Rory's defense, disappointing first rounds and looking ahead to the rest of the Masters - ESPN

AUGUSTA, Ga. — We are just 18 holes into the 90th playing of the Masters, and the tournament is already delivering at a high level.

A favorable forecast leading into the week has set the stage for a firm and fast Augusta National, one that appears prepared to weed out the pretenders from the contenders and potentially deliver one of the best versions of this major championship.

Through one round, the leaderboard is already stacked with some of the best golfers in the world as well as players who have had recent success here. Five of the top 10 finishers in last year's event find themselves inside the top 10 again, and four of the top five in the world, per Data Golf (as well as five of the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking), are part of the group of only 18 players under par.

With a golf course that should only get tougher over the next three days, here's what we're watching heading into the second round.

Paolo Uggetti: There has not been a proper defense of the green jacket since Tiger Woods won in 2001, a year after winning his second Masters.

After an opening-round 67 — good enough to hold a share of the lead at 5-under — Rory McIlroy is ready to try to accomplish a repeat as well.

The score Thursday is one McIlroy thought was almost undeserved. He hit only five of 14 fairways and said he probably should have landed at 2 under. That he was able to score as well as he did regardless exemplified the kind of confidence the five-time major winner has in his game right now and the kind of freedom he possesses after finally securing the grand slam last year.

«I said this when I came in on Tuesday: I think winning a Masters makes it easier to win your second one. I do,» McIlroy said. «I think it's easier for me to