Dylan Frittelli posted an opening 77 after a few costly errors undid some steady work around Augusta National on Thursday, writes WADE PRETORIUS.

Frittelli will have to produce something special if he is to make the cut in his Masters debut.

The South African, who calls Austin, Texas home, started with three pars before a costly triple at the par-three 4th derailed his early good work. He fought on steadily with three more pars on the bounce before his first birdie at the famed Augusta National which came on the par-five 8th.

A par at the ninth helped Frittelli make the turn at two over and after he rolled in a mid-range putt on the par-three 12th, he moved his score to just one over par. The two-time European Tour winner found the hazard with his second on the par-five 13th but managed to save par before another big number at the next.

A double-bogey six at the difficult 14th saw him move back to +4 and was thankful to his putter once more after saving par on the 15th from some distance.

Frittelli avoided any drama on the 16th but would go on to finish drop, and sign for an opening 77 with only five players behind him in the field.

Australia’s Marc Leishman currently holds the lead at -4 through 14.

Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images