Weir starts strong at Masters while DeLaet stumbles

Veteran Mike Weir looked like a guy who knew his way around the course at Augusta National on Thursday. Rookie Graham DeLaet simply looked lost.

The Canadian contingent at this year's Masters walked into the clubhouse almost at opposite ends of the spectrum. Weir, the former champion who's struggled since winning 11 years ago, shot a one-over 73 to tie for 28th place and put himself in position to make his first cut in four years.

DeLaet, a Masters rookie and Canada's best golfer these days, had a horrible day and will be hard-pressed to survive through to the weekend. The pride of Weyburn, Sask., racked up eight bogeys in shooting a disappointing 80.

Only four golfers did worse.

DeLaet was in surprisingly good spirits even though he turned in one of the worst rounds of his career. He told ScoreGolf's Bob Weeks that despite the score he was still thrilled to be at Augusta National.

For Weir, it was a bit of redemption after a series of injury-filled seasons. He recorded four birdies and overcame some shaky play off the tee to stand only five strokes behind first-day leader Bill Haas.

Despite hitting only 50 per cent of greens in regulation, he was happy with his round.

``It's a brute of a course," Weir told TSN after his round. ``Anything around par is good and I could have been a few better."

Weir said the greens were as fast as he's seen them on opening day.

They didn't bother Haas, who holds a one-stroke lead over a trio of golfers that includes defending champion Adam Scott. Haas birdied the final hole for a 4-under 68 and the opening-round lead, the first time he has broken 70 in five appearances at Augusta National.

Haas went to bed, no doubt trying to avoid remembering that only one first-round leader in the last 30 years has gone on to win the Masters.

Scott had to be happy with his first round considering the pressure that's on a defending champion. But he could have been in the lead had it not been for a misfire at Amen Corner.

His tee shot at the par-3 12th came up a little short and rolled into Rae's Creek, leading to a double bogey. He's tied with Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen.

Watson, the 2012 champion, played his first bogey-free round in a major since the 2009 U.S. Open and shot a 69.

They were the only players to break 70, the fewest for an opening round at the Masters since 2007.