Once again, Rory McIlroy showed his superstar potential when shooting a fantastic first round score at the Augusta National.
He carded 65 to go -7 and top the leaderboard alongside the long-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros.
But if the 21-year-old Northern Irishman is to claim his maiden Major victory, he will have to do what he could not at The Open Championship and sustain his good form until Sunday.
A spectacular -9 shot him into the lead after the first round at St Andrews last year.
However, McIlroy was unable to capitalise on his brilliant start and an eight over par 80 saw him fall out of contention.
The young Ulsterman blamed the drastic wind, which suspended play for an hour after reaching 40 mph, for his dismal second round at St Andrews.
He may have had a point, as his third and fourth round scores were -3 and -4 respectively.
McIlroy finished eight shots off eventual winner Louis Oosthuizen, meaning a half decent second round would have seen him lift the claret jug.
Weather conditions in Georgia will not be as harsh but the course itself is unyielding and an inch or two can make all the difference.
Patience is a virtue around the Augusta National and the right temperament is absolutely vital.
Many have questioned when, not if, McIlroy will finally break through and what a scene it could be if he was the one Phil Mickelson helped into the green jacket on Sunday.
He has the ability, no doubt - but the consistency of a champion has yet to be seen.
And with only two wins in 100 appearances as a professional, he has to start living up to his tag as one of golf’s next icons.
He is followed closely by Asia’s first Major champion Y.E Yang and his countryman K.J Choi, who are on -5.
A fantastic shot at 13 set Yang up perfectly for eagle, which he gladly took.
Another eagle opportunity could have seen him tie the top of the leaderboard, however his effort just slipped past the hole and he knocked in for birdie.
The South Korean did briefly level with McIlroy, but successive bogey’s on 16 and 17 dropped him back to -5.
Matt Kuchar made a good start and lies in third on -4, as does Ricky Barnes.
Sergio Garcia gave himself a chance with a -3 round and it could have been better for the Spaniard, who bogeyed the last hole.
Personal preferences aside, surely no one would begrudge a victory for Garcia, who is one of the most popular players on tour.
A perennial nearly man and Ryder Cup legend, his time is overdue and The Players Championship, regarded as ‘The Fifth Major’, remains his biggest win to date.
Ross Fisher will also resume on -3 after his early start, as will South African duo Charl Schwartzel and Trevor Immelman.
Luke Donald managed to claw back from +3 to score even par after a streak of birdie, eagle, and birdie from 14 through 16.
Justin Rose and Lee Westwood are also even par, but it was a disappointing start for Ryder Cup teammates Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter and Martin Kaymer.
McDowell, +2, and Kaymer, +6, do have form for missing the cut at Augusta - both did so last year.
But Poulter, who finished +2, has proven he has the game to challenge in the Masters after he shared the lead at the midway point last year with Westwood.
Elsewhere, there were solid scores for Paul Casey, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, who all shot under par.
First Round Leaderboard:
1 McIlroy -7
1 Quiros -7
3 Choi -5
3 Yang -5
5 Barnes -4
5 Kuchar -4
7 Fisher -3
7 Garcia -3
7 Immelman -3
7 Ogilvy -3
7 Schwartzel -3
7 Snedeker -3
7 Woodland -3
14 Fowler -2
14 Fujita -2
14 Goosen -2
14 Havret -2
14 Kim -2
14 Mickelson -2
14 Moore -2
14 O'Hair -2
14 Villegas -2
24 Cabrera -1
24 Cink -1
24 Couples -1
24 Ishikawa -1
24 Jimenez -1
24 Palmer -1
24 Woods -1
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