Steady start for Woods at Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia (AFP) –

Tiger Woods of the US tees off during the first round of the 77th Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2013 in Augusta, Georgia. Woods opened his 19th Masters campaign in steady fashion as he sought to crown a remarkable return to the top with a long-overdue 15th major title.

Tiger Woods opened his 19th Masters campaign in steady fashion on Thursday as he sought to crown a remarkable return to the top with a long-overdue 15th major title.

The 37-year-old American, who regained the world number one spot last month after a two and a half year hiatus, parred the first two holes as he set off in the company of Luke Donald and Scott Piercy.

The early playing conditions in the 77th edition of the year’s first major were benign, with little wind and that led to some fireworks from the early starters.

US veteran Jim Furyk set the pace with birdies at the third, sixth, seventh and eighth to get to four under, while Englishman David Lynn matched him with back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12.

It was Woods though who once again was the full focus of attention having regained the world number one spot from Rory McIlroy after three wins in the four stroke-play events he has played this year. He says he is fit and healthy and is enjoying what he calls true “balance” in his life.

Jim Furyk of the US plays during the first round of the 77th Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2013 in Augusta, Georgia.

That combination of factors he has not enjoyed for the last few years and he is optimistic they will renew his march on golfing history with a 15th major title, nearly five years after his last win.

That would leave him just three majors short of achieving his life-long ambition of matching and eventually surpassing Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major titles, the last of which came here in 1986 at the age of 46.

A win on Sunday would also make it five Green Jackets for Woods — his last was in 2005 — just one behind the record six held by Nicklaus.

Two other stories have dominated the buildup to the opening round — has Rory McIlroy finally got to grips with his new clubs and secondly how will 14-year-old Chinese prodigy Guan Tianlang fare on his Masters debut.

McIlroy finally showed a clear sign that he is emerging from his four-month slump with a closing 66 for second place at the Texas Open last week, but it remains to be seen whether he can safely negotiate four rounds over a course that has hurt him badly before.

David Lynn of England plays during the first round of the 77th Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2013 in Augusta, Georgia.

He has already set his sights high, saying that anything less than a win on Sunday would be a disappointment in what he says is his favorite tournament of the year.

The Ulsterman, who celebrates his 24th birthday next month, already has two major title wins to his credit — both by eight strokes — at the 2011 US Open and at last year’s PGA Championship.

A win at Augusta National would leave him needing only a British Open title to complete the full set of majors.

Astonishingly, McIlroy, one of the youngest players in the 93-strong field, is 10 years older than Guan, who will become the youngest player in Masters history when he sets off on Thursday.

Short off the tee, the slightly built Chinese boy is expected to struggle over the mighty 7,435-yard Georgia layout and it remains to be seen whether his superb short game can bail him out.

McIlroy was due out in the day’s penultimate grouping in mid-afternoon, meaning he could run into the stormy weather which was forecast for later in the day. Also out late was three-time former winner Phil Mickelson.