England's Ross Fisher timed a return to form to perfection as a three under par 69 made him the early clubhouse leader in the 75th Masters Tournament at Augusta National.
With his wife Jo due to give birth to their second child early next week - he was in a similar position as he challenged for The Open Championship at Turnberry two years ago - the 30 year old took advantage of the perfect conditions after teeing off in the first group of the day at 7.45am.
But with low scoring predicted for the week South Africa's Retief Goosen showed what was possible by becoming only the fifth player in tournament history to start a round with an eagle two and reaching five under after just eight holes.
And 21 year old Rory McIlroy turned in a superb 32 and then joined Goosen by making three on the 505 yard par four 11th.
Last year's runner-up Lee Westwood, meanwhile, was one under after seven - three better than playing partner and World Number One Martin Kaymer, who has yet to make the halfway cut in three attempts - while Tiger Woods had to work hard to remain level par before making his first birdie at the short sixth.
On his 2009 debut in the event Fisher stormed out in front on the opening day at five under after 16, but bogeyed the last two for a 69 and eventually finished down in 30th spot.
This time he recovered from one over after four with four birdies in the next five and then rolled in a huge putt for another at the treacherous 11th - after being warned about slow play.
He slipped up again on the 440 yard 17th, but parred the last and after nothing better than a tenth-place finish all year and disappointing showings on his last three starts in America it was a distinct improvement.
"I'll scoot off and give her a call," said Fisher when asked about his wife's condition. "Last time she hung on and I didn't, so hopefully it's different this time.
"The 11th was a monster and a real bonus, but I'm walking off a little bit disappointed after not making birdies at the two par fives and then dropping a shot."
His day had begun with watching Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus - now 81 and 71 - hitting ceremonial opening drives as honorary starters.
"It was a special treat," he said. "They are two legends and they showed they've still got it."
McIlroy, also making his third start in the event, was in the same bunker as his Ryder Cup teammate on the 445 yard first, but saved par with a chip to two feet and then birdied the next three holes before adding another at the 460 yard ninth.
A three there by Goosen in the following group would have enabled him to equal the record for the front nine, but he parred it.
Woods drove into a bunker on the long second, then deep into the trees at the next.
While the first of those shots was no real problem the second was and, with a bush just behind him, he had to grip down on a long-iron. The ball went over the green before a brilliant flop chip rescued his four.
Westwood bogeyed the first, but birdied two and four, while Scots Martin Laird and Sandy Lyle stood one over after 17 and ten holes respectively and a double bogey at the 450 yard seventh left Padraig Harrington two over.
McIlroy led on his own - as he did at The Open Championship with a first day 63 - when Goosen bogeyed the 11th and returned to four under.
Westwood ran up a six on the long eighth and went back to level par, the same as US Open Champion McDowell and one behind Woods, while Harrington remained two over after ten.
McIlroy three-putted for par on the 13th, but made amends with a ten footer at the next and on six under he led by two from Goosen - who bogeyed at the 11th and 12th before securing a birdie at the 13th - and his compatriot Charl Schwartzel.
Woods bogeyed the tenth to go back to level par, but that was better than McDowell - he doubled and was one over.
