So this is the question I am posing; When was the last time that the defending champion led after the first round?

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Augusta National

Remember when that Tiger Woods bloke used to play in the Masters? His absence this year is a shame, and no doubt will cost a few TV viewers, but the CBS big guns, publically at least, are not fussed.

"It's always been the highest rated and most anticipated golf tournament of the year," CBS boss Sean McManus said. "That was true before Tiger played in it. It's true when Tiger plays in it, and it will be true when Tiger is no longer playing."

Anchor Jim Nantz told the Augusta Chronicle: "I've never had anybody say, 'Tell me about ratings when Jack Nicklaus won in 1986', or 'Phil's victory in 2004 was great but too bad about the ratings'."

ESPN's Curtis Strange told the paper: "I didn't think he was going to be a big part of the weekend anyway."

Leader Scott on the 11th, put for birdie. Green shirt, cream slacks, putter almost up to his chin. Slow break left to right, just sliding past. Fred Couples, so often on the early Masters leaderboard that it's almost a cliche, has birdied 15 to go to two under.

Par three, 155 yards

Rae's Creek lies at the front of the green on the shortest par three on the course and one of the most famous holes in the world. The wind can alter club selection from anything between a six and nine iron and, if Rae's wasn't enough, three bunkers protect the putting surface. Players walk across the Ben Hogan Bridge to reach the green.

2013 average: 3.22 Rank: 7

Image source, Getty Images

On the 12th, the heart of Amen Corner, Charl Schwartzel has gone for a swim. Thorbjorn Olesen has followed him off the tee and into a bunker, while the beanpole Jim Furyk is in sand at the front of the green.

Image source, Empics

And so to the penultimate group of the day. Not a bad one it is fair to say. A total of 10 majors between the three and 48 Masters tournaments. Ernie Els, for all his golfing glories, has never won here, while Phil Mickelson may need a new wardrobe if he wins a fourth green jacket. There was a time when Justin Rose may have felt inferior alongside the pair, but the US Open champion now has a major behind him and will look to improve on his best finish here - tied fifth in 2007.

Thanks Mike. Are you all settled in? First night of the Masters, Augusta bathed in sunshine, spring has sprung. All present and correct. Who's leading then? Adam Scott? Again?

Rightio, Stephan Shemilt is back in on the live text buttons to take you through the next hour and a bit.

France's Victor Dubuisson is in the third to last group of players to tee off on the opening day at Augusta and he currently tops the Ryder Cup European points list ahead of Jamie Donaldson, Thomas Bjorn and Ian Poulter. He is joined on the tee by American Keegan Bradley and Sweden's Peter Hanson.

Jonas Blixt and Kevin Stadler, both home and hosed at two under, are among the nearest challengers to leader Adam Scott. American duo Gary Woodland and Bill Haa, Scotland's Stephen Gallagher and Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee are the the others.

"Anybody, on their day, can win this tournament". Those were the words of Scotland's Stephen Gallacher yesterday and he certainly seems to be believing them as a birdie on the par three sixth has just moved him to within two of the lead. It is his first run around Augusta. A solid start for the 39-year-old.

England's former world number one Luke Donald has given himself two shots to make up on the rest over the next 71 holes by double-bogeying the first. None too clever that.

-4 Scott (Aus) after 10; - 2 K Stadler 18, Blixt (Swe) 18, Snedeker (US) 11, Gallacher (Sco) 6.

Selected others:-1 Stricker (US) 12, McIlroy (NI) 9, Lyle (Sco) 7; E Fowler (US) 13, Molinari (Ita) 1; +1 McDowell (NI) 13, Donaldson (Wal) 10, +2 Clarke (NI) 6, +3 Poulter (Eng) 15, +6 Lynn (Eng) 18

Image source, Reuters

Sudden there is a frenzy of movement at the top of the leaderboard.

Defending champion Adam Scott birdies 10 to move into sole possession of the lead with a birdie three at 10. Brandt Snedeker drops back to two under as he bogies the tricky 11th while Miguel Angel Jimenez is sliding out of contention with a double bogey five on 12. He is one under.

Joost Luiten, a former ski jumper who gave up the sport when a fall left him with a fractured elbow and nose, has just become the first Dutch professional to play in the event since Gerry De Wit 50 years ago. De Wit and Luiten are the only two Dutch professionals to have competed in the Masters tournament.

Miguel Angel Jimenez is in the drink on the par-three 12th. Is his round creaking at the seams? He is in deep discussions with his caddy, eyes hidden behind some mirrored wraparound shades.

"Ball right!" hollers Brandt Snedeker as he wallops his tee-shot into the crowd lining the 11th fairway. He will be playing his second from a patron's lap and has plenty to do to make par.

Hole 11 snares another victim. It is playing to an average of 4.57 before leader Miguel Angel Jimenez comes through and that figure will creep a little higher as the Spaniard misses left with an eight-foot par putt.

He drops back into a three-way tie for the lead with Brandt Snedeker and Adam Scott, both of whom have the 11th in their sights.

Steve Stricker is also mugged of a stroke on the par-4 505-yard 11. The American is back to two under which means that Brandt Snedeker and Adam Scott, both three under, are leading the chase of Miguel Angel Jimenez on four under.

Image source, Getty Images

Rory McIlroy hands a shot back at the eighth to slip to one under.