Friday 7 April 2017 20:03, UK
Butch Harmon hailed Charley Hoffman after his sensational Masters opening round of 65 but feels Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickleson are poised to challenge.
Hoffman was one of two players to break 70 on a day of testing conditions as he opened up a four-shot lead at the head of the field.
Despite the absence of Dustin Johnson, who withdrew through injury just minutes before his 7.03pm tee-time, several of the world's leading names stayed within touching distance after shaky starts.
Harmon picked out Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson as players to keep an eye on after reserving special praise for world No 52 Hoffman, who leads the way.
I think we will have wind again tomorrow.
Charley Hoffman's score was a one-off - you just have to take your hat off to him. To get around this course in these conditions, only two people broke 70 and Hoffman shot seven-under-par.
You can look at seven-under and by the end of the week that might be the winner.
A great round but is Charley Hoffman going to win the Masters? I would say probably no, but you have to take your hat off to him.
It will blow on Friday, the ground will get harder and faster and this course is tough when it gets hard and fast.
Hoffman is going to have to come back a little and then we are into the weekend and anything can happen.
The way Dustin Johnson has been playing, and I know how good he has been in practice, he couldn't wait to get going.
But unfortunately he had that freak accident and what happens when the world No 1 is out is that it opens the tournament up for a whole lot of other people.
I think the wind was a factor all day long for Rory. He said in his interview that he felt he got through the round and at three-over he wasn't very happy with it.
But what he did on the first three holes of the back nine at 10,11,12 - that is where he saved the round to give himself a chance to get something going which he did.
Ten and 11 are holes that have killed him in the past but he has really taken advantage of the two par fives at 13 and 15. He took advantage at 16 as well and he has got himself right back into this.
When you are one of the best players in the world and you are not playing your best stuff the secret is to get yourself back into the game.
Phil Mickelson had a great round today, 46 years old and a three-time champion at one-under par.
It just shows you that he knows this golf course and I think he knows the golf course better than anyone else in the field.
He has played in so many of these Masters, his preparation is incredible. He comes here a couple of times in advance and charts everything on the golf course
He knows what is going to happy, so he just has to go out and do it and I thought Phil played pretty well.
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