How Twitter reacted to the opening round of the 2016 Masters

The leaderboard looked frightfully familiar at the end of the first day of the 2016 Masters, with defending champion Jordan Spieth sitting pretty at the top of the tree.

The American took the tournament by storm 12 months ago in leading all four rounds and claiming his first Green Jacket. After a bogey-free six-under-par opener this time, another faultless pursuit of the season’s first Major looks on the cards.

Ladbrokes now make him as short as 7/4 to win consecutive Masters titles.

Spieth’s exemplary play was naturally a feature of Twitter’s reaction to the first round, but there was plenty of other aspects to discuss over 140 characters. Here’s a sample of the best:

Tradition has it that the ribbon is officially cut on the Masters with the tee shots of the tournament’s honorary starters. Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus played the role this year

Watch the Honorary Starters hit their tee shots to open #themasters.https://t.co/fMG8WZ87hj

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 7, 2016

Soon after those legends of the game were underway, attention shifted to Spieth’s mastery

Last defending champ to hold outright first round lead: Jack Nicklaus (1966). pic.twitter.com/UenE6aGCL9

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 7, 2016

Jordan Spieth is 4th player in Masters history to hold a multiple-stroke lead after Round 1 twice, joining Nicklaus, Player and Harry Cooper

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 8, 2016

Jordan Spieth’s position after each of his 9 rounds at #TheMasters:

T12th
T3rd
T1st
T2nd
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st pic.twitter.com/QvmE7gtDfK

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 8, 2016

With the Texan playing comfortably enough he may as well have been in a robe and slippers, world number one Jason Day set about chasing him down

Watch World No. 1 @JDayGolf make eagle at No. 2 to get of to a quick start at #themasters.https://t.co/dHxVvlOgjg

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 7, 2016

But after shooting five-under par on the front nine, Day combusted on the way home to end the day level par

Jason Day’s front 9: -5

Jason Day’s back 9: +5#TheMasters pic.twitter.com/8nnWfocqoD

— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) April 7, 2016

A number of other leading fancies had days to forget, most notably Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler, who registered three and eight over par scores respectively

Tom Watson shot 74 at #themasters. He beat Bubba, Adam Scott, Matt Kuchar, Patrick Reed, Rickie Fowler, Charl Schwartzel. #AgeIsJustANumber

— Today’s Golfer (@TheTodaysGolfer) April 7, 2016

However disappointed Bubba and Rickie are, at least their first name isn’t Ernie

Ernie Els 7 putted the first hole, it’s excruciating to watch pic.twitter.com/0SJIyncF9k

— The Cauldron (@TheCauldron) April 7, 2016

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.