Jonas Blixt scores solid debut round

Jonas Blixt made a few yards worth of putts during a first-nine lashing at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday.

That’s why he tried his best to shake off the 15-foot par putt at the 18th hole that spun nearly all the way around the cup and stayed out, leaving him a tap-in for his fourth bogey of the day.

The good news: the 29-year-old native of Sweden and resident of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., made six birdies for 2-under-par 70 in his first Masters round and held the lead at 4-under through 14 holes.

“That (final putt) was a little heart-breaking,” said Blixt, who qualified for his first Masters by winning the Greenbrier Classic last summer, his second PGA Tour title. “But I made a lot of putts on the front, so I can’t really complain.”

Blixt needed 27 putts and did not have a three-putt.

Playing partner and two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw was so impressed that before anyone could get a question out after the round, he began gushing with praise for the former hockey player.

“Jonas played a beautiful round of golf,” Crenshaw said. “He hit some great iron shots.”

Blixt made most of his hay on a hot streak to close out the first nine after making his first bogey of the day at the par-3 fourth.

He made four birdies in five holes, beginning with a 25-foot putt at the devilish fifth. In quick order, Blixt birdied No. 6 on a 7-footer, No. 8 on a 15-footer and No. 9 on a 25-footer.

Blixt birdied No. 13 to take the lead but hit what he called a thin second shot at No. 15, winding up in the water and settling for bogey. At the last hole, he had to punch out from the trees after his tee shot went awry.

Blixt had Augusta Na­tional pegged right after his first round.

“You can hit the best shot of your life on every hole, and you can hit the worst shot of your life on every hole,” he said.