Scottie Scheffler entered the 89th Masters Tournament looking to make some history. He is the defending champion at Augusta National, and with a victory this week, will join only Jack Nicklaus as players to win three green jackets in a four-year span.

Scheffler buried a 62-footer for birdie on the par-3 fourth hole, his second of the round. The fourth was the only hole in his career at Augusta National Golf Club, where he had never made a birdie. It took him only 21 rounds to make a circle on every hole at the Masters.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Scheffler has opened with a round in the 60s. In 2022, he backed it up with a second-round 67 en route to his first green jacket, and he used his opening 66 last year to catapult him to his second one.

Scottie Scheffler played a near-perfect first round to move into a two-way share of the Masters clubhouse lead on Thursday while Grand Slam-seeking Rory McIlroy got off to a solid start.

The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 Masters Tournament. It’s almost time for the world’s best golfers to tee off at Augusta National Golf Club for this year’s edition of the Masters. The top players from both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf will hit the course Thursday in the first major championship of 2025.

Honorary Starter Gary Player, Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley, Honorary Starter Jack Nicklaus, and Honorary Starter Tom Watson pose on the first hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament,

Masters Tournament begins Thursday, with Scottie Scheffler opening as the tournament's favorite, followed by Rory McIlroy.

Reigning Masters champion Scottie Scheffler enters the field as a favorite to win at Augusta National Golf Club.

Part of what makes Augusta National and the Masters tournament special every year is the familiarity. But things look a little different this year after the course felt the impact of Hurricane Helene last autumn.