Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Augusta National

Adam Scott says he was the victim of a wind-up by some of the past Masters winners at the Champions Dinner on Tuesday.

"I was a little nervous," he said. "I had no idea what to expect. I didn't really speak to anyone. A couple of the guys were winding me up, asking whether I had picked my song. It's like, really? I may be a little gullible. That was pretty funny."

Scott, who sat next to MC Ben Crenshaw at the head of the table, did however, have to give a speech as they tucked into his Moreton Bay Bugs, Aussie BBQ and his mum's pavlova.

"All I had to say was really how grateful I am to the golf club here at Augusta National for everything that I've been able to experience in the last 12 months, and how everyone in that room has been an inspiration to me, and that was kind of it in a nutshell.

"I probably rambled a little more than that, but that was about it. It's quite hard to address a room with all the guys that you've looked up to forever."

Lee Westwood with a handsome right to left fade on his tee shot, makes a good start down the 14th fairway.

Bubba Watson tidies up the loose ends for a par on 17 and will head down the last with the chance to make up a shot on leader Bill Haas. The odds are not great down the 18th though. Three birdies have been made compared to 28 bogies.

Image source, AFP

Louis Oosthuizen talking to Sky Sports after a three-under par 69 to be tied second:

"I just got in the right spots on the green. I wanted to give myself putts for birdies. The greens were quite slick today but I putted really well."

David Milne:, external Is it more prestigious to win the Masters or The Open? I'm still a Claret Jug man myself.

Tim Southon:, external I don't know why you would back anyone other than Adam Scott in the majors. He's solid as a rock when it matters.

Fun and games for Lee Westwood on 13. The Englishman had to leap back over a little brook surrounding the green and only the ballast on the front prevented him toppling back into the drink from his steep landing site.

He escapes with a par and a dry pair of trousers to remain on one under.

Image source, Reuters

Phil Mickelson drops a shot at 14 and slips back to two over.

Jay Townsend
BBC Radio 5 live summariser

"The leaderboard we see and the surprises we see at the opening day of the Masters are up there. I am surprised the scoring is not lower for a first round. This is the easiest it will play, it will firm up and play more difficult. Looking at the forecast, five or six under could be a winning score. I am intrigued by the lack of low scores."

Augusta admitted its first women members in 2012 when former national security adviser Condoleeza Rice and business supermo Darla Moore were measured up for green jackets. It was 1990 before they admitted their first black member.

Anyway, some have said that golf struggles to extend its appeal beyond its traditional markets.

Andy Bull in The Guardian, external and Paul Hayward in the Daily Telegraph, external have been looking at the challenges the sport faces.

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Augusta National

Adam Scott said the reception he received around Augusta as defending Masters champion will live with him forever.

"It was a thrill, really," he said. "The reception into every green and almost every tee box was incredible, and the best one, the memory that will stick with me forever today was walking up to the 12th tee and everyone getting out of their seats as I approached there.

"It was great, the level of respect that everyone has for this golf tournament and what happens here, but then I went and hit it in the water."

So far Lee Westwood is following that template Will. He is plugging away manfully out there and is looking neat and tidy on one under through 12.

Lee Grist:, external And that's exactly why I never bet on Sergio in the Majors, great player but mentally he'll never be strong enough.

Will Spencer:, external Same every year with Westwood, starts of steadily, does awesome day 2 and 3, then blows it on the final day.

Sergio Garcia holds it down to sink a par putt on 16. He is level par overall.

Handle with care, Bubba Watson is getting hot. A tee-shot to within a very makeable distance on the par-three 16th. It is a tricky line with sharp drops of each side and he can't quite pick a path. He stays at three under, but looks bang up for this tournament.

Image source, AP

Phil Mickelson is having a right old arm-wrestle with Augusta National today. He claws back a stroke with a solid birdie putt from seven feet or so on 13. One over overall.

Ernie Els gets his toes wet, clambering down into a creek at 13 to whack out. It stays the right side of a Jean van der Velde meltdown though. He is out and on the green.

Arghh! That is the sound of the demons crawling all over Sergio Garcia's putting stroke, the Spaniard screws a two-foot birdie putt, the ball worming past to gasps. He remains on level par and, if he keeps putting like that, will remain without a major.

Brandt Snedeker, external: Good start.. Now the fun starts... Tune in because the course is going to be beautiful and as fast as I have ever seen it!!

Bubba Watson for an eagle at 15.... on it's way. Knee flex, a putter flick, but Watson cannot convince it to steer in any earlier. He leaves it close though and should have a birdie for his troubles.

Down it goes and Watson is down to three under.

Justin Rose is leaking shots all over the perfect turf of Augusta. The Englishman is now six over after 12 and might want to check the cancellation policy on his weekend hotel booking.

American Jimmy Walker, who struck a first-round 70: "I'm very pleased with today. The four birdies in a row came as a result of some real quality golf shots.

"Butch Harmon has told me a lot of stuff, a lot about preparation and how not to overdo it."