Red-hot Jordan Spieth storms into Masters lead at Augusta

Jordan Spieth is just 2-1 with bet365 and Coral to win his second Masters after he ended the first round with a two-shot lead at Augusta.

The 2015 champion, who has also been runner-up twice in the last four years, grabbed the tournament by the scruff of the neck with five successive birdies on the back nine to card a 66.

He could even afford a bogey on the final hole - he had to chip out sideways after a wayward drive - to maintain some daylight between himself and nearest challengers Tony Finau and Matt Kuchar.

Debutant Finau's 68 was phenomenal considering he dislocated his ankle on Wednesday when celebrating a hole-in-one during the par-three competition and was a doubt to even make it to the first tee.

Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson were among a group of seven players who were three shots behind and McIlroy, who needs a Green Jacket to complete a career grand slam of Majors, was a general 11-2 at the close of play on the first day to win the treasured prize.

Spieth started the tournament at 10-1 and was 18-1 co-favourite with his close friend Justin Thomas and McIlroy to be the first-round leader.

American challengers Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler will have been pleased with two-under-par totals of 70, but the day proved a disaster for defending champion Sergio Garcia.

He hit five shots into the water on the par-five 15th, the hole where he scored an eagle in the final round 12 months ago, to card a 13, the highest score on any hole in Masters history, on his way to an 81.

Tiger Woods recovered from finding the water on the par-three 12th with birdies at the 14th and 16th to finish with a one-over-par 73.

Best prices: 2 Spieth, 11-2 McIlroy, 16 Stenson, Mickelson, Kuchar, 20 Fowler, 25 Reed, 28 Rose, 33 Finau, D Johnson, 40 Woods, Cabrera-Bello, Leishman.

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