Image source, Reuters

A bit of everything on the second hole, a nice birdie for Xander Schauffele, a disappointing par for Matt Fitzpatrick and an even more disappointing bogey for Bryson DeChambeau.

He boomed a drive miles left off the tee and had to take a drop so it was always going to be a struggle.

Image source, Reuters

It's an opening par for Rory McIlroy, but not without a little adventure. He hoicks his drive to the left and manages to advance his ball out of the trees and up to the mouth of the green.

The course is playing firm and fast but he judges his chip well and knocks in a nerve-settling five-footer.

An untidy opening hole from Cameron Young. After a great drive, he comes up short with his second and fails to get up and in after an aggressive pitch.

Amateur Mason Howell, whose hat came flying off his head as he hooked his drive, recovers to record a par.

Image source, Reuters

Patrick Reed has made an electric start at Augusta National as he cards the second eagle of the day at the par-five second hole to jump into the lead on three under.

The 2018 Masters champion lands a beauty of a putt from a few yards off the green, but the fringes here are so pure it's no problem, they'll be running much faster than anything most of us have putted on in our lives, and it turns down the slope and finds the heart of the cup.

That's a birdie-eagle start for course specialist Reed, who is still waiting to return to the PGA Tour after leaving LIV Golf - but he's been ripping it up on the DP World Tour.

Tommy Fleetwood and Akshay Bhatia add birdies at the friendly second - I hope they've got plenty of crystal glasses as it could be an eagle fest today.

Image source, Getty Images

Despite sticking his approach to seven feet, there is no birdie for Shane Lowry at the short par-four third.

He remains two under. Dustin Johnson stays one under, but a bogey five drops 2011 runner-up Jason Day back to one over.

Stephen Watson
BBC Sport NI at Augusta National

As Rory McIlroy rips off off the first tee his bid to be just the fourth back-to-back Masters champion begins - and one golfing legend thinks he can do it.

After helping the Masters get under way as an honorary starter Jack Nicklaus, one of the three golfers to win the Masters back to back, said he believes Rory McIlroy has the “monkey off his back and can win the tournament again this year".

I popped over to the range after sitting in on Nicklaus' press conference with Tom Watson and Gary Player to catch him briefly chatting to McIlroy.

And the answer is of course Tiger Woods, Sir Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus - some trio!

Keep your comments coming in using the Get Involved feedback form.

Image source, EPA

Six-time Masters champion - and 18-time major winner - Jack Nicklaus was one of three legends to hit the tournament's ceremonial opening tee shots, alongside Gary Player and Tom Watson.

Nicklaus is one of three golfers to have won the Masters two years running, and was asked whether defending champion Rory McIlroy could join that list this weekend.

"If you're going to win two years in a row, you'll find conditions you like and maybe you don't find conditions you like, but you've got to adjust to both of those. I was fortunate enough to be able to do that," Nicklaus said.

"I think Rory is talented enough to be able to play it. Rory's got the monkey off his back, and I think he has a very, very good chance to repeat."

Iain Carter
BBC golf correspondent at Augusta National

Image source, Getty Images

To come close to matching the romance of Rory McIlroy's magical Masters then surely the Green Jacket in 2026 has to go to the man beaten in the play-off 12 months ago.

While McIlroy's relief and joy at finally landing the one major to elude him came pouring out on the 18th green, Justin Rose watched on - wondering what might have been.

In the field for this week's 90th Masters there will be no player seeking a first Augusta crown with a better pedigree.

Rose, 45, would be the second oldest winner after Jack Nicklaus - who 40 years ago extended his own records with a sixth win and 18th major - if the wait for a Green Jacket finally ends this Sunday.

Read more analysis about Rose's chances this week

Image source, Getty Images

The time for talk is over. Rory McIlroy's Masters defence is about to begin.

He's already had a long week at Augusta. He arrived on Saturday and has had a packed itinerary, from media duties to hosting the champions dinner on Tuesday evening.

