- Debutant Sears shines as US women rally to beat Iceland
- Sainz achieves wish with one more win for Ferrari
- Japan PM under pressure after debacle election
- Timothee Chalamet crashes his own look-alike contest
- McLaren say Verstappen penalties 'not enough' after 'ridiculous' Mexico move
- Eight-try Toulouse flatten Toulon to go top of Top 14
- Ohtani expected to play in World Series game three after injury scare: Roberts
- Centre-left opposition leads in Lithuania election
- Sainz wins Mexico Grand Prix as Norris makes most of Verstappen penalty
- Trump leads New York rally as Harris targets grassroots
- Centre-lift opposition leads in Lithuania election
- Injured Springbok Willemse to miss November Tests
- NFL Browns upset Ravens while Tagovailoa loses in comeback
- Yildiz saves Juve in eight-goal thriller at Inter as Napoli pull away
- Bolivia's ex-president blames govt as shots fired at him
- Japan ruling coalition projected to lose majority in election
- Yildiz drags Juve back from brink in eight-goal thriller at Inter
- Ford added to England squad for New Zealand clash
- Faltering Atletico stumble again at Real Betis
- Ohtani to play World Series game three after injury scare - report
- In uncertain US election, two prestige papers refuse to pick sides
- England's Slade eager to face New Zealand after Exeter return
- 'Venom' still kills, topping N.American box office
- Conservatives top Bulgarian elections but fall short of majority
- Liverpool hold Arsenal in Premier League title clash, Man Utd beaten
- Chelsea's Palmer reminds Maresca of Blues favourite Zola
- Bayern thump Bochum to retake Bundesliga top spot
- Salah strikes late as Liverpool snatch draw at title rivals Arsenal
- Georgia opposition calls election results protests as president accuses Russia
- Egypt proposes two-day Gaza truce in hope of full ceasefire
- Ex-president of Bolivia blames government as shots fired at him
- Beaten Man Utd only lacking good fortune, claims Ten Hag
- Postecoglou says Spurs out-battled in Crystal Palace loss
- EU urges Georgia vote probe as ex-president calls for mass protests
- Malinin wins Skate Canada for North American Grand Prix double
- Mpetshi Perricard powers to 'amazing' first ATP 500 title in Basel
- Bayern thump Bochum to retake top spot
- West Ham pile more pressure on Ten Hag, Palmer fires Chelsea to victory
- Balotelli set for Italy return with injury-hit strugglers Genoa
- Japan ruling coalition projected to miss majority in election
- Netanyahu declares Iran strike a success as Israel pounds Lebanon, Gaza
- Draper holds off Khachanov for first ATP 500 title in Vienna
- Left seeks to unseat conservative in Uruguay president vote
- 'Failing' Judge vows to dig Yankees out of World Series hole
- Leon Marchand savours break from post-Olympics glare
- Ex-president of Bolivia says 14 shots fired at his car
- Netanyahu hails 'precise' strike on Iran as Israel pounds Lebanon, Gaza
- Steen Olsen wins World Cup opener as Hirscher wows on comeback
- Georgia thrown into political turmoil after disputed vote
- Japan ruling party projected to miss majority in election
DeChambeau, the very modern golfer, finds value in the old truths
A first round of the Masters that began with old-time nostalgia ended with the decidedly modern Bryson DeChambeau on top of the leaderboard after he tamed the Augusta wind with an outstanding demonstration of precision.
Spectators who climbed up to a damp first tee after Thursday's early morning rain eased off were rewarded with the sight of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson getting proceedings underway as honorary starters.
For a few minutes, all the talk of rival tours, merger negotiations and multi-million-dollar contracts gave way to the warm glow of memories rekindled as three popular former champions offered a reminder of past glories.
Walk down the hill and head past the old scoreboard, though, and there's a reminder that for all Augusta National's old-school charm, it's very much a modern business.
Fans formed long lines to fill up shopping bags with merchandise from the club shop, which by some estimates brings in $1 million an hour during Masters week.
By then, it was down to business on the course as well and DeChambeau was collecting birdies almost as quickly as shop cashiers were swiping credit cards.
DeChambeau is associated with many of the trends of modern players that leave the older generation shaking their heads.
- 'Mad Scientist' -
Earlier in his career, the American was so obsessed with distance from the tee that he used the kind of driver made specifically for long-drive competitions and worked on upper body strength obsessively in the gym.
He's also a player who has gone into such detail about his equipment and fine tuning to his personal needs that he was nicknamed the "Mad Scientist."
DeChambeau is also active on social media, with a popular golf YouTube channel, and he is among 13 Masters starters on the breakaway LIV Golf tour.
For years, he ruffled the feathers of many with his boast that his powerful driving made Augusta a "par-67" course for him.
However unwise that comment was -- and he himself calls it "a mistake" -- he made a case for it when he took the course.
DeChambeau was impeccable from the outset -- a 299-yard drive to the left of the fairway landing his approach six feet from the hole and making birdie.
The 2020 US Open champion was over the back of the green in two on the par-5 second, getting up and down for another birdie.
On the par-4 third, he was again perfect from the tee and accurate with his wedge to make birdie again.
He started well, kept out of trouble and then finished well with birdies on the 15th, 16th and 17th.
DeChambeau ended with a first round of seven-under par 65 with eight birdies and a solitary bogey on the ninth, the only blemish on his scorecard.
"In order to win major championships, you've got to, especially out here, you've got to do everything well," he said after his round.
DeChambeau, 30, appears more comfortable in accepting some of golf's eternal truths that Nicklaus and company expounded upon earlier.
He was asked about his "Mad Scientist" time and his "Bulky Basher" era and was asked which phase he would say he was in now?
"The golf phase. I'd say the golf phase for sure. Trying to be the best golfer I can be," he said.
DeChambeau spoke on the virtue of patience and accepts being at a stage in his career where he's no longer trying to battle the world.
"It's more just getting older. I'm not old... but it has definitely taken time to get comfortable and getting to a place where no matter what happens today, I'm OK," he said.
"I have a level of respect for this golf course that's a little bit different than a couple years ago, and clearly today was a great test of golf, and I was able to conquer a very difficult golf course."
While the calmer, more thoughtful DeChambeau is to the fore, his self-belief remains strong.
"I shot 65 and that was one of the best rounds of golf I've played in a long time," he said. "There's three more days to go and I'm not losing sight of that fact."
A.Rodriguezv--AMWN