CHAMP STARTS STRONG: World No. 1 and defending champion Scottie Scheffler got off to an impressive start to his title defense with a 4-under 68 at the Masters on Thursday. Scheffler, Canada’s Corey Conners and Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg were three back of leader Justin Rose, who twice has finished second at Augusta. Scheffler’s big highlights were a 62-foot putt for birdie on the fourth hole and a 42-foot putt for birdie on the 16th.

COUPLES STILL BELONGS: Fred Couples shot a 71 in his opening round, the 65-year-old former champ proving to himself as much as anyone else that he still belongs. Couples had doubts after last year, when his back was bothering him and rounds of 80 and 76 caused him to miss the cut. His round Thursday was highlighted by a chip-in for birdie at the first and a hole-out from 191 yards for eagle at the 14th. Couples is second-oldest player to shoot a subpar round at the Masters behind Tom Watson, who was a month older when he shot 71 in 2015.

SHOT OF THE DAY: Nicolai Hojgaard hit his second shot to the par-5 15th to about 5 feet and made the eagle putt. It was part of a rollercoaster 76 that featured three double-bogeys, five bogeys, five birdies and just four pars.

BAD BREAK: Hideki Matsuyama clanked his approach from 67 yards at the par-5 13th off the flagstick, and the ball rolled all the way off the green and into Rae’s Creek. Matsuyama managed to get up and down to save bogey.

— Associated Press