Ryder Cup teammates Ross Fisher and Rory McIlroy were among the early leaders in The Masters Tournament at Augusta National.
While the 21 year old Northern Irishman birdied the second and third holes, Fisher came back spectacularly from one over par after four to turn in a three under 33.
It put the English golfer, whose wife Jo is expecting their second child early next week, one ahead of not only McIlroy, but also South African Retief Goosen, who became only the fifth player in the history of the tournament to start a round with an eagle two.
Goosen holed his approach to the 445 yard first whereas Fisher took five after pushing his drive into sand and being unable to make the green from there.
The 30 year old, who began his debut two years ago by racing into the lead before falling back to finish 30th, birdied the second, dropped another shot at the short fourth, but then picked up strokes at the fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth.
McIlroy was also in the fairway bunker at the first, but saved par with a fine chip and made another to set up his first birdie at the 575 yard next.
The 350 yard third is one of the best birdie chances on the course and he did not miss out. Nor did Scot Martin Laird, whose three there took him to one under and joint fourth place on his first appearance.
Former winner Sandy Lyle, winner in 1988, bogeyed two of the first four holes, but came back with birdies at the sixth and eighth to turn in a level par 36.
Padraig Harrington parred the first two holes as the crowd waited for Tiger Woods - and playing partner Graeme McDowell - to begin their bids for the opening Major of the season in perfect conditions.
Fisher remained four under after 14, but Goosen's two on the fourth made him joint leader again.
McIlroy was one behind and third on his own after seven, while Woods had to work really hard to remain level par after three.
He drove in the fairway bunker on the long second, then deep in the trees right off the third tee.
There was a route through, but because of a bush behind him he had grip down and used a three iron to keep the ball low. It went over the green before a superb flop chip to within a few inches of the cup salvaged his four.
McDowell also parred the first three, while Lee Westwood, last year's runner-up to Phil Mickelson, came back from an opening bogey with birdies at two and four and was joint seventh.
Laird bogeyed the seventh and long eighth and went to one over, Harrington was level after six and World Number One Martin Kaymer, yet to make a cut in three starts, bogeyed the second and fourth.
