Oosthuizen takes early Masters lead

Louis Oosthuizen’s bid to end a Masters jinx got off to a good start at Augusta today when he birdied the long second and 350-yard third to set the early pace.

The South African had won the Wednesday par three competition and nobody has followed that with victory in the event proper four days later.

Although storms were predicted for later in the day conditions were perfect for the start of the tournament, but Wales’ 1991 champion Ian Woosnam, now 52, bogeyed the opening hole.

Oosthuizen, who qualified for a second appearance by winning the Andalucian Open in Malaga and moving into the world’s top 50 two weeks ago, was one in front of Americans Heath Slocum and John Merrick.