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Good blog Rob.

Was a very interesting day and all that has been going on with Tiger recently has been very strange indeed. If I was Tiger, I'd just be happy that I was filming adverts for sponsors again!

As for the action, it was a good battle - Typical opening day antics. Whether Couples and Watson can hold out for the 4 days only time can tell, but Woods did look ominous - what sets himself asside from the others is his ability to keep at that level for days straight. Will be very interesting tonight!

Woods played superb, very focussed with only a a few loose shots (on the easier holes aswell) i cant beleive he has never shot below 70 on the first day at augusta before yesterday when he shot 68, i really cant see past him winning this now, to not play for 5 months then play like that is amazing and the mark of a true sporting Great!!

Just wanted to say that the english boys of Westwood and poulter done really well especially poulter saving par getting down in 2 out of the bunker on the last, really think that if Woods does mess up ( which i dont think he will) one of these boys could give us the Major winner we've been looking for... !!

Well done to Watson and couples aswell, i know that Couples was being tipped all over the place but how impressive is it that Watson is doing at his age... Big Acheivement!

A great opening day, so many potential winners that have got themselves into promising positions at this stage, after coming so close at the Open I would love to see Watson win, Westwood as well would be great on account of English patriotism.

I can't help but think how ominously placed Woods is, his character is such that I would not be at all surprised if he won this, creating quite a story.

But there are a number of interesting stories in addition to Woods and the 'old-timers', Mickelson shrugging off his poor form, Immelman shrugging off his injury problems since winning here two years ago, in short, a fascinating opening day.

woods has it in the bag - he'll win by at least 5 shots!

A straw poll of the members of the Golf Club roll up reveals that we are all heartily sick of Tiger Woods.

I have been watching the Masters for more years than I care to remember and this year was the worst start ever.

The sight and sound of obsequious commentators protecting their jobs (mindful of Gary McCord perhaps) by falling over themselves to be nice to Tiger was almost too much to bear. Worst still we had to witness Tiger comitting the worst sin on a golf course; slow play. Where are the officials putting him on the clock; protecting their jobs too?

It was fully one hour before we caught a glimpse of Ian Poulter. Soren Keldsjen, nice man though he is, got about four times more air time. Then when we did get to see Ian play, cut to Ken Brown giving us a bunker lesson. Aaargh!

I am normally an easy going guy who enjoys a good round of golf and always congratulates good play. I do not particularly like myself when I find myself wishing Tiger would hit it in the trees. Trouble is when I do it I get no shot but his ball seems to bounce out into the middle of the fairway!

On the plus side I do like Amen corner on the red button; hardly any mention of Tiger and we do get to see all the players.

Woods doing what Woods does best,

Love watching him play dont care about the "scandal" he is still a great man who still has the ability to impart some wisdom.

Tiger too win so he can show these people who doubted him

I enjoyed the coverage of the first day yesterday, but I have to say it seems like the Tiger Woods show. There are 96 players competing at Augusta, and the commentators only seemed interested in what Tiger was doing. I appreciate that you can only comment on the coverage you get from the host broadcasters, but Sam and Ken can only see one winner. What about the British contingent. Lee Westwood is tied 2nd and even Sandy Lyle is competitive. Come on boys, cheer our home players.

Gordon Bourne @ 5 - You have indeed hit the nail squarely on the head. This was as near to idolatry as I have seen but one could see that some of it was forced. And what was Sam Torrance trying to say to Hazel at the close of play when she talked about him doffing his hat? "He was trying to be AMENIABLE, he said". Woods was so close to having a disaster it was uncanny. How many trees bounced him in the right direction? And boy was he ready to boil? The club went for a little jaunt twice and you could clearly see from his pout that he was close to the edge. Changed man my tailend. Few have doubted that he can play the game and probably better than anyone before him but he can also tell untruths with the best. A little while ago he was saying that he only thought of picking up a club very recently, yet last night in his "special" interview (that noone else was privileged to have), he said that he had been "grinding real hard for weeks on end". I really do hope that someone, anyone else but Woods goes on to show that this game is bigger than any one person

Blame the Media for comments 5 & 8 not Tiger,

I heard someone say yesterday that this was the greatest ever comeback in golf. Has anybody heard of Ben Hogan?

