A grand opening

7:31 a.m. Arnie's Army charges again. Patrons who had been waiting for the gates to open at 7:30 pour through and speedwalk (no running allowed) to the first tee.
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Augusta doctor witnessed Masters' birth, growth

The New York Times obituary of Gene Sarazen hangs in a frame in the house on the Hill where Dr. Ed Bailey has lived for more than 50 years. It is a Bailey family favorite, for obvious reasons.
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Opening is tough on No. 1

There was no easing into the 71st Masters Tournament.
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Not even a 76 can ruin Quigley's day

From his yardage book, Brett Quigley whipped out a photo of his newborn daughter Thursday afternoon.
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Round is 1 that got away

OK, Tiger Woods rooters. Take a chill pill.
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Erratic Mickelson shows his resiliency

Phil Mickelson usually does his best to avoid moments like the one that confronted him seven holes into Thursday's opening round of the Masters Tournament.
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Augustans range from high to low

Vaughn Taylor had a hot putter Thursday. Charles Howell was a little hot about his.
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Taylor's round is near picture-perfect

Lynn Taylor was mesmerized by the scene. Standing there in the 18th fairway in complementing black outfits were her son and Gary Player: separated by 40 years, 48 Masters Tournament starts and three green jackets, yet side by side walking up to the green.
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Youthful Player has no regrets

Gary Player is the opposite of a Masters Tournament rookie.
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Watson isn't upset after opening 75

For five holes Thursday, it seemed like old times at Augusta National Golf Club for Tom Watson.
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Seve's return turns into a painful ordeal

Seve Ballesteros missed fairways and greens throughout Thursday's first round of the Masters Tournament, and finished the day next to last, just ahead of an amateur.
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Aces are rare feats on tough par-3s

Holes-in-one are hard to come by in the Masters Tournament. Since the inaugural event at Augusta National Golf Club in 1934, only 18 aces have been made on the course's four par-3s.
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Two of five amateurs still in mix

Amateur Dave Womack normally doesn't smile or crack jokes after a poor round.
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1st day of action ends up as one of career's worst

Troy Matteson, a three-time All-American at Georgia Tech, charged at the end of his rookie season on the PGA Tour to qualify for his first Masters Tournament based on his money list ranking. Matteson was a first-time PGA Tour winner in October at the Las Vegas event. The 27-year-old Alpharetta, Ga., resident has agreed to share his daily thoughts with The Augusta Chronicle during his Masters debut.
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Masters notebook

Take the shot: David Toms was the last player to tee off in the first round and played the last several holes as daylight faded.
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Fans corner

FAMILY AFFAIR: USC Aiken women's basketball coach Mike Brandt and his 12-year-old daughter, Amaura, were among the thousands taking in the first round of the Masters Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Who's hot, who's not

Justin Rose's two-year absence from the Masters didn't hurt him Thursday. He shot 3-under 69 to share the lead.
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Best seat in the house

Karen Woodbury's alarm went off at 3:50 a.m. Thursday.
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What they're saying

This year also marked the first time (Tiger) Woods played Augusta without his father. Earl Woods died last May after a long bout with cancer, and when Woods dropped by the golf writers' dinner to pick up yet another player of the year award on the eve of the tournament, he repeated something his father told him during one of their last conversations. It couldn't have been more succinct.
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Shot of the Day

Chip-in on No. 12: Vaughn Taylor could feel the momentum slipping away after he three-putted the 11th hole. Then his tee shot on the par-3 12th came up short and found the front bunker. No problem. The Augusta golfer holed out from the bunker for birdie and played 1-under par the rest of the way to open with 71.
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