Garcia and Leishman lead Masters, Tiger lurks

First-round leaderboard* -6: M Leishman (Aus), S Garcia (Spa)* -5: D Johnson* -4: D Lynn (Eng), R Fowler, G Fernandez-Castano (Spa)* -3: J Furyk, Z Johnson, A Scott (Aus)* Selected others: -2: J Rose (Eng), L Westwood (Eng), T Woods* -1: P Mickelson* Level: R McIlroy (NI)* +1: S Lyle (Sco), G Tianlang (Chn), G McDowell (NI)AUGUSTA – Sergio Garcia and surprise package Marc Leishman seized joint control in Thursday’s opening round at the Masters, though tournament favourite Tiger Woods was lurking just four shots off the pace.On a mainly overcast day at Augusta National where there was very little wind, Spaniard Garcia and Australian Leishman fired six-under-par 66s to surge one stroke clear of the field in the year’s opening major.Long-hitting American Dustin Johnson, who missed last year’s Masters due to a back injury, also got to six under but bogeyed the tricky par-four 17th to end the day alone in third after shooting a 67.Former champion Fred Couples, at 53, rolled back the years as he carded a 68 to finish level with fellow Americans Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar, Englishman David Lynn, South African Trevor Immelman and Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.However, no one in the upper reaches of the leaderboard will be able to ignore the ominous presence of four-times champion Woods who, watched by girlfriend Lindsey Vonn and five-deep galleries when he started his round, finished with a 70.The world number one opened with a 70 on the way to his first three victories at Augusta National and is perfectly placed as he bids to win his first major title since the 2008 U.S. Open.“It was a good day, a solid day,” the 37-year-old Woods told reporters after mixing three birdies with a sole bogey on greens which ran a little slower than he expected.Woods, who has been installed as a hot favourite this week after winning three times in his first five starts on the 2013 PGA Tour, made a solid start with a two-putt par at the first, where he has often struggled in the past.The 14-times major champion picked up his first shot of the day at the par-three sixth, then birdied the par-five eighth to reach the turn in two-under 34.Though Woods failed to cash in on the back nine, offsetting a birdie at the par-five 13th with a bogey at 14 before failing to birdie the par-five 15th, he was overall happy with his round.Chinese delightOne of the most impressive performances of the day came from 14-year-old Chinese Guan Tianlang who rolled in a 14-foot birdie putt from just off the green at the last for a 73, the best score among the six amateurs competing this week.Three-times champion Phil Mickelson opened with a 71 while Northern Irish world number two Rory McIlroy, who squandered a four-shot overnight lead with a final-round 80 at the 2011 Masters, carded a 72.

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Garcia and Leishman lead Masters, Tiger lurks