The China Mail - Hovland, Rahm and Koepka share Masters lead

Rain in recent days has softened Augusta National, making the often rapid and challenging greens much more benign, and the trio seized a two-stroke lead over American Cameron Young and Australian Jason Day.

Favorite, defending champion and world number one Scottie Scheffler was one of seven players sitting three strokes behind the leaders after shooting 68.

But five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods looks more likely to be fighting to avoid the cut than for the title after he shot a two-over par 74 in a round that included five bogeys.

Hovland, who was playing in the same group as Woods and Shauffele, got off to a flying start with an eagle on the par-5 second hole, where he followed up a brilliant iron shot with a 25-foot putt.

Further birdies came on the ninth, 11th and 13th holes but the Norwegian was less tidy in the final five, finding himself in trouble on the par-5 15th, where he went far to the left but he was able to scramble to make par as he ensured he finished bogey free.

"I would have taken that. That was pretty fun. My game has been feeling good," he said. "But to shoot a 65 bogey-free out here, some things have to go your way... but I also hit a lot of great shots."

Rahm's score was even more impressive given that he started with a double bogey on the first hole after four-putting.

But the world number three quickly made amends with successive birdies and an eagle on the par-5 eighth, where his 249-yard iron shot landed four feet from the pin, meant he reached the turn on three-under.

An excellent back nine left the Spaniard with a share of the lead and in the strongest position of the pre-tournament favorites.

"If you're going to make a double-bogey, might as well do it on the first hole of the tournament when you have plenty of holes to make it up," quipped Rahm.

Koepka, who plays in the breakaway LIV Golf League, made eight birdies with a bogey coming on the newly extended par-5 13th hole, where he pulled his drive.

He birdied the final two holes to join Rahm and Hovland atop the leaderboard.

"I drove the ball really nicely. Left it in some good spots. Even missed quite a few putts.... could have been really low but I'll take it, 7-under's pretty good," he said.

- Rough start for Tiger -

Woods made three bogeys in his opening seven holes but he recovered slightly with a birdie on the par-5 eighth, where he almost chipped in for an eagle.

After a bogey on the 11th, Woods again bounced back with birdies on the 15th and 16th before his efforts were a little undone by a bogey on the 18th, where he found himself in sand trouble.

"I felt like I drove it good," said Woods, "I just didn't do the job I need to do to get the ball close. Today was the opportune time to get the ball -- get the round under par, and I didn't do that," he said.

Scheffler got himself into the groove with an eagle on the second and is well placed for a second-round push.

Also on 68 were Ireland's Shane Lowry, Americans Xander Shauffele, Sam Burns and Gary Woodland along with Australian Adam Scott.

Reigning US Amateur champion Sam Bennett had a memorable round, matching Sheffler's score with his bogey-free round.

World number two Rory McIlroy finished on even-par after an inconsistent round that saw him make five birdies, three bogeys and a double bodey on the par-4 seventh.

Tee times for Friday were advanced 30 minutes for a 7:30 a.m. start with rain and wind forecast for late Friday through Saturday, which could hurt those caught on the course at the wrong time.

Z.Huang--ThChM