American Ryder Cup player Chris DiMarco reeled off three consecutive birdies to move one shot clear in the weather-delayed US Masters first round on Thursday.DiMarco, who teed off at the par-four 10th, picked up shots at the first, second and third to get to four under after 14 holes when fading light ended play for the day. Sixty-eight players were still out on the course and will resume the opening round at Augusta National from 9:45 a.m. (1345 GMT) on Friday. Some of the biggest names in golf were hot on DiMarco’s heels, though, with defending champion Phil Mickelson, world No 1 Vijay Singh and US Open title-holder Retief Goosen just two strokes adrift.Mickelson, who ended a 12-year wait for his first major victory at Augusta National last year, bounced back from an opening bogey to get to two under after 11 holes. Singh, Masters champion in 2000, was level with the American left-hander, also after 11, while Goosen had completed 13.Australia’s Mark Hensby, playing his first Masters, held the clubhouse lead on three-under-par 69 after mixing three birdies with a solitary bogey at the par-five eighth.Also at three under was another Masters debutant, British Ryder Cup player Luke Donald after 14 holes.It was not a day to remember for three-time winner Tiger Woods and world No 3 Ernie Els. Woods, chasing his first major title since the 2002 US Open, was two over after 12 holes, having bogeyed the par-five 13th where his 40-feet eagle putt rolled off the green into Rae’s Creek.The former world No 1, who teed off at the 10th after a five-hour delay because of early morning thunderstorms and lightning, partially recovered with a birdie at the par-five 15th. He then dropped another shot at the par-four first to slip six strokes off the pace with six holes remaining. (Reuters)
