but I put a couple of good ones in on 13 and 18 and then the ones that were missed, were missed in places where I could make par at worst.
"The short game was there today and the putter was there today. I made a lot of putts considering the windy conditions, it's something we tend to do on this golf course so it's nice when they do go in.
"In order to stay bogey-free - which isn't necessarily the goal, the goal is to try and shoot under par each day - it's going to take a little bit more in the ball striking and the patience that we had today."
After sinking a six-footer for his first gain on the third, Spieth made two more before the turn and he was three-under on the back nine too with further birdies at 10, 13 and 18.
"It's just a place where I feel comfortable," he added. "I feel like you need imagination with the rich history here, it just excites you when you tee off and we were able to really settle down quicker than I think we have in either of the last two years."
While Spieth looked in fine fettle in his first round, Rickie Fowler struggled throughout to finish eight-over.
"Golf's not an easy game," he said, after his second worst ever round at a major.
"Golf's tough, it is a fine line, especially at this place. I mean, I go play a decent back nine and I'm three-under par.
"It can go either way and it can definitely go the other way, the high number way, a lot easier than it can the low. They can add up quick."
