Tiger Woods was given a rapturous reception by the crowd as he finally returned to golf at the Masters Tournament.
Out for nearly five months, Woods parred his first hole since November 15 to a background of applause and cheers - hitting such a sweet driver that he gave a familiar twirl of the club before bending over to pick up the tee.
It found the fairway and he then struck his approach to within 15 feet of the flag, but could not make the birdie putt on a hole where he has had only three in his Masters Tournament career.
As he continued on his way - and his search for a 15th Major - it was hard to believe that the man he was chasing at the top of the leaderboard was none other than 60 year old Tom Watson.
Two days after telling Jack Nicklaus that Augusta National had become too tough for him, Watson revived memories of last year's Open Championship by managing a five under par 67.
It equalled the best round of 119 he has now played in a championship he won in 1977 and 1981.
One behind in second place was Europe's current Number One Lee Westwood. The World Number Four, out in 35, added further birdies on the 12th, 13th and 15th.
Fellow Englishman Paul Casey, in-form Ernie Els and defending champion Angel Cabrera were in the group two back and 16 year old Italian Matteo Manassero, the youngest player in Masters Tournament history thanks to his British Amateur win last June, was going brilliantly well too at two under alongside Westwood.
It was at the champions' dinner that Watson told record six-time winner Nicklaus: "It's just too long for me to compete here."
Last April Watson crashed out with a second round 83, his worst score in the tournament by five in a career going back to 1970.
Nicklaus, who himself joined Arnold Palmer as an honorary starter by hitting the ceremonial opening drives this morning, was having none it, though.
All too aware that Watson almost won at Turnberry last summer, the Golden Bear commented: "I would never put it by him.
"It was like when Trevino said he could never play well here and I said 'That's rubbish, you can play anywhere.' Just the same, you never know what Watson could do. He's still a very good player."
Bernhard Langer struck another blow for the golden oldies by turning in 33 and standing three under with two to go, but he bogeyed them both for a 71.
Manassero kicked off with a 12 foot birdie putt; some three after his pushed drive hit a tree and left him having to go over another to reach the green.
Westwood 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 bogeyed the next as well before coming back with another birdie and then making a big move on the back nine.
There was a freshening wind and a storm was predicted for later in the day, but there was some good scoring going on from the early starters.
Woods had to wait only three holes for his first birdie, pitching to five feet and making no mistake with the putt.
Meanwhile, Westwood was joined in second spot first by Korean Y E Yang, the man who pushed Woods into second place at golf's last Major, and then by World Number Three Phil Mickelson, who eagled the 13th and made a 20 footer on the next for birdie to be four under as well.
