Lee Westwood's patience pays off as he ends first round with blitz of birdies at Augusta

It was never going to be easy overshadowing the late withdrawal of the world No1 but Charley Hoffman did his best here in the opening round of the 81st Masters Tournament. After shooting a seven-under-par 65 most observers thought impossible in the extreme conditions, the 40-year old Californian is four shots clear of the only other man to break 70, compatriot William McGirt.

Such scoring was remarkable on an opening day that was many things. Chilly. Windy. Sunny. And lacking the game’s best player. Despite making a brief appearance on Augusta National’s first tee, Dustin Johnson’s injured back — the result of a freak fall the evening before — eventually proved to be just too sore. Unable to make what he felt was a proper swing, the 32-year-old South Carolinian was forced to retire.

“It was pouring rain and I was going to move the car,” he explained. “I was wearing socks and slipped on the stairs. I landed on my lower back. It’s real tight. My left elbow is swollen and bruised, too. I can make some swings, but I didn’t feel like I was able to compete.”

The best-placed Old World citizen is Lee Westwood. Last year’s runner-up reached the turn in 39 and was still three over par after 12 holes. Standing on the 13th tee, the 43-year old from Worksop was suddenly inspired. Five birdies in succession followed. And an up-and-down par at the last completed a round of 70.

“I didn’t putt well on the front nine, missing a few short ones,” he said. “It was a matter of being patient. Don’t panic. Don’t get too aggressive. This course is all about playing for the right spots and waiting for something good to happen. I got on a roll and hit it close four holes in a row. Which was nice. I stuck to my game plan and didn’t get ahead of myself.”

Three other Englishmen — Andy Sullivan, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose — all shot 71 to sit behind Westwood. But their score was just about the only thing all three had in common. Where Sullivan walked off happy after a closing birdie got him into red figures, Fitzpatrick’s double-bogey six on the 18th provoked a darker mood. Rose, as ever stoic, was more composed, despite dropping shots at the 16th and 17th.

“It was brutal out there,” said Sullivan, as a prelude to providing way too much information about his fine finish. “It was like the Open Championship. I’m just buzzing to get it round under par. And it was nice to cap the day off by holing one on the last. To be honest, going up there I needed a pee so bad. My stomach was bursting. Adam Scott was over a four-footer and I was like, ‘c’mon Scotty, hurry up’.”

In contrast, Fitzpatrick was disappointed at undoing much good work with a miscued drive that left him 267 yards to the green on a hole measuring 465 yards. “Do the math,” as they say in these parts.

“I just didn’t feel comfortable over the tee-shot,” he said. “My low drive is lower than everyone else’s — I can actually kill someone at head-high. So I didn’t feel comfortable with people poking their heads out. I should have backed off and got everyone to move. I’ll do that the rest of the week.”

Despuite carding a 73 which was only good enough for a tie of 19th place, the Englishman deserving of most praise is perhaps Danny Willett. Quickly three-over par after a six-six start, the defending champion made two birdies and an eagle at the par-five 13th. There were two dropped shots in the mix thereafter, the second a sad three-putt on the final green. Still, for a man in the midst of a months-long slump, it was a commendable effort.

“It was a less than ideal start, not what I had envisaged the last 12 months starting out my defence.” he said. “But I fought back really well, dug my heels in and hit some really good golf shots. It was a tricky day, but I don’t think 73 is going to do a great deal of damage to my overall week with the conditions today.”

World No2 Rory McIlroy was on 72. Like Willett and Westwood, the four-time Major champion saved his score with a strong finish over the closing holes. Three-over par with six to play, a trio of birdies carried him back to level par.

“My short game really saved me today, especially on 10, 11 and 12,” he said. “It was the toughest I’ve ever seen here and definitely the longest the course has played. But I’ll know what to expect tomorrow. I think I’ll deal with it better then.”