Augusta, GA …

It had taken Rory McIlroy 13 holes before a first birdie that helped turn an indifferent showing into a respectable level par 72 on day one of the Masters.

The current World No. 2 had been three over par after just eight holes but bravely turned it around with three birdies in his last six on bright but blustery opening day at Augusta National.

It left McIlroy trailing seven shots behind American Charley Hoffman who stormed four clear of the field with a seven under par 65.

Hoffman, 40 produced an effort that included 10 birdies but after being level par through six holes the San Diego golfer played his last 11 holes in seven under and capped by four birdies in succession from the 14^th.

It is the largest first round lead since 1941 and an effort that easily earned Hoffman a Masters commemorative crystal bowl.

“I hit it pretty solid in the wind and I was also able to make some solid 15 to 20 footers which was nice and that’s how I ended up shooting seven under par,” he said

McIlroy had found the cavernous fairway bunker right of the first fairway for bogey and dropped to two over par with a bogey at the third.

Then at the par five eighth hole, and a hole he’s played in 6-under in 30 Augusta rounds, McIlroy took bogey to be now three over par.

He ignited signs of brilliance chipping from back right of the green at the par four 11^th to just two feet for a saving par while he saved par when long off the tee at “Golden Bell”, the famed par three 12^th hole.

Finally, at the 13^th and the closing hole of “Amen Corner” there was at last some joy for the World No. 2.

It then kick-started a late fight back with birdies at 15 and then landing his tee shot at the par 3, 16^th to just a few feet for a third birdie in four holes.

But then McIlroy’s round continues a trend on day one in all but nine of his Masters showings given he’s broken 70 just once and that was a 65 in 2011, and when he led for all three rounds before the last day collapse.

Shane Lowry had been as high at third place at two under par after 14 holes but in contrast to McIlroy struggled over his closing holes in a round of 72.

It had been a roller-coaster start for the Co. Offlay man who started bogey, birdie, bogey, birdie, birdie and bogey to be even par after six holes before his first par at the eighth.

Lowry finally steadied with four pars in succession to then birdie the par five 13^th that sent the 30-year old into third place on his lonesome at two under par and among just 12 players, at the time, who were under par.

The current World No. 63, and competing in just his third Masters, dropped a shot at the par five 15^th after three-putting the green before also bogeying the 16^th.

McIlroy’s showing has seen his odds of winning the Grand Slam lengthen to a four-way share of second favourite with Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth at 12/1.

Paddy Power has Justin Rose, who posted a one under par 71, now favourite at 9/1.

However, the odds of many more have blown out with plenty of train wrecks on the opening day of the year’s first Major.

They include – World No. 6 Spieth taking a horror ‘9’ at the par five 15^th on route to 75, USA Ryder Cup captain, Jim Furyk a 76, World No. 4 Hideki Matsuyama also a 76 and former Irish Open winner Ross Fisher signed too for a 76.

A shot further back was double Major winning, Zach Johnson and Open champ, Louis Oosthuizen each shooting 77s.

And newly-engaged Tommy Fleetwood was handed the unwanted Augusta debut gift of a 78.