I enjoyed the coverage very much so last night thanks beeb, excellent web coverage as always, enjoyed the american coverage on amen corner and, as always, the beebs commentators when it was on full coverage.

I must admit, aside from the open, I don't follow golf too much when Tiger isn't playing and enjoyed his return, I thought from when his first shot went down the fairway he would have a good day and if his putting had been better he could be miles clear. But his driving and generally his approach play was very good, and seems ominous for the rest of the masters.

I also, very much enjoyed Poulter and Westwood's game, though due to work I missed most of the latters round :-( and i'm glad to see Poulter finally stepping up, incedentally has anyone noticed his large improvement ever since he stop opening his mouth and saying silly things!?!?!

It was good having Tiger back. Here in Kenya he has his support and I wonder what the fuss was about the scandal.

His golf should be enough to want to watch him, unless there are other reasons.

Go Tiger!!!

i admit, i'm a tiger fan, but I would have to agree that there's too much talking about the shot he just played by pundits rather than seeing the action from other players. I mean the 9th super draw was good, but do we need to get a studio reaction seemingly every time!? red button amen coverage is much better to watch it....not focused on any one player.

As for the controversy with the nike ad...its a nothing story. move on. bored. yawn. I quite liked it. was a bit like him realising that is fathers guidance has been missing the past few years to keep him focused.

as for his play....ominous...maybe not for this tournament, but if this is him at 80%...i'd be a very worried pro for the year ahead.

For the people who don't like the focus on Tiger.

I think Billy Payne and the Masters committee has got to take some of the blame. If you listen to his opening speech you'd think that Tiger was the only player they invited to play.

This speech was effectively the opening credits the Tiger Woods comeback show not welcome to the 2010 Masters.

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golf existed just fine prior to the masters in 1997 and the "coming" of Tiger Woods !!!

I'm too young to remember much about nicklaus in his pomp ( the only other player in modern times to dominate majors as much as woods ).. did golf in his era become a one man show ?? Or was the presence of other great golfers in his era.. first palmer, then trevino and watson, and always gary player, stop golf from becoming a one man show in the 60s and 70s ? Is the lack of other truely great golfers in this era ( Mickleson, Els, etc havent won enough majors to be considered true greats in my eyes ), as much to blame for the tiger-dependency of modern golf ??

Does anyone recognize that this man who has no respect for women chooses to return to a golf tournament where women are banned? He's trying to make amends? I don't think so. Take a year's winnings and donate them to a women's charity for domestic abuse or some similar and we'll begin to think he has even a tiny bit of respect for women.

I have to say I am very impresed with the effort of Sandy Lyle.
Unbelievably he managed to finish his round this time and didn't sulk and walk off the course.After seeing his start I would have had any money that he would be back in the clubhouse after 9 holes.
I hope next year he doesn't play so that he doesn't take the place of some young guy who can play.
What a girl.

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So while we are treated to the greatest shot ever seen at the 9th yesterday, there was no coverage at all of His playing partner Yang, the man who beat him last time out and eventually finished the day ahead of Him.
Now that we have two Brits/Englishmen at the top perhaps you who worship Him can temporarily transfer your allegiances for a couple of days?

It was mentioned by Hasel on the Live masters coverage that Ballesteros celebrates his 52nd birthday today!
Today he actually celebrates his 53rd birthday.
Jan Baert
Belgium

it's weird to see how those americans can still hold a candle alight for Woods;they keep on remindinding us of sevi's achievmentsbut you wou would'nt hear him or Nicklaus or even Tom Watson coming out with expletives or acting like they were baseball players clearing the back of their throats every minute