Bubba Watson leads Bulldogs in first round

Bubba Watson is trying to fly under the radar, at least as much as a guy with a green jacket can.

Through one round at the Masters Tournament, it seems to be working.

A year after his hopes of a title defense quickly fizzled out over the weekend, Watson played as though he were ready to contend again. He shot 3-under par 69 to enter today’s second round a shot behind leader Bill Haas and tied for second place with 2013 champion Adam Scott and the man Watson edged in a playoff two years ago, Louis Oosthuizen.

“Yeah, I’m coming back with the take that I want the jacket again,” Watson said. “I haven’t had any media this week because nobody cares about the guy (who won) a couple of years ago, so it’s been good.”

Three other former University of Georgia golfers failed to break par. Russell Henley finished at 1-over- par 73, Harris English bogeyed No. 18 for a 2-over 74, and Chris Kirk was at 75.

Henley, back in Augusta for the second time in as many seasons, said he benefited from playing in the tournament last year despite missing the cut.

He had bogeys on the par-4 seventh hole and the par-5 13th birdied the par-5 15th.

“The experience is huge here,” Henley said. “There’s a reason guys who play here many years have a lot of success year in and year out. They kind of figure out the course, what works for them and that you’ve got to stay patient and play 72 holes.”

He said he also has made strides in his game since playing here a year ago as a PGA Tour rookie.

“I’m a lot stronger,” Henley said. “I feel like I’m in better shape than last year, I feel like I’m more experienced, I feel like I’m more patient, I feel like I’m a little less emotional. I think all of those add up.”

Kirk and English, both making their Masters debuts, played Augusta National each year as Georgia golfers. But that experience goes only so far with the course being set up differently for the tournament.

“You can play as many practice rounds as you want – and I’ve probably played this place 10 or 11 times – but I’ve never played it like this,” said English, who made birdies on the par-5 second and 15th holes and sank a 25-foot birdie putt on the 17th. “The greens are firmed up, the pins are in some really tough spots, and you’ve got to be patient out there.”

English and Kirk found frustration at the par-3 12th hole, the site of English’s practice round hole-in-one, when they both found the water.

It was part of a mostly frustrating swing through Amen Corner for Kirk that saw him hit his tee shot on No. 11 into the woods and bogey the hole before regaining a shot with birdie on No. 13.

“You kind of get down on a day like today, and you’d like to say, ‘What can I work on to play better tomorrow?’ ” Kirk said.