Masters 2017: Live updates, scores, leaderboard, highlights, and more from Augusta National

The 2017 Masters is underway at Augusta National, with golfers on the course in the first major of the year. It’s been a tight tournament, already with some drama.

Most of the usual favorites are at Augusta, including Jordan Spieth, and Rory McIlroy. Spieth finished scoring a 75 on the day, sitting tied for 41st at +3 after his round on Thursday. One of his biggest slip-ups happened on the 15th hole, where he made a quadruple bogey. Last year, he infamously made a quadruple bogey on the 12th hole during his final round on Sunday.

The tournament was without the world’s No. 1 Dustin Johnson, who withdrew Thursday afternoon because of a reported back injury. Former world No. 1 Tiger Woods also isn’t playing, also because of a back injury. But the star of the day was Charlie Hoffman, who finished with a score of 65, sitting at 7-under on the leaderboard. Hoffman had an impressive back nine, being able to make five birdies in his last six holes before making par on the 18th hole. He holds a four-stroke lead heading into his Friday round.

And after a bout of weather on Wednesday that forced the cancellation of the Par 3 Contest, the skies have cleared in Augusta, though the wind has picked up for Thursday’s first round. Augusta’s always a tough course, and the conditions on Thursday don’t figure to make it any easier to conquer.

Stay tuned throughout the day on Thursday for live updates and highlights from the 2017 Masters at Augusta National. Follow along below:

6:50 p.m.: Hoffman didn’t get the birdie on 18 to finish his round, but he was still able to make par, bringing his final score to 65 on the day. He still holds a nice four-stroke lead heading into Friday’s round.

6:17 p.m.

Hoffman’s lead continues to extend, with his birdie on 17 bringing him to 7-under, which gives him a four-stroke lead. He has impressively been able to shoot five birdies in the last six holes on the back nine.

5:45 p.m.

We have a new leader, with Charlie Hoffman making a birdie on the 14th hole to take the outright lead at 5-under. He followed that with another birdie on 15. He was able to get a third birdie in a row on the 16th hole on an easy putt, which put him at 6-under.

4:41 p.m.

William McGirt finally broke the run of 1-under 71 finishes to hold the lead at 3-under 69. Jason Dufner shares the 3-under score through 14 holes, while six golfers, including Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose, have turned in 71s for a tie for fourth.

3:38 p.m.

Jordan Spieth made another quadruple-bogey at the Masters. An outrageous 9 on the 15th hole moved Spieth to 4-over, and though he made birdie on No. 16, he’s nowhere near the top of the leaderboard anymore. That’s a huge blow.

3:21 p.m.

Woof. Thomas Pieters made double-bogey on No. 18, going in the last few holes from all alone in the lead to three back. What a rough way for the Belgian to end his day. Matthew Fitzpatrick has emerged atop the board at 3-under.

2:56 p.m.

Thomas Pieters is back alone atop the leaderboard at 2-under.

2:38 p.m.

Jordan Spieth had a nice trip through Amen Corner. He parred Nos. 11 and 12 and made birdie at the par-5 13th to go to 1-under. He’s now in a logjam at the top of the leaderboard, tied with a whole bunch of players for first place.

2:15 p.m. ET

Dustin Johnson withdrew from the tournament on the first tee. He fell at his Augusta rental home yesterday and injured his back, according to his publicist. His absence puts a huge damper on the event. He’d been dominating professional golf this year and was the betting favorite to win.

2:08 p.m. ET

Jordan Spieth’s having a sturdy round, still at even par. The best thing that’s happened to him so far: He hit a tee shot on the par-3 12th, which ruined his tournament last year and has consumed many a golf ball into Rae’s Creek, and he cleared the water.

1:40 p.m. ET

We’ve got a five-man tie at 2-under: Kevin Chappell, Andy Sullivan, Thomas Pieters, Matthew Fitzpatrick, and Justin Rose. There’s lot of clutter right now, which makes sense for a still-fairly early moment on Thursday at the Masters.

1:25 p.m. ET

Thomas Pieters went bogey-double-bogey on Nos. 11 and 12, and we’re currently looking at a four-way tie atop the leaderboard, at 2 under par. Pieters is even with Rickie Fowler, Kevin Chappell, and Andy Sullivan.

We’ll update this leaderboard periodically throughout the day. The Masters’ official board, which refreshes itself automatically, is available right here.

7:45 - 8:30 a.m.: Honorary starters

8:30 - 10:30 a.m.: Masters on the Range

9:15 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Featured Groups: Zach Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen, and Adam Hadwin (9:06 a.m. start); Adam Scott, Kevin Kisner, and Andy Sullivan (9:28 a.m.); Rory McIlroy, Hideto Tanihara, and Jon Rahm (1:41 p.m.); Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, and Jimmy Walker (2:03 p.m.)

10:45 a.m. - 6 p.m.: Amen Corner live

11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m.: Holes 15 and 16

Where: ESPN / WatchESPN live stream

When: 3 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. ET

Encore presentation: 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. on ESPN/WatchESPN.

Check out the full 2017 Masters viewing guide, as well.