The Masters 2025 LIVE: Leaderboard and tee times for Round 1 as Rory McIlroy begins quest for green jacket at Augusta

Rory McIlroy has been handed a boost after six-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus validated the Northern Irishman’s strategy to play Augusta National this week.

McIlroy, searching for a fifth major and a first green jacket to complete the grand slam this week, enters the first major of the year in men’s golf high on confidence after victory at the Players Championship last month.

The 35-year-old has focused on his mental game and even discussed in detail with the 18-time major champion how he will play the course this week.

“I said ‘I know you prepared for Augusta, tell me how you’re going to play the golf course’. And when he got done, I didn’t open my mouth,” Nicklaus said after revealing in the Honorary Starters’ press conference how he asked McIlroy for a “shot for shot” plan.

“I said I wouldn’t change a thing. That’s exactly the way I would try to play the golf course.”

That monster birdie putt from Scottie Scheffler went rattling into the hole from 60ft. Can you be on the move less than two hours into the first day of the Masters? Well, if anyone can it’s the World No 1 and defending champion. He follows it with a par at the fifth.

Leaderboard: (-4) Aaron Rai; (-3) Stephan Jaeger; (-2) Joaquin Niemann, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Tyrrell Hatton

Oh hello Scottie Scheffler! On the par-three 4th, he’s got a birdie putt from downtown Augusta, races it towards the hole and it finds the bottom of the cup.

That was probably 60 feet and if it wasn’t right on line, it was 10 feet by but it rattles home. The world No 1 is suddenly at two-under. Ominous…

Behind him on the course, Jordan Spieth and Tyrrell Hatton appear to be spurring each other on as they both birdie the 2nd to follow their shots gained at the 1st. They’re also at -2 now.

Leaderboard: (-4) Aaron Rai; (-3) Stephan Jaeger; (-2) Joaquin Niemann, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Tyrrell Hatton

Movement from a couple of the players at -2. Germany’s Stephan Jaeger goes to -3 with a sublime second shot at the 7th which is all over the flag. while Chris Kirk has dropped to -1 with a bogey at the 10th.

Scheffler (-1) and Thomas (E) both hole knee-knocking par putts at the 3rd, while Niemann can’t save his par from 30 feet and bogeys to drop to -2.

But the black-gloved Aaron Rai is on an absolute heater here. He climbs to -4 with a fourth birdie of the day at the par-five 8th. You can’t draw it up any better – drive down the middle, safely on the green in two and a tidy two putt for birdie. The Englishman is playing Augusta for the first time but absolutely loving it.

Leaderboard: (-4) Aaron Rai; (-3) Chris Kirk; (-2) Joaquin Niemann

Some more early birdies to mention from those towards the top of the betting market. Jordan Spieth and Tyrrell Hatton, playing together, have both made birdie at the 1st.

Meanwhile, Niemann appears to be heading back to earth as his tee shot at the 5th goes right, he can only pitch out and he’ll be making bogey unless he can hole a 30-foot putt over a ridge.

Leaderboard: (-3) Aaron Rai, Joaquin Niemann; (-2) Chris Kirk, Stephan Jaeger

Welcome to the birdie party, Scottie Scheffler! The world No 1 reaches the edge of the green at the par-five 2nd in two shot, bumps a pitch all the way to the hole at the far side of the green and rolls in the birdie putt. He’s at -1.

Justin Thomas’s pitch isn’t quite as good and he takes two putts from 30 feets for par to stay at evens.

Meanwhile, Joaquin Niemann continues to fly as he nails a third birdie in his first four holes with a confident stroke from 15 feet to join Aaron Rai at -3. Lightning start by the Chilean.

Leaderboard: (-3) Aaron Rai, Joaquin Niemann; (-2) Chris Kirk, Stephan Jaeger

We have a new lone leader at the top and it’s Englishman Aaron Rai. The likeable Midlander move to two-under through three holes and, after three straight pars, he’s birdied the 7th thanks to a stunning second shot accessing the back-right pin and leaving himself a five-footer.

That moves him one shot clear of Kirk, Jaeger and Niemann

Leaderboard: (-3) Aaron Rai; (-2) Chris Kirk, Stephan Jaeger, Joaquin Niemann

Stress-free par at the 1st for Scottie Scheffler, who has a long-range look at birdie but the putt comes up just short. As ever with the world No 1, the flat stick will likely determine his fortunes this week.

Playing partner Justin Thomas’s tee shot leaked right but he recovers for a par of his own – holing out from five feet.

Leaderboard: -2 – Jhonattan Vegas, Chris Kirk, Aaron Rai, Brian Harman, Stephan Jaeger, Joaquin Niemann

An eventful front nine for Nicolai Hojgaard… The European Ryder Cup hopeful has had it all on his scorecard so far.

Meanwhile, Niemann made birdie in the end at the 2nd to join the ever growing list of players atop the early leaderboard at -2.

Leaderboard: -2 – Jhonattan Vegas, Zach Johnson, Chris Kirk, Noah Kent (a), Aaron Rai, Brian Harman, Stephan Jaeger, Byeong Hun An, Joaquin Niemann

Gorgeous shot from Joaquin Niemann at the 2nd as he arcs an iron around the dog-leg from 238 yards away, clears the greenside bunker and finds the heart of the dancefloor.

That was his second shot at the par-five, so he’s left with a 20-foot putt for eagle and, having birdied the 1st, that would put him top of the leaderboard at -3.

Back on the 1st tee, defending champion and hot favourite this week, Scottie Scheffler, is teeing off. He pipes his opening drive down the middle of the fairway. He’s playing alongside Justin Thomas and amateur Jose Luis Ballester.

Leaderboard: -2 – Jhonattan Vegas, Zach Johnson, Chris Kirk, Noah Kent (a), Aaron Rai, Brian Harman, Stephan Jaeger, Byeong Hun An