But he's finally headed for the first tee. He has spoken of feeling "free" after completing the career Grand Slam while remaining focused on achieving more in the game.

That starts this week as he bids to join Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only back-to-back Masters winners.

And after withdrawing from last month's Arnold Palmer Invitational with a back injury before a middling tied 46th finish in his Players Championship defence, it'll be interesting to see how sharp he is.

McIlroy is alongside world number three Cameron Young, who is chasing his first major title after tucking away the Players Championship last month, and 18-year-old US Amateur champion Mason Howell.

We're expecting fireworks from these three as well, who all par the opening hole.

Xander Schauffele loves it here and is of course a double major champion from 2024, while Bryson DeChambeau has been up there the last two years at Augusta and arrives fresh off back-to-back wins in LIV Golf.

And Matt Fitzpatrick came close at The Players and responded by winning the Valspar so is in great form. And the improvement he's made in his iron play has been remarkable, and should set him up for a challenge.

Defending Masters champion Rory McIlroy speaks to BBC Sport NI's Stephen Watson about returning to Augusta, his ambitions for this year's tournament and his choice of food for the Champions Dinner.

Shane Lowry means business early doors.

After that opening birdie, he pipes his drive down the par-five second, and after hitting his second to the back fringe, he safely negotiates a two-putt birdie and joins Jose Maria Olazabal and Sam Burns at two under.

Dustin Johnson picks up a birdie four, too.

Keep your comments coming in using the Get Involved feedback form.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport senior journalist

Image source, Getty Images

A trio of major champions is heading to the first tee, all with eyes on winning a first Masters title this week.

Bryson DeChambeau, of course, plies his trade on the LIV Golf circuit and arrives in red-hot form, having won the past two events in March. He was in the final group with Rory McIlroy last year before his hopes sank at Amen Corner. But the two-time US Open champion will be a threat.

Matt Fitzpatrick also arrives in excellent form, having backed up his runners-up finish at the Players Championship by winning the Valspar the following week. The 2022 US Open winner certainly has the patience for Augusta.

Xander Schauffele's 2025 was disrupted by a back injury but a third at the Players and fourth in the Valspar has the two-time major winner dreaming of more success.

Image source, Reuters

I'm expecting big things from this group and 2018 champion Patrick Reed has delivered on the first with a nice approach from the left of the fairway and a lovely putt of only about six feet or so for an opening birdie.

Reeds has a stellar record around here, finishing third last year and fourth in 2023 along with two further top 10s since his victory. You just can't rule out another challenge.

Image source, Reuters

The second hole may be the easiest on the golf course, but making an eagle three still takes some doing, and that's what Sam Burns has just done to kick-start his Masters week.

That eagle not only fires Burns up the leaderboard into a share of the early lead but Augusta National will also present him with a pair of crystal glasses for his efforts.

Image source, The Masters

A reminder of today's pin placements.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport senior journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The best player in the field this week yet to win a major?

Tommy Fleetwood finally broke his PGA Tour duck last year - and what a victory it was, winning the season-ending Tour Championship.

The 35-year-old Englishman, who has a best of joint third at the Masters, in 2024, has had a solid start to 2025 with four top-10s from five starts.

There would be few more popular winners this week. Hit the thumbs to let us know if you think he'll be looking good in Green on Sunday.

Image source, Reuters

Shane Lowry's best Masters finish was a tie for third in 2022 and he's got off to the ideal start today with an opening birdie.

He clips a lovely approach to kick-in distance and immediately moves in the right direction.

Lowry's out with two fellow major champions in Dustin Johnson and Jason Day. The former world number ones both start with a par.

Iain Carter
BBC golf correspondent at Augusta National

This feels like a more wide open Masters than we’ve had for the past three, four, five years in the Scheffler era.

You have had this dominant figure in Scheffler, who has won twice in the past four years, and you felt there wasn’t that great a list of potential winners.

I think there are more on that list this year.