Guan Tianlang gets first taste of Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Guan Tianlang called it a dream come true Thursday when he became the youngest player in Masters history to compete in the tournament.

But it had to be even better to finish with a curling 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for a 1-over-par 73, which tied the 14-year-old from China for 46th place in the 93-player field.

"I feel great to play the first round here," Guan said. "I was just a little bit nervous on the first tee, but I hit a great tee shot on it and after that I just felt comfortable."

Two of the four birdies for Guan, one of the shorter hitters in the tournament, came at 10 and 18, two of the longest par-4s at Augusta National Golf Club. He also made several par saves, including one that followed a spectacular chip at the par-3 sixth.

All in all, Guan had fun. And the crowd supported him.

"The people are nice," he said. "Some of the times they are cheering for me and it feels great."

Defending champion Bubba Watson 3-putted three times, and a fourth time from the fringe, to start his pursuit of a second green jacket with a 75, well behind the leaders.

"It's golf," Watson said. "There's going to be bad days and good days. I hit the ball really well. I can't complain about my ball-striking. I had four 3-putts. I never got the speed right, never got the ball to the hole. [The greens] were slower than what I was expecting."

Watson, who had just one birdie, said he didn't feel any different walking around Augusta National as the defending champion, and didn't feel any more pressure.

Marc Leishman, who carded seven birdies in grabbing a share of the first-round lead with Sergio Garcia, said he did a little too much sightseeing at his first Masters in 2010 and missed the cut.

"I was a bit of a deer in the headlights," the Australian said. "I found myself looking around a little bit too much and not concentrating on getting the ball in the hole, which is what you need to do.

"I hit it in a lot of bad spots and I think I learned a lot from doing that. That's helped me this week so far."

Jamie Donaldson, a first-time Masters participant, made a pretty big impression by carding a hole in one at the par-3 sixth hole. The 37-year-old European Tour player jarred a 7-iron from 177 yards out, and went on to finish with a 74.

"You're staring down that hole and the green is like there are dead elephants buried everywhere," he said. "The [back right] pin is in the hardest pin placement so you just have to take the shot on. I went straight at it and the shot came off exactly as I wanted it to, and it went in.

"It was just like, wow."

Rory McIlroy, the world's No. 2-ranked player, notched five birdies in his tour of Augusta National but canceled them out with five bogeys and shot a 72.

Rickie Fowler started out each nine with a double bogey, but an eagle and six birdies had him smiling and signing for a 68.