Woods finds a decent lie despite sticking it into the hoards of spectators flanking the course. The American punches it low out of the trees and it just flirts with the edge of the green. A good chance for par.

Tommy Fleetwood, meanwhile, coaxes his approach into position for a shot at birdie.

Iain Carter
BBC Sport commentator at Augusta National

Tiger Woods has often struggled on big opening tee shots - remember his lost ball at the 2003 Open Championship and finding the water off the tee at the start of the 2006 Ryder Cup.

The first has often caused him problems at Augusta as well, so perhaps no surprise that his drive went left into the trees for his first Masters stroke since 2015.

Interestingly he eschewed the driver for the tee shot, opting for a three wood. It was still a nervy opener.

Alistair Bruce-Ball
BBC Radio 5 live at Augusta National

It's fair to say the TV cameras at Augusta National have been totally and utterly obsessed with Tiger Woods this morning. All I've seen from the pictures in the media centre is Woods, going through his warm-up routine on the driving range, seeing every single shot from his pitching wedge through to his driver, and then his journey to the first tee with a cameraman furiously back-pedalling as Tiger marched purposefully towards him.

The BBC radio 5 live Masters sweepstake is also done, our correspondent Iain Carter pulled Woods' name out of the hat but has now just seen Woods pull his opening tee shot into the trees down the left-hand side of the first fairway. Neither man is happy with that.

Image source, Getty Images

Tommy Fleetwood is out alongside Tiger Woods today, as well as Australian Marc Leishman.

The Englishman says "it can't get better" than being paired with the 14-time major winner.

"The first ever Masters I watched was 1997 when Tiger won his first - 21 years on I'm drawn with him. It's just brilliant," said Fleetwood, 27.

"To be playing alongside him is very cool."

And it's the best tee shot of the lot from Fleetwood, who finds the fairway from the first.

I'm not sure you could pack anymore people around that first tee. Tiger Woods opts for his three wood, pops one down field but it drifts left.

A wince from the 14-time major champion, he's not too happy with that. It's nestled among the spectators, and there'll be a fight on to find that ball.

Tiger Woods is going through his final warm up shots. A touch of putting amid the buzz of expectant spectators. In outfit news, the 42-year-old has opted for a simple black Nike jumper - the sort your dad wears to clean out the shed, except Tiger makes it look a lot cooler.

Iain Carter
BBC Sport commentator at Augusta National

It is an extraordinary thought that he is back considering that last year he was here at the champions dinner and he was only able to sit with immense pain with his back burning because of the nerve damage.

He is a genuine contender. He has come back stronger, fitter and better than anyone expected, including himself. He has definitely tightened up but the swing speed is there.

He partnered with Phil Mickelson in a practice round and that shows he's in a different place mentally. He's allowing a friendship with his greatest career rival to flourish.

I saw him eagle the 15th and he looked so relaxed and at ease. I think he has a very good chance of winning a fifth Masters this week.

Image source, Getty Images

• Four Green Jackets

• Claimed first with 12-shot victory in 1997

• Three wins from 2001 to 2005
• Eleven top-five finishes at Augusta
• First Masters appearance in three years
• Thirteen years since last Augusta triumph

"TIGER, TIGER...."

And that's just the chant from my boss. Better give the people what they want.

Yes, in 20 minutes or so the 14-time major champion will take to the first tee, no doubt followed by every spectator who's shelled out for a ticket at Augusta National.

Apparently, he's got history here...

Image source, Allsport

Image source, Getty Images

I keep readying myself to bring you some build-up to Tiger Woods' return, and then an old Masters winner goes and pops down another birdie.

Two on the bounce for Vijay Singh, which takes him to the top of the, admittedly very sparse, early leaderboard.

Ashley Davis: Mohammad Ali to come back from jail a lifetime ban from boxing being broke and stripped of his title to beat Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle.

Daniel Griffiths: Rodger Federer winning the 2017 Australian open

John Quirk: Best sporting comeback - broke my right collarbone playing indoor footy age 32. Decided to give it up. Eight years later, got tempted out of retirement for a seniors' team. First game back, I broke my left collarbone. Not played since

John opting for 'most painful sporting comeback' there. Loving them, keep your stories coming...

