AUGUST, Georgia -- Britain's Justin Rose and American Brett Wetterich posted a three-under-par target while Phil Mickelson made a horror start to his Masters title defense in Thursday's opening round.
Back on the PGA Tour for the first time in six weeks after nursing a back strain, Rose defied demanding conditions at Augusta National with a flawless 69.
The 26-year-old Englishman, who led after the first two rounds at the 2004 Masters, reeled off three birdies on a 7,445-yard layout running fast and firm in bright sunshine.
Rose parred the last four holes to finish two ahead of South African Tim Clark and Americans Vaughn Taylor, Zach Johnson, Rich Beem and J.J. Henry.
"The reason I played so well was my short game, my touch was amazing," he said.
"I knew I was playing well and had had a decent start to the season, but the competitive edge was the one area I was not sure about having had six weeks off.
"But I had plenty of energy and that kept me calm and fresh."
Wetterich then joined him a joint early leader with Briton David Howell heading the chasing pack out on the course at two-under.
Mickelson, who struck a spectator off the tee on his way to a bogey at the par-four first, opened with a 76 -- he birdied the last two holes -- while four-times champion and tournament favorite Tiger Woods was one over after nine holes.
Only 10 players in the 96-strong field were under par in the first Masters since 1999 to be played under optimal, dry conditions.
"It is brutal out there," Chris DiMarco told reporters after shooting a 75. "The greens are firm and if you hit on the wrong side of holes you're just trying to make bogey.
"It's the hardest the course has played since I've been coming here," added the American, who lost to Woods in a playoff at the 2005 Masters.
Steady performance
Clark, who finished two strokes behind Mickelson last year, made the most of a steady performance that included 13 fairways hit out of 14.
"I tried not to make any mistakes and just put myself into position to make par," the 31-year-old said. "I was putting cautiously but I made a lot of good two-putt pars."
South African Ernie Els, twice a runner-up, struggled to a 78 and U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia, who ran up a triple-bogey eight at the second, carded a 75.
"It was a very tough day," said three-times major winner Els, who had to settle for second place after an epic last-day battle with Mickelson here in 2004.
"If you mishit a shot today, you really paid the penalty. Everything was firm out there."
Seven players failed to break 80, among them 1987 champion Larry Mize and three-times winner Gary Player who returned matching 83s.
The 71-year-old Player is making a record-equalling 50th appearance at the Masters.
Cool, dry weather has been forecast for all four rounds at the pine tree-lined Augusta National.
Back on the PGA Tour for the first time in six weeks after nursing a back strain, Rose defied demanding conditions at Augusta National with a flawless 69.
The 26-year-old Englishman, who led after the first two rounds at the 2004 Masters, reeled off three birdies on a 7,445-yard layout running fast and firm in bright sunshine.
Rose parred the last four holes to finish two ahead of South African Tim Clark and Americans Vaughn Taylor, Zach Johnson, Rich Beem and J.J. Henry.
"The reason I played so well was my short game, my touch was amazing," he said.
"I knew I was playing well and had had a decent start to the season, but the competitive edge was the one area I was not sure about having had six weeks off.
"But I had plenty of energy and that kept me calm and fresh."
Wetterich then joined him a joint early leader with Briton David Howell heading the chasing pack out on the course at two-under.
Mickelson, who struck a spectator off the tee on his way to a bogey at the par-four first, opened with a 76 -- he birdied the last two holes -- while four-times champion and tournament favorite Tiger Woods was one over after nine holes.
Only 10 players in the 96-strong field were under par in the first Masters since 1999 to be played under optimal, dry conditions.
"It is brutal out there," Chris DiMarco told reporters after shooting a 75. "The greens are firm and if you hit on the wrong side of holes you're just trying to make bogey.
"It's the hardest the course has played since I've been coming here," added the American, who lost to Woods in a playoff at the 2005 Masters.
Steady performance
Clark, who finished two strokes behind Mickelson last year, made the most of a steady performance that included 13 fairways hit out of 14.
"I tried not to make any mistakes and just put myself into position to make par," the 31-year-old said. "I was putting cautiously but I made a lot of good two-putt pars."
South African Ernie Els, twice a runner-up, struggled to a 78 and U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia, who ran up a triple-bogey eight at the second, carded a 75.
"It was a very tough day," said three-times major winner Els, who had to settle for second place after an epic last-day battle with Mickelson here in 2004.
"If you mishit a shot today, you really paid the penalty. Everything was firm out there."
Seven players failed to break 80, among them 1987 champion Larry Mize and three-times winner Gary Player who returned matching 83s.
The 71-year-old Player is making a record-equalling 50th appearance at the Masters.
Cool, dry weather has been forecast for all four rounds at the pine tree-lined Augusta National.
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