Tiger Woods opened his 19th Masters campaign with a confident two-under 70 on Thursday as he sought to crown a remarkable return to the top with a long-overdue 15th major title.
The 37-year-old American, who regained the world number one spot last month after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, got off to a quiet enough start, but was two under by the turn with birdies at six and eight.
Watched by the new love in his life, reigning Winter Olympic downhill champion skier Lindsey Vonn, the 14-time major winner stayed there until the par-five 13th, where he moved to three-under.
A bogey at the bunkerless 14th hole set him back, but he parred his way in from there to tuck himself nicely in behind the leaders.
The early playing conditions in the 77th edition of the year’s first major were benign, with little wind, and that led to some fireworks from the early starters.
None sparkled more than cricket-loving Australian Marc Leishman, who pounded out four birdies in a row from the 13th to come in with a superb six-under 66.
“Got off to a shaky start – had a few nerves early on, but got that out of the way with a birdie at three and then we were away,” he said.
England’s David Lynn had earlier fired a four-under par 68 to set the early pace.
The 39-year-old, who finished runner-up to Rory McIlory in last year’s PGA Championship, got to five-under after 15 holes, but a bogey at 17 pegged him back.
US veteran Jim Furyk and 2007 Masters winner Zach Johnson both came in with 69s, with eight players – Kevin Na, David Toms, Brandt Snedeker and John Huh, all of the United States; Tim Clark of South Africa, Englishmen Lee Westwood and Justin Rose and KJ Choi of South Korea – all safely home at two-under 70.
Reigning champion Bubba Watson struggled throughout and was well down the field on 75.
But it was Woods that was once again the full focus of attention as a win on Sunday would crown his return to the top after three years of turmoil and doubt in his personal and professional life.
It would also leave him just three majors short of achieving his life-long ambition of matching, and eventually surpassing, Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major titles, the last of which came here in 1986 at the age of 46.
