Jordan Spieth crushing the field at the Masters

Almost everything seemed to go Jordan Spieth's way on Thursday in the opening round of the Masters – even the bad shots.

The result: an 8-under 64, one off the course record at Augusta National. He'll carry a 3-stroke lead into Friday's second round. And the thing is, it could have been even better.

But back to everything going his way …

On the par-3 12th, Spieth walked disgusted toward the hole after stroking his putt, thinking his short birdie bid had missed on the right edge. It went in for birdie to get to 6 under.

A hole later, Spieth flared his tee shot on the par 5 to the right, thinking he would have trouble making a momentum-continuing birdie. Sure enough, a tree ricocheted his ball back into the fairway leading to another birdie.

Then on the 14th, Spieth found himself in trouble off the tee at the only bunker-less hole on the course. No problem. Spieth shaped a shot that hit the green, kissed the flagstick and stopped within gimme range for another birdie.

Spieth slipped on the 15th, bogeying the birdie-able par 5. He rallied for a birdie on the tough 18th to put himself at 8-under. Had he just parred the 15th, he'd have tied Greg Norman and Nick Price for lowest round (63) ever in the Masters.

Regardless, he has the lead, and at just 21 years, 8 months, that makes him the youngest ever to lead the Masters after 18 holes.

Trailing him is a quartet at 5-under: journeyman Charley Hoffman, Justin Rose, Ernie Els and Jason Day, maybe the best player in the world never to have won a major.

If you're wondering, Tiger Woods sits at 1-over, putting him in danger of missing the cut depending on what happens Friday.