Back playing the Masters after a career-threatening car crash, Tiger Woods says he can win a sixth Green Jacket, making a few more believers by carding an opening-round 71.
In his first competitive round of golf in 508 days, Woods mixed three birdies with two bogeys at Augusta National to sit four strokes behind first-round leader Sungjae Im while Australian Cameron Smith sits one shot back in outright second.
Although the year's first major featured all of golf's best, there was only one man most had come to see: the world's 973rd ranked player, Woods.
It was a remarkable effort from the 15-times major champion just 14 months after doctors had considered the possibility of having to amputate his right leg, which was mangled in a single-car accident.
"I fought back and for the day to end up in the red. I am right where I need to be," Woods said.
"I figured once the adrenaline kicks in and I got fired up and I got into my little world I should be able to handle business."
Woods said he was prepared to play with pain and at times noticeably limped as he made his way around the undulating layout regarded as one of the toughest walks on the PGA Tour.
The 46-year-old, wearing a pink shirt and black pants, had his game face on as he walked out to the first tee where the entire length of the par-four 445-yard opening hole was lined with thousands of spectators.
After five consecutive pars, Woods nearly aced the par-three sixth hole where his tee shot stopped two feet from the cup to set up his first birdie which was followed by his first bogey at the eighth.
Even par entering Amen Corner, Woods made it through the infamous stretch of holes unscathed, picking up his second birdie at 13.
That was followed by another bogey at 14 but the 16th provided vintage Woods as he rolled in a monster 29-foot birdie putt and celebrated with a trademark fist pump.
Double-bogeys mar Smith's round
Cameron Smith credits his stunning form to a new-found fitness regime after continuing his sizzling run at the Masters.
Smith sits just one shot behind Im in solo second spot after a sparkling first-round four-under-par 68 at Augusta National.
Australia's world No.6 defied gusting winds to rattle off eight birdies in 16 holes in a round that could have been anything if not for two double-bogeys to start and finish.
But he was left only "a little disappointed" after finding a fairway bunker on the first hole, then missing a short bogey putt, and slicing his tee shot into the trees on the 18th and three-putting to blow a two-stroke lead.
"To be honest, those couple of double bogeys really didn't have too bad a shots in them. It's not like I was scratching it out of the trees," Smith said.
"Got my second shot into a reasonable spot and just misjudged the wind on both wedges. Just left myself in a bit of a tough spot.
"Other than that, it was just really solid."
Rain delayed Smith's round by half an hour but nothing could stop him from picking up from where he left off in winning last month's Players Championship in Florida.
The Queenslander hadn't played competitively since bagging a record 10 birdies in the final round at TPC Sawgrass.
He arrived at Augusta National among the favourites and full of confidence.
Not even his sloppy six on the par-4 opener, after he found a fairway bunker off the tee, then missed a seven-foot putt for bogey, could shake the 28-year-old's belief.
After a scrambling par on the second, Smith made his first birdie on the fifth, then picked up further shots on six, eight and nine to reach the turn at two-under.
When he birdied the treacherous par-3 12th as well over the water on Amen Corner, sinking an 11-footer, Smith found himself joint leader with Im.
But Smith quickly shot two shots clear with a hat-trick of birdies on 14, 15 and 16 — only to falter at the last.
Among Australia's other morning starters, Masters debutant Min Woo Lee had a rollercoaster round of one-over 73 featuring five birdies, four bogeys and a double.
Still on the course, fellow Masters rookie Lucas Herbert was even par through 10 holes, with 2013 champion Adam Scott one over after 16 holes.
Marc Leishman and Cam Davis were also two-over playing the back nine.
AAP/Reuters
