AUGUSTA, Ga. Golf is hard.So said a forlorn Rickie Fowler, one of the pre-tournament favorites, who commemorated the 80th playing of the Masters in the worst way by shooting 80.MORE: | Golfs not an easy game, he said, It is a fine line, especially at this place.Many of the worlds finest players found themselves on the wrong side of that fine line on a tricky Thursday: the Augusta National greens, bouncy on Wednesday, were softened by an overnight storm but the swirling winds played havoc with club choices.If its not one thing, its another, and so golf was hard.Certainly it was for Adam Scott, on top of the world Baker Mayfield Jersey after winning back-to-back titles in Florida last month, who could only muster a 76.STEELE: Golf was hard, too, for another pre-tournament favorite, Bubba Watson.The winner of twoof the last four green jackets was cruising along at 3 under par after eight holes but lost his nerve on the greens, melting down on the back nine to finish at 3 over par.The meltdown for Jason Day, the world No. 1 who was at 5 under par through 14 holes, was even more incredulous.MORE: The Australian had 240 yards into the par-5 15th and chose to layup. He three-putted the Myles Garrett Jersey green for bogey, then had his own unwanted commemoration, channeling Greg Normans infamous capitulation here 20 years ago by making triple bogey on the 16th.Day, who broke through at a major for the first time at last years PGA Championship, finished at even par knowing he had let a big opportunity slip.Jason Day (Getty Images)And golf was certainly difficult for Ernie Els, one of the games great champions who has lost his nerve entirely on the greens. The big South T. J. Carrie Jersey African has the yips and it was sad to watch on Thursday as , then concluded his round of 80 by fanning a 2-footer.It's unexplainable, the four-time major champion said. I couldn't get the putter back. I was standing there, I've got a 3-footer, I've made thousands of 3-footers and I just couldn't take it back.I tried to fight. I'm hitting the ball half decent and I can't make it from 2feet.You know who can make it from 2 feet? And 6, and 10, and however far he needs?Jordan Spieth needed just 25 putts many of them clutch par putts to take a two-shot lead into Friday and remind himself that, at Augusta National, golf is not hard for him.MORE: Six under with no bogeys on a day like today is very impre sive, said Phil Mickelson, who finished at even par and wasnt too Greg Joseph Jersey unhappy.That was a flawle s round of golf (on) one of the toughest days Ive ever seen around Augusta National, said Paul Casey, who played with Spieth.Spieth came into the years first major with his form indifferent, but on Thursday he just picked up where he left off a year ago, when he won wire-to-wire in a romp.The young Texan is now 29 under par through his first nine tournament rounds here. To put that in perspective, Tiger Woods was 21 under par over his first nine rounds at the Masters.Im just very pleased, the unfailingly modest Spieth said, Id put it up there with one of the Anthony Zettel Jersey best rounds Ive played.And just where did it come from? Certainly it wasnt obvious after a poor Sunday in Houston.I enjoy this tournament more than anywhere else, he said, simply.Of course, when golf isnt hard, its easy to enjoy. Golf writer Robert Lusetich is covering the Masters for Sporting News.He is the author of "UNPLAYABLE: An Inside Account of Tiger's Most Tumultuous Season."