US Masters:Who could have foreseen it? As the 71st Masters tormented and teased those eyeing the prospect of having a green jacket slipped on their shoulders come Sunday evening, Justin Rose, a player wrapped in cotton wool for the past couple of months to protect a back injury, coped most admirably with all the questions posed by Augusta National, a course whose slick greens were aided and abetted by a constant breeze to add to the devilment of it all.

So, on a day when Tiger Woods, the world number one and four-time Masters champion, couldn't buy a birdie for love or money on his front nine, England's Rose stayed calm - not dropping a shot all round - to sign for a 69, three-under, that allowed him ponder the next three days and what they hold.

He's not in unfamiliar territory. In 2004, Rose led after the first round and held the 36-hole lead before letting reality suffocate his aspirations.

This was a first round that tormented many a soul, epitomised in many ways by the fates that befell the marquee grouping of Woods, Paul Casey and Aaron Baddeley who, between them, failed to find a birdie on the front nine.

It was a familiar tale, though, as the conditions made scoring difficult. Darren Clarke - who started off bogey-par-double bogey en route to an outward 43 - was among those whose games were exposed.

With scoring so tough, Rose's performance was extremely impressive, as he produced a flawless round that yielded three birdies, at the third, fifth (where he holed out of a bunker) and 14th.

And, coming down the stretch, when he needed to dig deep to save pars, as he did on the last when getting up and down from a greenside bunker after coming up short with his approach shot, Rose rose to the challenge.

"I like firm, fast conditions. It seems to ask the right questions," said Rose. "It tells us that it is a major, that the course tests the players to their utmost."

Prior to his injury in late-February, Rose had hinted at good form, recording two top-five finishes on the US Tour and recording a win in the dunhill Championship in South Africa.

"I was a little worried with my disc injuries, and worked hard on my fitness and rehab to get right for this week. I took the decision not to play in the CA championship in Doral (two weeks ago), just to make sure I was right for this week," said Rose, who hit only five fairways and took a mere 20 putts.

Clearly, his short game was exemplary.

Of that experience in 2004, Rose believes that it will stand to him going into the next three rounds.

"Sometimes you learn more from situations that go badly than ones that go well," he claimed.

"I think I'm a lot better player now. I've worked hard on my game over the last two or three years, especially putting over the last year. That's much improved.

"Golf's a game of confidence and I am a confident player right now. I've got to treat tomorrow as a clean slate, really.

"I'm conscious of stretching more than I normally would before rounds, just to keep myself moving," said Rose.

Rose's 69 gave him the clubhouse lead, a couple of shots clear of Tim Clark, Vaughn Taylor, Zach Johnson, Rich Beem and JJ Henry, all of who signed for 71s.

But, in the main, it was a tough day for the majority of the field with the likes of Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh among those leaving themselves with uphill battles to fight if, firstly, they are to survive the cut and, secondly, if they are to play their way back into the hunt for the championship.

Padraig Harrington birdied the ninth hole - only the seventh of the day on the hole - to get back to one under at the turn, but proceeded to give the shot straight back when suffering a bogey on the 10th.

Only 10 players in the 96-strong field were under par in the first Masters since 1999 to be played under optimal, dry conditions.

"It is brutal out there," Chris DiMarco told reporters after shooting a 75. "The greens are firm and if you hit on the wrong side of holes you're just trying to make bogey.

"It's the hardest the course has played since I've been coming here," added the American, who lost to Woods in a play-off in 2005.

Tim Clark, who finished two strokes behind Mickelson last year, made the most of a steady performance that included 13 fairways hit out of 14.

"I tried not to make any mistakes and just put myself into position to make par," the 31-year-old said. "I was putting cautiously but I made a lot of good two-putt pars."

England's Ian Poulter opened with a 75 and American Billy Mayfair, his playing partner in the first group out, with a 76.

"I would say it is quite playable but the scores aren't that great looking at the board," Poulter said. "I think it is scoreable out there if you stick to your game plan."

Seven players failed to break 80, among them 1987 champion Larry Mize and three-time winner Gary Player who returned matching 83s.

The 71-year-old Player is making a record-equalling 50th appearance at the Masters.

Cool, dry weather has been forecast for all four rounds.