Image source, Getty Images

Two years ago, Danny was champion of the world. Now, Danny has dropped to his lowest ranking in almost decade.

England's Danny Willett was a shock winner at Augusta in 2016, helped by Jordan Spieth's spectacular meltdown, but is now down to 296th in the world after struggling with injuries and loss of form.

He withdrew from last month's Arnold Palmer Invitational with a shoulder injury and has managed just one top-20 finish in the past 14 months.

"I am finally playing pain-free,” Willett, who goes out with American pair Jason Dufner and Kyle Stanley, tells the Daily Mirror., external "I haven’t had a pain-killer for 10 weeks now. Before that, there wasn’t a day that went by without one for five years.

"We want to take the best bits of what we had before and keep using them, and then change a few of the bits that have been letting us down. Hopefully, it is a new and improved version."

Iain Carter
BBC Sport commentator at Augusta National

There was a discernible buzz on the range when Tiger arrived to begin his warm up ahead of his first Masters appearance since 2015.

The four-times champion, dressed all in black for this return to his favourite golfing stage.

He began his routine with his wedges and worked his way through to the driver - which must behave this week if he is to land a fifth Green Jacket.

More former Masters champions then you can shake a nine-iron at. There is a flurry of star names gathering at the first tee, including Danny Willett, Sergio Garcia, and some fella called Tiger...

14:58: D Willett (Eng), K Stanley (US), J Dufner (US)

15:31: Z Johnson (US), M Kaymer (Ger), B Grace (SA)

15:42: T Woods (US), M Leishman (Aus), T Fleetwood (Eng)

15:53: S Garcia (Spa), J Thomas (US), D Redman (US)*

16:04: B Watson (US), H Stenson (Swe), J Day (Aus)

Then there's a little lull in the star groupings before a cast worthy of a Tarantino film populate the final four groups...

18:27: P Mickelson (US), R Fowler (US), M Kuchar (US)

18:38: A Scott (Aus), R McIlroy (NI), J Rahm (Spa)

18:49: J Spieth (US), A Noren (Swe), L Oosthuizen (SA)

19:00: J Rose (Eng), D Johnson (US), R Cabrera-Bello (Spa)

There's Vijay Singh rolling back the years!

Another one of the past Masters winners is out early doors at Augusta National, and reminding everyone he's still got it.

Having won the Green Jacket in 2000, Singh hasn't made the cut at a Masters in his past two tournaments.

He's off the mark in 2018 with a birdie at the first.

Image source, Getty Images

Right then, some breaking news for you, and it comes from the Tony Finau camp...

If you missed the par-three contest last night, you may not have seen the remarkable moment the American shot a hole-in-one on the seventh, only to dance down the fairway and appear to turn over on his ankle.

The 28-year-old confirmed he did dislocate his ankle, only to pop it straight back in and x-rays then showed no break, he said he was "optimistic" about teeing off today, and we're now hearing reports that after an MRI scan he's been cleared to play.

Ouchy. That's not the start Harry Ellis was looking for.

The 22-year-old amateur played Augusta several times during his stint in the States as a student, but the Englishman has just carded a double bogey on his first ever competitive Masters hole.

Plenty of work to do, but plenty of time to sort it out.

Now, I know you'll all be sitting at home or in the office, or on the beach if you're lucky, telling anyone who'll listen who you're backing to win the Masters and why, so here is our pundits' take...

BBC Sport's Iain Carter, Ken Brown, Eilidh Barbour, Rishi Persad, Andrew Cotter & Sean Micheel reveal who they think will be slipping into the Green Jacket come Sunday evening.

Image source, Getty Images

Ryan Moore remains the only man currently under par on the leaderboard, but after opening successive birdies he's dropped a shot with a bogey at the par-four third.

It's been a tricky start for Canada's Mike Weir and American Ted Potter Jr, who are both two over.