Matt Kuchar torches second nine to get in Masters mix

Matt Kuchar carded a second-nine 31 on Thursday to spark an opening-round 68 at the Masters.

After playing the first nine in 37, the Georgia Tech graduate played his final six holes in 4-under. Kuchar enters Friday two shots behind leader Jordan Spieth.

“I look forward to this week and every year you get such a buzz on the driving range, in the practice rounds, that you can't wait for golf to get going,” Kuchar said. “And finally Thursday comes around.”

Kuchar admitted to having early nerves and says a key to his round was holing a 15-foot bogey putt on No. 4.

“I felt like that kind of made things OK,” Kuchar said. “I was staring a double‑bogey in the face and thought, ‘This is going to be a rotten beginning to my Masters.’ But to make that putt, I thought, I'm still in it. Then I played some pretty good golf, particularly from the eighth hole in.”

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Kuchar had six birdies, including two in a row on Nos. 15 and 16. He added four more on 8, 10, 13 and 18. This marks Kuchar’s 12th Masters appearance, while his best finish is a tie for third in 2012.

“You're always on edge (at Augusta National),” Kuchar said. “There are places here you can be a little bit aggressive, but you're always on edge, when it's a fine line between a shot being great and a shot being terrible.”

Prior to his 1:27 p.m. tee time, Kuchar played tennis with his family, adding that, “It’s a great way to spend a little extra time with the family — take your mind off the game a little bit. It's a way that I loosen up, as well.”

Kuchar goes off at 10:31 a.m. Friday with Rickie Fowler and Phil Mickelson.

“The last two weeks have been good, and certainly that helps the confidence,” Kuchar said. “Golf is a fickle game, and I think playing good golf breeds more good golf."