2023 Masters leaderboard breakdown: Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Viktor Hovland soar to top in Round 1

Hovland set the pace with Rahm and Koepka putting together dominant second-nine flurries

Thursdays at major championships typically allow for a handful of unknowns to climb the leaderboard and make a name for themselves before the bigger names swoop in, pull ahead and ultimately leave on top. That is not the case through 18 holes at the 2023 Masters. All the big boys have come out to play at Augusta National Golf Club with three of the biggest occupying the top of the leaderboard.

Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland and Brooks Koepka all stand at 7 under after the first round. Between the three (well, Rahm and Koepka) they possess five of the last 17 major championships. Hovland dipped his toes into major championship contention most recently of the bunch when he was paired with Rory McIlroy in the final round of The Open Championship last summer, but it was Thursday that he posted a 65, the best round of his major career.

This trio will be difficult, but not impossible, to upend with weather beginning to roll into Augusta National, and the chasing pack features some of the heaviest hitters in the game. Cameron Young and Jason Day find themselves within a pair of the trio at the top, but just a step farther back lurks an even more prominent name.

Reigning, defending champion Scottie Scheffler has yet to dash his chance to create some more history at Augusta National. Signing for a relatively mundane 4-under 68, the world No. 1 is right in the thick of it with 54 holes to play as he seeks to become the first since Tiger Woods to repeat at the Masters.

Collin Morikawa, Rory McIlroy and Tony Finau all made late charges to keep themselves within reach as we enter the second of four rounds Friday with one of the most stout opening-round leaderboards we have seen at the Masters.

2023 Masters leaderboard breakdown

T1. Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, Brooks Koepka (-7): The two Europeans got to the 7-under number in varying manners. Hovland was hot out of the gates with an eagle on No. 2 and sustained this effort throughout his round while Rahm 4-jacked his opener for double bogey. Rahm played his final 17 holes in 9 under and posted together jaw-dropping numbers in the process. The world No. 3 gained eight strokes from tee to green, ranking first in strokes gained around the green, second in strokes gained off the tee and fifth in strokes gained approach. In doing so, he shot the lowest round in Masters history after starting with a double bogey or worse. Koepka joined the party late and may have had the most ho-hum round of the trio. The four-time major winner's irons were scorching hot.

T4. Cameron Young, Jason Day (-5): Another year, another sighting of Young on the first page of the leaderboard. After finishing third at the 2022 PGA Championship and runner up at The Open, the reigning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year is at again. He began his 2023 in middling fashion, but the introduction of Webb Simpson's old caddie, Paul Tesori, on the bag has paid immediate dividends. A runner-up at the WGC-Dell Match Play, Young aims to parlay his success in Austin, Texas, into some more green at Augusta National.

"I think [Tesori] brings a lot to the table," said Young. "I think it's helped me personally let go of the bad stuff that happens out there. He's just so positive and energetic. It's hard for me to think about lingering on something that -- or dwelling on something that's happened. It's really easy just to move on, and I think that's something that's really helpful out here."

T6. Xander Schauffele, Shane Lowry, Adam Scott, Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns, Gary Woodland, Sam Bennett [a] (-4): A strong bunch are just a handful behind, and while some may be happy about their position, the defending champion most certainly is not. A round of 68 was about as high as Scheffler could have shot on Thursday as he lost more than three strokes on the greens -- ranking 85th out of 87 -- and was steady as ever from tee to green checking in behind only Rahm. Numerous birdie chances were left on the wayside, yet the world No. 1 is still right in the thick of it and unlikely to be going anywhere.

T13. Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Tony Finau (-3): This appears to be the cut-off point when identifying a potential winner for Sunday as 19 of the last 20 Masters champions were inside the top 15 following the first round. Both Morikawa and Spieth found Rae's Creek on the par-5 13th, but it was Spieth who went against the advice of his caddie after finding the pine straw off the tee. This resulted in Spieth's first dropped shots on the 13th in his entire career as he entered the week with 22 birdies and 12 pars in his 34 playings of the hole. The good news? Spieth is still right there.

