After Greg Norman and Tom Watson at the last two Open Championships, Bernhard Langer struck another blow for the golden oldies when The Masters Tournament began at Augusta National.
Hours before Tiger Woods set foot on the course for his first event in nearly five months, 52 year old Langer, champion in 1985 and 1993, went to the turn in a three under par 33 to lead the field.
And Watson, runner-up at Turnberry last year at 59 and now 60, was on the leaderboard too. 12 months after crashing out with a second round 83, Watson was two under after six holes.
At the other end of the age scale, 16 year old Italian Matteo Manassero, the youngest player ever to appear in the event thanks to his British Amateur victory last June, kicked off with a birdie.
That was a dream start for the youngster - he makes his professional debut in his home country next month - but he did then fly over the green at the short fourth and with a bogey returned to level par.
Manassero, 13th in The Open Championship last year, was partnering Europe's top player Lee Westwood and the World Number Four made his presence felt too by getting up and down from a bunker on the 575 yard second and making a 15 footer for another birdie at the next.
However, Westwood three-putted the fourth and, with Langer starting for home with a bogey four, it was American Steve Marino who was setting the pace.
He eagled the second - something Woods has never done in his Masters Tournament career - and then made a two on the 180 yard sixth.
There was a freshening wind and a storm was predicted for later in the day - probably when Woods was on the course - but there was some good scoring going on from the early starters.
The day's proceedings had begun with 70 year old Jack Nicklaus joining 80 year old Arnold Palmer in acting as honorary starters by hitting ceremonial drives.
Both missed the fairway to the right, although Nicklaus had to be told that because he had not put his contact lens in.
At least he could say he hit it out of sight.
Langer had a second successive bogey on the 11th, but parred the next two and was still going well in a tie for fifth at one under.
Marino, making his debut and without a US PGA Tour victory to his name, matched Langer's outward 33 to be one ahead of playing partner Watson, defending champion Angel Cabrera, last week's winner Anthony Kim and American amateur Nathan Smith.
Westwood was alongside Langer after seven and two more of the big guns, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson, were one under as well after six and five holes respectively.
Manassero was also on that mark and underlining what a prospect he is. His second birdie had come on the long eighth.
