The Masters 2024 Day One LIVE: Leaderboard and updates as opening round finally gets underway after thunderstorms with Tiger Woods set to make his return to Augusta National alongside Jason Day and Max Homa

I bet Eckroat is wonder what he did to rub the gods of golf up the wrong way.

While the four at the top make birdies, the American starts his first-ever Masters appearance with a double bogey. That is brutal.

But don’t panic yet, Austin! Last year, a little-known Spanish golfer by the name of Jon Rahm – you may have heard of him – four-putted on the first to start his tournament with a double-bogey six. I seem to remember him going on to do pretty well…

And just like that Willet has opened the floodgates. His lead is extremely shortlived.

After the Englishman sunk the first birdie, everyone is getting in on the action.

Knapp, Van Rooyen and Moore all make ones of their own. Who said Augusta was hard?

It’s a tight one at the top… for now.

Hear that? That’s the chirping of the first birdie of the 88th Masters.

And it’s from Danny Willett no less. The 2016 champion dials in a crisp iron shot into the middle of the green, almost pin high for his second.

He has a great look at birdie and sinks the 19-foot putt for the early lead.

Not a bad way to start your first round of golf since September, Danny.

Next up is another former champion, 2016 winner Danny Willett, who is making a return from injury.

The Englishman is back ahead of schedule after recovering from a complex shoulder surgery.

He’s off alongside Austin Eckroat and German Stephan Jaeger.

The flag is whipping around on the first green but the skies look to be brightening slightly.

Van Rooyen and Knapp both walk off with pars, while Group 2 of former champion Jose Maria Olazabal, Taylor Moore and amateur Santiago de la Fuente also make tidy work of the first.

Flicking up and down your channel guide and yet not seeing a single golf shot? You’re not the only one.

While there are other ways to stream it, those who still watch traditional linear television are prevented from following the morning sessions of The Masters on Thursday through to Sunday.

So why is that the case? And how can a golf fan looking for their morning fix take it in?

Mail Sport has all the answers…

Augusta is known for its stunning flowers, particularly the azaleas and it appears the South African has really taken that theme and run with it. Let’s hope he’s got one that goes with green for Sunday.

Still doesn’t quite rival Viktor Hovland’s from last year though. I’ve had a peek at the Norwegian’s scripting for this week too and boy, are we in for a treat.

… from South Africa and the United States, Erik van Rooyen and Jake Knapp!

The pairing officially get us up and running. Van Rooyen, sporting a rather funky pink foral shirt, is up first. It’s a slightl slice that finds the first cut of rough but he should be okay from there. Shake off those first tee nerves Erik!

Knapp fires off a beauty up the left side of the fairway. Nicely done and his caddie agrees as he cries out, ‘Lovely!’

The Wednesday before The Masters often provides the sweetest moments of the week as the players taking to the par-3 course at Augusta with the wives or girlfriends and children acting as their caddies.

The glamorous WAGs and other family members don the famous white boiler suits caddies wear at Augusta, with some even having a crack at a couple of shots themselves.

And yesterday was no different as the families took to the course again.

Augusta National has witnessed many iconic moments but Jack Nicklaus may have just provided it with its most adorable.

While being instructed to get into position for the traditional photo of the honorary starters and their caddies, the 18-time major winner shared a loving moment with his wife of 64 years, Barbara, who’s on the bag.

‘I’ve got my caddie right here,’ he declared while wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

An incredible player and loving husband. Get yourself a man who can do both, ladies!

88-year-old Gary Player and 84-year-old Jack Nicklaus both make quips about the struggles of bending down to place the ball on the tee in their ripe old age.

But even well into their 80s, the icons both fire off decent tee shots. You never lose it… not that I ever had it.

Last but not least is Tom Watson, the young gun among this trio at the age of 74, and after taking a little dig at Nicklaus also finds the fairway.

And with that, Augusta chairman Fred Ridley declares the 88th Masters chamoionship underway!

For the course analysts out there, here’s where the players will – or should – be firing today…

We are just moments away from finally seeing some action.

In less than ten minutes the honorary starters will get the 2024 Masters underway.

In one of the many beloved Masters traditions, three legends of the game will take to the first tee to hit the ceremonial openeing shots.

This year, the trio of all-time greats, includes Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson.

It’s not just the golfers who are getting in on the action…

There was at one point last summer a hope that by the time the game’s best players were arriving down Magnolia Lane once again that the great divide would have healed itself.

Talks between the PGA Tour and the PIF continue around a merger, but it’s the Saudi-backed circuit who have proved themselves to be the ultimate poker player.

LIV gambled big again in its offseason over the winner, splashing out $500million to lure reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm to its plight, but the big-money wager could pay off at Augusta National.

Greg Norman’s band of merry men will rock up to Augusta for the second year since tearing the golfing world in two. Except this year, they won’t be scoffed at. This time they come with a spring in their step.

Many of you will surely be wonering what the weather delay means for Tiger. And honestly? It’s not looking good.

The 15-time major winner will now not tee off until 3.54pm ET/8.54pm BST, meaning his chances of finishing a full 18 today are… zero.

The 48-year-old will have to play the rest of his first round tomorrow morning before hitting the course again for his second. With probably four to six holes to play on top of the 18 tomorrow, it’s going to be a tough task for Woods and his body.

With the weather delay pushing tee times back, here’s a refresher of what that means for the big names…

1.00pm ET/6pm BST | Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Nick Dunlap

1.12pm ET/6.12pm BST | Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele

1.24pm ET/6.24pm BST | Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Smith

3.54pm ET/ 8.54pm BST | Tiger Woods, Jason Day, Max Homa

4.30pm ET/9.30pm BST | Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood

The Masters has now verified Garcia’s report. Great inside knowledge, Sergio.

Play is officially delayed until 10.30am ET/3.30pm BST, shoving all tee times back by two and a half hours.

The Spaniard will tee off at 11.42am/4.42pm just as he reported.

Pretty decent from him to be fair. It must be difficult keeping up with tee times these days after two years of shotgun starts on LIV Golf.

We have an update… just not from The Masters.

There’s a light at the end of the storm, according to 2017 champion Sergio Garcia.

The LIV Golf rebel has insisted the show will go on as he took to X to reveal his new tee time of 11.42am ET.

That’s a two-and-a-half hour delay from his original start time, meaning it’s likely we won’t see any play until at least 10.30am ET (3.30pm for you Brits).

And he’s here to win.

Last year, Tiger Woods, five-time winner of The Masters, was forced to withdraw following the third round after limping around Augusta in visible agony.

12 months and another surgery later, Woods is back and eyeing a sixth win.

If everything comes together, I think I can get one more. Do I need to describe that any more than that, or are we good?

I still think that I can [win]. I haven’t got to that point where I don’t think I can’t.

The good news is that major championship golf is finally back after 263 days of waiting.

The bad news is that we’re being made to wait just a little longer.

The weather down in Georgia has delayed the start of play with the first round not expected to begin before 9am ET – that’s 2pm for those of you across the pond – per The Masters itself.

It’s finally here. Happy Masters Thursday!

Welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of the first round of the first major of the year as we bring you all the action from Augusta National… when it finally gets going, that is.

The good ol’ Georgia weather has delayed the start of play as thunderstorms roll in over Augusta but fear not, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, regining champion Jon Rahm and, of course, Tiger Woods will all be teeing it up on the iconic rolling fairways later today.

In the meantime, we’ll be bringing you all the updates. So settle in, slip on your green jackets and get ready for the first major of the year.