Golf – US Masters update:Tiger Woods looked as though he'd never been away from tournament golf never mind playing his first event in five months, while Fred Couples continues to enjoy a new lease of life as the 50-year-old shot his best-ever round at Augusta to grab the outright lead on the opening day of the US Masters.
Unprecedented crowds gathered around the first tee to see Woods tee off in the 74th edition of the season's first major - and he didn't disappoint. His first competitive shot since winning the Australian Masters in November was a boomed drive straight down the middle of the fairway. The world number one went on to par the opening hole.
The 14-time major winner calmly plotted his way over the opening holes to be one under through six holes, courtesy of a birdie at the third, while accepting of the generous applause all around.
Although he dropped a shot at the seventh, Woods immediately picked up with an eagle at the next then played what might already be considered shot of the week to set up a birdie at the ninth.
The 34-year-old hooked a low iron under pines then ran across the fairway - almost Sergio Garcia-esque at Medinah in 1999 – to watch the ball run up the long green and to within 10 feet of the hole, which he duly holed.
A poor drive off 10 and a clumsy putt would cost him another shot at 10 but he moved closer to the lead with birdies at 13 and 15 to get within two of Couples’ lead.
Couples, wearing tennis-style shoes instead of regular golf shoes to aid his notorious bad back, was in sparkling form and grabbed the outright lead with a six under 66 that contained just the one dropped shot at fifth. His round ignited on the inward half when he converted four birdies in seven holes from the 12th.
"Believe it or not I felt a little stiff out there but I hit enough good shots to warrant a 66," said a smiling Couples after his round. "I was actually looking at the record books the other night and knew 67 was previously my best round. I really pleased with the score as it was tough out there today."
On a day when the old guard proved their mettle once more, veteran Tom Watson defied his years to produce a scintillating five under 67 for his share of second. The 60-year-old’s flawless round left him alongside fellow American Phil Mickelson, England's Lee Westwood, South Korea's Yang Yong-eun.
"I did what I had to do today and took advantage of some of the holes that you could take advantage of at Augusta National," said Watson, who was reliving the dream of Turnberry last year where he almost captured the British Open.
"I had a little bit of a different frame of mind going into this week. It seemed to help a little bit. The last four or five years I've gone into the tournament feeling like the course was too big for me.
"Today, as it was last year, the course was set up where you could get to some of the pins."
Earlier in the day Graeme McDowell had to display wonderful battling qualities to undo some of the damage caused by a disastrous start to his campaign.
He was first of the three Irishmen to take to the course but he didn't get the start he was looking for. The 30-year-old was four over through seven holes and six over through 12.
It was undoubtedly a precarious position where shots needed to be picked up, yet the treacherous Augusta layout had to be treated with respect at the same time.
McDowell's round started with a par at the difficult first before a settling birdie four came at the par five second.
However, from there it all became untidy as he made double bogey at the short fourth before further dropped shots came with another bogey at the par three sixth and a second double of the day at seven.
Further bogeys came at the 10th and 12th and McDowell's first major of the year threatened to unravel before he even got into his stride.
However the Portrush pro dug deep and converted a second birdie of the day at the par five 13th before two more at the short 16th and another at 18 left him signing for a three over 75.
“I got off to a horrible start, I just didn’t feel myself and I drilled everything passed the hole. I couldn’t get to grips with them and I’d a couple of really careless three-putts that killed the momentum early on,” admitted McDowell.
It's surely not the start McDowell was looking for but with such a strong finish he has at least given himself a chance of getting back into the tournament.
Rory McIlroy was marginally better and had to settle for a 74 that contained four birdies and two dropped shots. His day also included a chip-in and a decent par-saving putt on 18.
“It felt like I left a lot of shots out there. I hit the ball well enough but just didn’t get the rewards. It was pretty tricky out there,” McIlroy after his round.
“I really need to go out there tomorrow and take my chances but I’m giving myself a lot of birdie opportunities. I also need to play the par fives better.”
Pádraig Harrington was one over with one hole to play on a rather lacklustre day for the Irish contingent.
Harrington had three birdies, one double bogey at the seventh and tw further dropped shots.
American Anthony Kim birdied the last three holes for a 68 to join Nick Watney on four under while David Toms bogeyed the 18th for a 69 earlier in the day.