Sawt Falasteen - Scheffler launches quest for Masters repeat

Scheffler, who also won the Masters in 2022, could join Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the only players to win two straight Masters titles, although the American said thoughts of joining that select club are the furthest thing from his mind.

"It's all about going out and competing now," Scheffler said as he looked forward to the opening round, which got underway with ceremonial shots from honorary starters Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Gary Player.

Scheffler and world number two Rory McIlroy dominated the conversation in the build-up to the tournament, McIlroy once again hoping to complete a career Grand Slam with his first green jacket.

The Northern Ireland star tees off at 1:12 pm (1712 GMT) alongside last year's runner-up, Ludvig Aberg, and American Akshay Bhatia.

It's the 11th time McIlroy has teed it up at Augusta with a chance to join Nicklaus, Woods, Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen in winning all four majors.

He had the three honorary starters pulling for him, with Nicklaus saying, "It's about time that Rory won."

In picture-perfect morning conditions with barely a breath of wind stirring the Georgia pine trees, England's Aaron Rai was the early leader at three-under through seven holes.

Chile's Joaquin Niemann opened with back-to-back birdies to join a group at two-under.

Nikolai Hojgaard of Denmark got off to an eventful start, following an opening bogey with a double bogey before making three straight birdies to get back to even par.

Hojgaard added birdies at the seventh and eighth to reach two-under, but he followed a bogey at the ninth with a double-bogey at the 10th to fade again.

Afternoon starters will be hoping the benign conditions hold up, with McIlroy particularly keen to get off to a strong start on a course where he has often struggled out of the gate.

- Head down and focus -

In 16 appearances, he has carded just two sub-70 first rounds -- the best a seven-under 65 that put him in the lead in 2011 when he went on to surrender a four-shot lead in the final round and finish tied for 15th.

"I just have to keep my head down and focus on my job," said McIlroy, whose victories in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Players Championship have seen his stock rise this year.

McIlroy wrapped up his preparations with a relaxed appearance with daughter Poppy in the Par-Three Contest on Wednesday and pronounced himself ready for another run at the green jacket.

"If you're not ready by now, then you don't really have a chance," he said.

World number three Xander Schauffele, winner of the PGA Championship and the Open Championship last year, was due to tee off at 1:01`pm in a group with Australian veteran Adam Scott and Norway's Viktor Hovland.

Reigning US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau tees off at 1:23 pm with former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and Ireland's Shane Lowry.

Niemann and DeChambeau are among a dozen LIV Golf tour members in the field, as is 2023 Masters winner Jon Rahm of Spain, who was in the penultimate group at 1:34 pm with Wyndham Clark and Tommy Fleetwood.

R.AbuNasser--SF-PST