Fred Couples, winner back in 1992 but having a new lease of life this season on switching to the seniors circuit, leads The Masters Tournament after achieving his best-ever round in the event.
A 66 takes the 50 year old into day two a stroke ahead of England's Lee Westwood, Koreans K J Choi and Y E Yang and compatriots Phil Mickelson and 60 year old Tom Watson, who a year after missing the cut with an 83 improved 16 shots to revive memories of his incredible bid to win The Open Championship last summer.
He matched his lowest round at Augusta in a career that goes all the way back to 1970, while Westwood has never had a 67 before.
There was also a 69 from 52 year old Sandy Lyle - he has not shot better than that since he won in 1988 - and a 71 from 16 year old Italian Matteo Manassero, the youngest player in Masters Tournament history.
But, inevitably, Tiger Woods was the one who carried the biggest crowd all day and he did not disappoint.
For the first time in his Masters Tournament career he had two eagles in one round - and almost a third.
This, of course, was his first tournament since winning the JBWere Masters last November.
Couples, an incredible 77 under par for 12 rounds as a Champions Tour rookie, had four birdies in six holes from the 12th to move to the head of things.
“It's one of my favourite tournaments,” said Couples. “I’ve been playing leading up to Augusta, just like I do every other year. And then the Champions Tour, I have played very well, but I drove the ball and putted well in all of those tournaments, and that's pretty much what I did today, too.
“You're always nervous, because no matter what age you are, you want to do well.
“I felt like today was just one of those rounds where maybe it was good that the wind was blowing when I was playing, because I wasn't expecting too much, to be honest with you. And once I got going, I just kept making putts and ended up six under.”
Watson's was an equally stunning performance, though, and he said: "It's been a wonderful week already.
"My son proposed marriage when we played the practice round and his bride-to-be didn't know anything about it.
"Everybody was in on the scam and I think a big part of my success today was having my son on the bag.
"He said 'Dad, show me. Show me you can still play this golf course.' You know what, I wanted to show him I can still play the golf course."
Westwood had four birdies in the last seven birdies and the world number four, third both in The Open Championship and US PGA Championship last year, said: "That's the level my game is at now.
"I don't have ins and outs - I hit every green in regulation basically today and you can be relaxed if you are confident."
He was most pleased with his bunker shot at the long 15th - one of seven birdies - and commented: "You probably won't see a better one all day, maybe all week."
Aside from his golf Woods had to be thrilled by the ovation he received as the World Number One followed two opening pars with a pitch to five feet on the third for his first birdie. Australian Masters 144 days ago.
After bogeying the seventh he made an eight footer on the eighth for only his second-ever eagle on the hole. His first was in the final round last year.
Seemingly in trouble when he pulled his drive close to the trees down the ninth he hooked his approach some 40 yards and made the ten foot putt for birdie and an outward 33.
After another bogey at the tenth he lipped out for eagle at the 13th, but made no mistake two holes later.
He might easily have been joint second rather than joint seventh - with Ian Poulter amongst others - but missed from under five feet on the last.
Bernhard Langer struck another blow for the golden oldies with a 71. And the 52 year old even bogeyed the last two for that.
