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    Rejuvenated García Shares Opening-Round Lead With a 66

A year ago, the unimportant sight of the Augusta National Golf Club left Sergio García despondent and doubting that he might ever score a major championship. 

On Thursday, Garcia was tied for the Masters first-adjust lead with the Australian Marc Leishman. 

Another year, another Sergio, who at 33 remains golf's dull sovereign, an irregular talent spooky by repeating self-question while being concurrently floated by inherent and nurtured expertise. 

"Evidently, its not my most beloved spot," García stated after he shot a six-under standard 66 and was inquired as to his grumblings a year ago about Augusta National. "Yet, you know, some of the time it turns out a cut above others. And wouldn't it be great if we could like it while it keeps going." 

García had additionally announced a year ago at Augusta that he did not have the ability to score a major. 

"Those were my expressions," he stated Thursday. "It was a disappointing few hours." 

Augusta National on Thursday was not only kind to the imprudent and touchy García. Minutes of dissatisfaction were more extraordinary than regular all through the field, and the effect was a powerhouse assembly of the planet's best players at the highest point of the guide load up. 

The climate conjecture was for drizzle; rather, a soggy dimness wrapped Augusta National, softening greens and making benevolent course conditions that had most every living soul terminating at pins and putting with relative bravery. 

It is stated that not a single person scores the Masters on the first day, however some lose their opportunity to score. The principal adjust played to that adage and then certain, as players positioned themselves for the weekend and just a few striking players slipped from controversy. 

Twenty-one of the top 30 players on the planet golf rankings, incorporating Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, were inside six strokes of García and Leishman. Eleven major champions were inside five strokes. 

"The objective is to stay full of vibrancy until the back nine on Sunday," stated Dustin Johnson, who was one stroke antiquated. "We all realize that." 

Johnson, who acted like an adult about a hour from Augusta, has long been recognized a player with an amusement generally suited to the Masters rivalry. Anyway he has never put higher than a tie for 30th in three Masters manifestations. Thursday was just his second Masters adjust in the 60s. 

"There are things you need to know here," Johnson stated, "and it takes a little while to study them." 

Right around those at four under standard and two strokes back was the 53-year-old Fred Couples, who has finalized no more regrettable than tied for 15th at the Masters since he turned 50. The 1992 Masters champion, Couples has played his final 13 adjusts at Augusta National in 19 under standard. Right away playing his 29th Masters, he has had five top five completions and 11 top 10 completions. 

"I know where to miss here," Couples stated, "and I know where not to miss." 

Couples was tied with five others, incorporating the Georgia Tech graduate and neighborhood most beloved Matt Kuchar, the previous Masters champion Trevor Immelman, Rickie Fowler, David Lynn and Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño. 

Fernández-Castaño played later practice adjusts with his kinsman from Spain, José María Olazábal, who has won the Masters twice. 

"He knows this spot such as his lawn," Fernández-Castaño stated. 

Olazábal is likewise answerable for the irregular putting stance utilized by Fernández-Castaño, who keeps his feet pressed together. 

"He inferred it, and it worked," Fernández-Castaño stated. "I will listen to anything a two-time Masters champ states." 

Leishman is a 29-year-old Australian who was small known in the United States until he shot a last adjust 62 to score a year ago Travelers Championship. He had been in 20th put after the third adjust of the occasion. 

On Thursday, Leishman missed the first opening before running off an string of 7 birdies and 10 standards, incorporating an stretch of four sequential birdies from the standard 5 13th gap to the standard 3 16th, where he sank a putt of more than 50 feet. 

"That was an shell," Leishman stated. "I don't have a clue how far that putt was, however it was in a distinctive ZIP code." 

Woods played his first aggressive adjust in the association of his mate, the Olympic skiing champion Lindsey Vonn. He played warily yet fulfilled at two under standard. 

"It was a great, robust day," Woods stated. "I'm satisfied. You keep the ball in play on the first day and get yourself primed for whatever is left of the competition. I'm still in the thick of it." 

It is the fifth time Woods has shot 70 in the first adjust of the Masters; three of the other times he won the competition. 

Woods was one of 10 players at two under. McIlroy was two shots once again with a 72. 

The most youthful player in the history of the Masters, the 14-year-old Guan Tianlang, charged back from a two-over 38 in his first nine gaps to shoot one under standard on the back nine, fulfilling at one over standard. 

There were a few eminent players who posted sort of towering scores, for instance Bubba Watson, the guarding champion, who shot 75. Scratch Watney shot 78, as did Padraig Harrington. 

However near the finale, it was García's shining play that initiated the most amazing mix, when wants for him at Augusta National wouldn't be able to have been more level. 

"I trust generally advantageous, and provided that I devise a workable plan to do that I will have an chance at scoring," García stated with an odd, helter-skelter grin. "Assuming that my best is not that great, then, you know, I'll battle a mite. Today my best was quite exceptional, and I'm anticipating doing the same thing the following three days. At the same time we'll see."