| -5 S-J Im (Kor); -4 C Smith (Aus); -3 D Willett (Eng), J Niemann (Chi), D Johnson (US), S Scheffler (US); -2 J Kokrak (US), C Conners (Can), P Cantlay (US) |
| Selected others: -1 T Woods (US), W Zalatoris (US), M Fitzpatrick (Eng); E H Matsuyama (Jpn), L Westwood (Eng), V Hovland (Nor); +1 R McIlroy (NI); +2 J Rahm (Spa), J Spieth (US) |
Tiger Woods shot a one-under-par 71 on his Masters comeback as the five-time champion made a stunning return to competitive golf in what he described as an electric atmosphere at Augusta.
Woods was in a car crash that left him with life-threatening injuries and the fear of losing his leg.
The 15-time major champion confirmed on Tuesday that he would play and looked sharp in the opening round.
South Korea's Im Sung-jae is the leader after a five-under 67.
There is a long way to go, it is a marathon, but it is nice to get off to a positive start.
Woods said that being able to play felt like a victory after the severity of his injuries.
It was no easy task to see where I have been.
I am very lucky to be able to play in the Masters and to have this type of reception.
The place was electric.
The opening day was delayed by half an hour because of the overnight storms, but the weather was nicer in the afternoon.
One of the later starters, Im, began with three and added another on the seventh to hit 32 on the front nine.
He bogeyed on 10 and 11 and an eagle on 13 put him one shot ahead of Australia's Cameron Smith.
Smith, who won the Players Championship last month, was the early leader after a four-under 68.
Danny Willett, who earned a shock win at the Masters in 2016 is one shot behind Smith.
Northern Ireland'sRory McIlroy began his latest bid for a clean sweep of the four men's majors - the 32-year-old's eighth attempt to complete the career Grand Slam - with a 73.
The images of Woods' overturned car at the side of the road left his millions of admirers around the world fearing that his golf career was over.
Woods spent three months in a hospital bed after hitting a tree at 75mph and was later found to have been driving at almost twice the legal speed limit.
That he has been able to return to health is remarkable, let alone be able to resume a career in which his total of 15 men's majors is second only to Jack Nicklaus.
In February, Woods made it clear that the hilly terrain at Augusta National would be too soon in his recovery.
He was planning to play if he came through his practice rounds unscathed.
Woods said that he was proud of his whole team.
People don't know how hard we worked. We never took a day off.
The star of the sport continued his bid to make an astonishing comeback as huge numbers watched him practise at the Georgia course on Monday.
It was even more special when Woods walked out to the first tee.
Huge cheers greeted his name being read out as thousands gathered to watch his shot. Woods was cheered down the first fairway despite his drive turning out to be astray.
The galleries were packed to greet him.
The level of Woods game was talked about by his practice partners, with the former world number one saying that getting around 72 holes was his biggest challenge.
He looked good. He put his tee-shot on the sixth within a few feet of the hole and knocked in the putt.
A poor chip and putt from the side of the eighth green led to a bogey, before he moved back under par with a par on the 13th.
He had a bogey on the 14th green, but a two on the par-three 16th ensured he would finish under par in his first competitive round since the 2020 Masters.
When I won, we had Covid and we had no-one here, so I didn't play last year.
To have the patrons fully out and to have that type of energy out there was great.
With all the attention on Woods, he said he felt less pressure at Augusta this year as he bids to become only the sixth man to capture Masters, Open, US Open and US PGA Championship titles.
He paid the price for some inaccurate approach play over the closing holes as he finished over par.
His tee shot on the par-three 16th was a bad one, leading to a dropped shot. He pushed his second shot into the sand at the 18th, but recovered brilliantly with a splash out of the sand and a putt for par.
It was the worst I could have shot. I feel like I played well.
I am encouraged with how I played so I have to try to get more out of the round tomorrow.
Tony Jacklin, two-time major champion, urged the former world number one to relax and enjoy himself when he looks to close the gap on Friday.
Matt Fitzpatrick sunk a 20-foot putt on the last to help him to a 71 after a consistent round where he made just one bogey.
After his best opening round at Augusta, Willett says he is "trending nicely" after six years since his memorable Masters win.
He carded a 69 and has not yet finished in the top 30.
The body is good and this place is good for certain golf shots that we have been trying to work on.
It doesn't mean you're going to hit them, but it's always nice when you've been working hard.
Robert MacIntyre, who finished 12th on his debut last year, shot a 73.
The English pair of Tommy and Justin could face a battle to make the cut after disappointing opening rounds.
English amateur Laird Shepherd, who qualified after producing an amazing comeback to win the Amateur Championship, finished nine over on his debut.
Sandy Lyle, the 1988 champion from Scotland, is in the 90-man field after shooting an 81.
England's Paul Casey pulled out of the tournament because of a back injury, just before he was due to tee off on Thursday.
During the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play last month, he had back spasms, but he finished third in the Players Championship.
He said that the back issues were preventing him from being able to compete.
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