US Masters 2026 First-Round Leader Tips: Dave Tindall's three to back up to 60/1

Weather forecast for Thursday/US Masters FRL history

2025 - 65 Justin Rose, 68 Ludvig Aberg, Corey Conners, Scottie Scheffler, 69 Bryson DeChambeau, Tyrrell Hatton 

2024 - 65 Bryson DeChambeau, 66 Scottie Scheffler, 67 Nicolai Hojgaard, Max Homa, 68 Danny Willett 

2023 - 65 Viktor Hovland, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, 67 Jason Day, Cameron Young, 68 Sam Bennett, Sam Burns, Shane Lowry, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Adam Scott, Gary Woodland

2022 - 67 Sungjae Im, 68 Cameron Smith, 69 Scottie Scheffler, Dustin Johnson, Danny Willett, Joaqin Niemann

2021 - 65 Justin Rose, 69 Brian Harman, Hideki Matsuyama, 70 Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Will Zalatoris

2020 - 65 Paul Casey, Dylan Frittelli, Dustin Johnson, 66 Sungjae Im, Justin Thomas, 67 Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele, Webb Simpson, Cameron Smith

2019 - 66 Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, 67 Phil Mickelson, 68 Dustin Johnson, Ian Poulter, 69 Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Justin Harding, Kevin Kisner, Jon Rahm, Adam Scott

Last year, rain brought a halt to Monday's practice round but dry conditions are very much the name of the game this week.

Wind speeds are consistent at 8-10 mph throughout day one but it could gust harder than that in the morning. Temperatures rise from a rather cold start to the early 70s in the afternoon in what looks the mildest of the four days.

In the last five years, three times the solo lead has gone to a player with a tee-time of 12pm or later although plenty of morning starters have featured in the top five after 18 holes.

This year, the later starters look to have a slight edge. 

First Round Leader Bet 1: Corey Conners @ 50/151.00

Corey Conners has four top 10s in the last six Masters so plays this course way, way better than some of those considered on the same level in a standard PGA Tour event.

Fast starts have helped him achieve those good finishes and last year he opened with a 68 to end day one in a tie for second.

A year earlier a 70 put him eighth after the first round while he again popped up on the R1 leaderboard in 2022, finishing the opening 18 holes in seventh.

The Canadian played three events on the recent Florida Swing and had R1 positions of 9-10-17 after a trio of opening 69s.

With a Thursday tee-time of 12.44 alongside Harry Hall and Michael Brennan, Conners looks to have the best conditions for another enjoyable day around Augusta National.

First Round Leader Bet 2: Sungjae Im @ 60/161.00

After being absent from October to the start of the Florida Swing due to a wrist injury, Sungjae Im missed his first two cuts but then burst to life with an opening 64 at the Valspar Championship.

He led after 18, 36 and 54 holes before dropping back to fourth but he again came out fast at the following week's Houston Open to sit 11th after a day one 67.

But it's his history at Augusta National that should bump him up our thinking this week.

The Korean has finishes of second, fifth, eighth and 16th in his six Masters. He was FRL on debut in 2020 thanks to a 66 while a 67 put him fourth following the opening lap in 2022. He was 11th after round one last year and ended his week with a 69.

He tees off (in a two-ball due to the field being unable to be divided by three) at 11.03 local.

First Round Leader Bet 3: Nicolai Hojgaard @ 40/141.00

Nicolai Hojgaard couldn't ruin the Gary Woodland fairytale win in Houston and, subconsciously, perhaps he didn't want to.

But second place there (middle rounds of 62-63) added to third in Phoenix and sixth at the Cognizant Classic so the Dane is in excellent form.

He ranked 1st for SG: Approach in Houston and that bodes well for his third start at Augusta.

On the first he finished 16th but it's rather forgotten that he very briefly had a piece of the lead on Saturday and, looking at his scorecards, Hojgaard sprinkled 21 birdies that week, more than anyone else.

The 25-year-old was third after round one in 2024 via a 67 and a similar score could be enough for the lead if conditions stay tough. He tees off at 11.39.

Read Dave Tindall's 10-year trends piece here