Marc Leishman and Sergio Garcia carded 66s in the opening round of the 77th Masters at Augusta to take a one-stroke lead over Dustin Johnson.
Sergio Garcia: Out from the woods
The leading pair finished Thursday's first round on six-under par, with Johnson on five under and a group including former champions Trevor Immelman and Fred Couples, as well as David Lynn, Ricky Fowler, Matt Kuchar and Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño.
World number one Tiger Woods, a four-time champion already, finished the round on two-under par 70, while number two Rory McIlroy had to settle for an even par 72.
English duo Justin Rose and Lee Westwood finished alongside Woods, while three-time champion Phil Mickelson was one stroke further adrift.
The youngest player ever to compete at the Masters, Fourteen-year-old Chinese amateur Guan Tianlang birdied the final hole to finish the round on 73.
Leishman started his round poorly and bogeyed the first hole, but got better as the round went on and came home in 31, to take the lead from long-time front-runner Lynn.
It is the 29-year-old Australian's second Masters after he missed the cut in 2010.
"The first time I was here I was like a bit of a deer in headlights, I guess," said Leishman after his round.
"I found myself looking around a little bit too much and not concentrating on getting the ball in the hole, which is what you need to do.
"To be here is awesome and to be sitting here is pretty cool. But, you know, it's only Thursday afternoon, so a lot of golf to play. But I feel good about my game."
Garcia, one of the most decorated players never to win a major, picked up six birdies in a near-flawless round.
"It's obviously not my most favourite place, but we try to enjoy it as much as we can each time we come here," the Spanish world number 16 noted.
"Sometimes it comes out better than others, but today it was one of those good days. And you know, let's enjoy it while it lasts."
The 14-time major winner Woods had a mixed round, carding three birdies but bogeyed the 14th, although the 37-year-old was happy with his "solid day".
McIlroy started in solid fashion, turning at two-under before a string of bogeys - and two more birdies - saw him fall back into the chasing pack.
"It could have been better," said the 23-year-old Ulsterman said.
"I felt like I played well and gave myself plenty of opportunities. I just made some silly mistakes - a couple of three-putts on the back nine. I made enough birdies but I just need to cut those mistakes out and I'll be fine."
Defending champion Bubba Watson might have already blown his chances of becoming the first player since Woods to win back-to-back titles at Augusta after firing a 75, leaving him nine shots off the pace already.
Ian Poulter also had little hope of improving on his seventh place finish of 2012 after firing a 76, which included bogeys on the final two holes.
golf365.com