Augusta: It was not a happy debut at the Masters for Arjun Atwal, only the second Indian to play at the fabled Augusta National Club, as he ended at tied 97th with a eight-over 80 after the opening round.
Atwal had a disappointing second nine during which he had three double bogeys.
Overall, the Indian, who is one of the closest friends of Tiger Woods, with whom he played the practice rounds, had just one birdie, one eagle, two bogeys and four double bogeys in a highly eventful and roller-coaster round.
Atwal's friend Tiger Woods had a one-under 71 with three birdies and two bogeys, on 10th and 11th.
Atwal bogeyed fourth and fifth, and his sole birdie came on eighth. On the back nine, he double bogeyed 10th, 12th, 13th and 18th, but in between eagled the 15th.
However, Asian Tour honorary members Y E Yang and K J Choi of Korea got off to a flying start at The Masters with matching five-under-par 67s.
They lie in tied third place, two strokes from leaders Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Alvaro Quiros of Spain at the Augusta National Golf Club.
Yang, Asia's first Major champion, made the turn in 32 before mixing his card with two birdies and one eagle against three bogeys in the back nine.
He would have taken a share of the lead but slipped back with bogeys in the last two holes. Yang won the 2009 PGA Championship and that has given him a boost in confidence.
Choi, a seven-time US PGA Tour winner, endured a slow start with a pair of birdies and bogeys in the first 11 holes but burst into life from the 13th hole when he returned with five birdies in his closing six holes.
Choi is making his ninth appearance in The Masters and is buoyant by his strong finishes in Augusta, the best placing being in tied third in 2004.
He said the Augusta National Golf Club reminded him of fond memories from his first Asian Tour victory at the 1999 Korean Open.
Young Rory McIlroy and Alvaro Quiros claimed the first-round lead at the Masters by shooting 7-under-par 65s.
Together, they headed an onslaught of international talent at the top of the leader board.
Nine of the highest 13 finishers were non-Americans.
Among some of the big guns at the back of the pack was world number one Martin Kaymer of Germany, who shot 78. Lee Westwood shot even par and Phil Mickelson was two-under 70.
McIlroy, who has four career top-10s in Major is hugely talented and seen as a player who could go on to become one of the greats in the game.
The conditions at Augusta National Golf Club were superb, and the play of McIlroy and Quiros matched the pristine setting.
In a flawless performance that brought to mind his first-round 63 in last year's British Open, McIlroy made seven birdies and no bogeys to shoot a 7-under-par 65.
Quiros, playing in the final group of the day, birdied the 17th and 18th holes in fading light to join McIlroy atop the leader board.
It was Quiros' best round at the Masters by 10 shots.
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