AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) The Latest on the first round of the Masters on Thursday (all times local):

11:55 a.m.

Tiger Woods has his first birdie at the Masters in nearly three years.

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Woods almost drove the green at the par-4 No. 3, pitched to about 10 feet and made the putt to set off a huge ”Tiger Roar” at Augusta National.

It was Woods’ first competitive birdie at the famed course since April 12, 2015, at No. 15 in the final round of the Masters. He finished tied for 17th.

Woods gave the stroke back on the next hole when his tee shot found a greenside bunker. He chipped out and missed a 20-footer for par.

Playing partner Marc Leishman was leading the event at 2 under.

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10:25 a.m.

Tony Finau says he is ”optimistic” after a ”crazy day” at the Masters.

Finau dislocated his left ankle celebrating a hole-in-one during the Par-3 Tournament on Wednesday and then popped it back into place.

X-rays were negative. Finau was scheduled for more tests Thursday bef..

There's a lot to dance about in Houston these days. The Rockets basically never lose anymore and they've gone from curiosity (How can Chris Paul and James Harden co-exist?!) to the NBA's only legit threat to end Golden State's dynasty. It turns out the team also employs the league's most limber usher.
If I ever attend a game at the Toyota Center, I want seats in Section 124 where this Dustin Johnson lookalike works. Seriously, check out this guy's smooth moves (Fast forward to the 1:00 mark) that were shown on the arena's jumbotron:
https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/981577141060956160
The best part (other than his insane dancing that included a back flip on concourse) is that he keeps waving off the crowd to say he's done putting on a show — until he starts up again, much to the delight of the crowd. We hope James Harden is taking notes.
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AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) Butch Harmon has taught some of the greatest players in golf, including Tiger Woods, and said he, like many, thought Woods would never play again.

Harmon told “AP Sports Special Events” podcast co-hosts Jim Litke and Tim Dahlberg on location at the Masters that he thinks Woods will play well and might even have a chance of winning. If that happens, he said, it would be a great reincarnation for Woods and golf itself.

Harmon was the instructor for Woods when he turned pro and this week counts Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler among his clients.

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Harmon said this Masters has a chance to be the best since1986, when Jack Nicklaus won at the age of 46. He said the mix of young talent and Woods and Phil Mickelson could make it memorable.

Litke and Dahlberg also talk to AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson, who says even if Woods doesn’t win, who would have thought that 10 months after the infamous police mug shot following his DUI arrest that Woods wo..

Every week, professional golfers walk miles and miles on the course as part of their jobs, and for many, the most-treasured piece of their golf gear is their shoes. Wearing comfortable golf shoes enhances performance and keeps their feet energized throughout a round.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) The Latest on the first round of the Masters on Thursday (all times local):

4:15 p.m.

Tiger Woods feels like he played better than he scored at the Masters.

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Woods shot a 1-over 73 in the opening round Thursday, failing to make up any ground on the four par 5s. Woods has feasted on Augusta National’s longest holes over the years, but parred each of them in his return to golf’s first major.

He says, ”That was the difference in the round.”

The 42-year-old Woods has been away from golf for much of the last few years because of his four back surgeries. The Masters is his first major since playing the PGA Championship in August 2015.

He was back in the Masters field for the first time in 1,089 days.

Woods says he ”definitely didn’t score as well as I played,” noting that he has to be better on the par-5s.

The four-time Masters champion is far from concerned. He’s typically been a slow starter at Augusta, having shot under par just once (..

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) The Latest on the first round of the Masters on Thursday (all times local):

11:55 a.m.

Tiger Woods has his first birdie at the Masters in nearly three years.

Article continues below …

Woods almost drove the green at the par-4 No. 3, pitched to about 10 feet and made the putt to set off a huge ”Tiger Roar” at Augusta National.

It was Woods’ first competitive birdie at the famed course since April 12, 2015, at No. 15 in the final round of the Masters. He finished tied for 17th.

Woods gave the stroke back on the next hole when his tee shot found a greenside bunker. He chipped out and missed a 20-footer for par.

Playing partner Marc Leishman was leading the event at 2 under.

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10:25 a.m.

Tony Finau says he is ”optimistic” after a ”crazy day” at the Masters.

Finau dislocated his left ankle celebrating a hole-in-one during the Par-3 Tournament on Wednesday and then popped it back into place.

X-rays were negative. Finau was scheduled for more tests Thursday bef..

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) The Latest on the first round of the Masters on Thursday (all times local):

8:15 a.m.

The 82nd Masters has begun.

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Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player officially got the tournament started Thursday morning with the ceremonial tee shot.

Player, 82, took the first swing followed by the 78-year-old Nicklaus under a clear, sunny sky with the temperature in the 40s. It is expected to be in the high 60s by the afternoon.

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley told the crowd crammed around the first tee how privileged they were to have the duo with nine green jackets to start the tournament.

Wesley Bryan, Austin Cook, Ted Potter Jr. were the first group to tee off when play began.

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4:45 a.m.

No matter where Ian Poulter turns, there’s someone with an outstretched hand and congratulatory words.

Certainly, no one took a more harrowing path to the Masters.

The 42-year-old Englishman was the last player to qualify for the first major of the year, ..

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) Tiger Woods gave galleries at Augusta National something to cheer for in his first round at the Masters in three years.

Playing partner Marc Leishman provided even more highlights.

Leishman birdied three of his first seven holes and was 3 under at the turn while playing alongside the main attraction at the first major of 2018.

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He took advantage of solid tee shots and even better approach shots while making consecutive birdies at the second and third holes. Leishman’s wedge shot at the par-5 second bounced onto the back fringe and spun back to within a few feet of the flag.

He nearly drove the green at the par-4 third and chipped past the hole. But he drained a sweeping, super-fast, downhill putt for another birdie. His approach shot at No. 7 checked up, spun left and landed a few feet away for another short birdie.

Even when Leishman wasn’t getting close for birdies, he was doing enough to save par. He came up just a few revolutions s..

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) No matter where Ian Poulter turns, there’s someone with an outstretched hand and congratulatory words.

Certainly, no one took a more harrowing path to the Masters.

The 42-year-old Englishman was the last player to qualify for the first major of the year, winning last weekend’s Houston Open in a playoff after sinking a 20-foot birdie on the 72nd hole .

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”Nice putt,” someone said as Poulter lingered under the mammoth oak tree in front of the clubhouse at Augusta National.

He responded with a sly wink and a smile that signaled more relief than joy.

”To do it the way I did it, after all the disappointments, all the highs and lows, it’s really nice,” Poulter said on the eve of the Masters.

When the tournament begins Thursday, there will be no shortage of compelling storylines.

Tiger Woods is playing for the first time since 2015, healthy again and looking very much ready to contend for a fifth green jacket. Phil Mickelson is coming off a ..

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) Tony Finau injured his left ankle celebrating a hole-in-one during the Par-3 Tournament at the Masters and then seemingly popped it back into place.

Finau flew his ball to the back of the seventh green Wednesday on the Par-3 course at Augusta National and spun it back into the hole for an ace. He started running toward the hole to celebrate, then turned and backpedaled before landing awkwardly on his left ankle. He dropped to one knee and ended up pushing the joint back into place.

Finau, ranked No. 34 in the world, ended up withdrawing from the event but stuck around for the final two holes. He gingerly walked to a golf cart and was driven off the course.

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Tom Watson won the exhibition at 6-under, one shot better than Tommy Fleetwood and Thomas Pieters.

Jack Nicklaus’ grandson, who was caddying for the six-time Masters winner, made a hole-in-one at No. 9.

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For more AP golf coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-Golf