Tiger has work to do at Augusta after Day 1

Woods seven shots behind Spieth, but remains undaunted, Paul Newberry says.

The first standing ovation came on the practice range.

There was more applause when he strolled to the 18th green.

Tiger Woods is back at the Masters. Just not in the position so many of his fans were hoping he would be.

Woods plodded through an unspectacular opening round Thursday, settling for a 1-over 73 that left him seven shots off the lead held by Jordan Spieth at 6-under, but still feeling good about his chances.

Considering the buildup that accompanied his first competitive round at Augusta National since 2015, it might have seemed a bit of a letdown. Not to Woods.

“I could have easily let the round slip away from me, but I got it back,” he said, brimming with that bravado of old. “And I’m right back in this tournament.”

When Woods stepped to the first tee on a sunny, brisk morning, patrons finally heard the words they’ve missed at the last two Masters.

“Fore, please. Tiger Woods now driving.” The cheers could be heard throughout the course.

“I was pretty sure they weren’t feeling anticipation about me,” quipped Tommy Fleetwood, who joined Woods in a threesome that included Marc Leishman.

Dressed in black from head to toe, Woods tried to approach his

first shot like any other.

The ball wound up in the trees. “It didn’t fade,” Woods said with a sly grin.

Woods struggled on the par 5s, which are normally his bread and butter at Augusta, and that kept him from taking his score into negative numbers.

But he wasn’t complaining. After all he’s been through — the surgeries, the personal troubles, the lingering doubts he’d ever compete again for major championships — just being out on the course, once again at the centre of the golf universe, made him feel like a winner.

Two birdies over the final five holes helped his mood, too.

“A 73 is fine,” Woods said. “... By the end of the week there will be a bunch of guys with a chance to win this tournament.”

He intends to be one of them. But, for now, there’s work to be done.

The par 5s would be a good place to start. Over the course of his brilliant Masters career, the four-time champion has played those four longest holes at a cumulative 150 under par. On Thursday, he settled for a five at each of them.

“I didn’t play the par 5s very well,” Woods conceded. “I have to hit better shots, and better chips, too.”