T17. Cameron Smith, Justin Thomas, Tom Kim, Matt Fitzpatrick and five others (-2): The Australian came into the week admitting his game was not in a comfortable spot, yet still he remains within grasp. Smith has struggled on LIV Golf in the early part of 2023, but the return to Augusta National may have been just what the doctor ordered. The most recent major champion, Smith possesses four top-10 finishes in his last five Masters appearances including two finishes on the podium.

T26. Patrick Cantlay, Patrick Reed, Hideki Matsuyama, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Max Homa and five others (-1): After choosing to forgo last year's proceedings, Mickelson was back like he never left. Hitting some absolutely absurd flop shots (Nos. 2 and 17), some ridiculous drivers off the deck (Nos. 2 and 8) and a swipe from the other batter's box, the three-time champion somehow came in under par even with the inclusion of two water balls. That's Phil for you, and it's a welcomed sight to see him back on his playground that is Augusta National.

"I hit a lot of good shots today and had a chance to shoot a low round," said Mickelson. "But this is the issue I've been dealing with is I'll make two swings and it costs me four shots on 11 and 16. I just need to keep working on eliminating it. I'm hitting enough good shots to shoot some good numbers, and I'm having fun playing, and I'm having fun hitting the shots again and driving it well. Just need to stay a little bit sharper on one or two swings because in major championships the punishment for a mishit is so severe. I also didn't shoot myself in the foot. I just need to come out tomorrow with a good round."

T37. Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Kevin Kisner and five others (E): The first-round woes continue for McIlroy. The Northern Irishman's 72 actually improved his first-round scoring average since 2019 as he entered the week averaging 74.25 over his last four Masters on Thursday. Still, McIlroy finds himself a full seven strokes off the leaders, who appear to have ample staying power and will more than likely see it out through till Sunday. I'm am not totally sold on writing off his chances just yet, but they definitely took a hit with the disappointing opener. 

T54. Tiger Woods, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Tom Hoge and five others (+2): It doesn't look like major No. 16 will be in the cards this week for Woods. However, there is still another record which he can match if he is to play himself into the weekend. Entering the week having made 22 straight cuts at the Masters, Woods needed just one more to join Fred Couples and Bernhard Langer for the most consecutive all time. In order to do so, Woods will have to be marginally better as he ranked anywhere between 50-60th in each strokes gained category. The top 50 and ties will see the final 36 holes and hopefully Woods will be a part of this group.

Watch the 2023 Masters continuing Friday with Masters Live as we follow the best golfers in the world throughout Augusta National with Featured Groups, check in at the famed Amen Corner and see leaders round the turn on holes 15 & 16. Watch live on CBSSports.com, the CBS Sports App and Paramount+.

[Apr 6, 2023 at 6:41 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Amateur Bennett goes bogey-free

The reigning US Amateur champion was flawless in Round 1. Alongside Max Homa and Scottie Scheffler, Bennett tied the world No. 1 and got the better of the world No. 5 by three. Oh, and he's only three strokes off the lead.

[Apr 6, 2023 at 6:02 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Big finish upcoming for McIlroy

He will face a 10 footer for birdie on 15 to get back to even par for the tournament. If he is able to convert this and possibly add a couple more from 15-17, he will be within reach heading into tomorrow. It's hard to say a tournament is over after 18 holes, but the history of the Masters says that is in fact the case.

[Apr 6, 2023 at 5:20 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Spieth thru 12 (dry)

The 2015 champion is 3 under thru 12 and will look to make a run beginning on the last hole of Amen Corner. It doesn't look like the lead with get past 7 under in the clubhouse so anything in the 4- or 5-under range will have him right in the thick of it as the weather rolls in and the conditions worsen.

[Apr 6, 2023 at 4:59 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Koepka joins the fun at 7 under

That was about as easy a 65 I have seen. Brooks Koepka turns in an eight birdie, one bogey day with the one bogey coming on a par 5. While Koepka was an omission from major championship contention in 2022, the year prior he was very much a factor at Kiawah Island and Torrey Pines. The four-time major winner looks healthy and dangerous.