For Carlos Franco, making a living at a game that is foreign to most of his countrymen is only half the story.

``Where I come from, it is very poor,'' said Franco, after firing an opening-round even-par 72 in his Masters Tournament debut Thursday. ``It was very, very difficult.''

As a youngster, Franco and his six siblings lived in a one-room shack that had a dirt floor. Out back, there was an outhouse and a well for bathing.

When he first took up golf, he played barefoot with borrowed clubs, and the balls he used were fished out of water hazards on the local course.

At one time, he caddied for $3 a round to help support his family. The past two years, Franco has amassed more than $1 million on the Japanese Tour. He now supports more than 30 relatives and countless others through charitable donations back home.

``I am not thinking about the poor people when I'm playing golf,'' the 33-year-old said through an interpreter. ``When I am not playing golf, I am very, very concerned.''

For a while Thursday afternoon, his storybook tale neared epic proportions. When he picked up his fourth birdie of the round at No. 11 to go to 4-under, Franco glanced at the leaderboard and was stunned to see his name on top.

``I was very nervous on the first hole,'' he said. ``Even after I was leading, I had a nice feeling, but I was still very nervous. Then an accident happened.''

Franco bogeyed the par-3 12th, double-bogeyed No. 15 and bogeyed No. 16. He was the only player on Thursday to reach 4-under par.

``I hit the ball straight today but have no experience on this course, which is very important here,'' Franco said. ``I didn't give up after 12 or 15 because you play 18 holes. I am very aggressive. A player who doesn't risk anything doesn't win anything.''

When he first started playing, Franco had nothing to risk. From his impoverished background, his rise in golf is remarkable.

According to Golfweek, there are only 28 golf professionals in Paraguay. Six of them are Franco brothers, while their late father, Francisco Javier Franco, was a greenskeeper at Asuncion Golf Club.

At his father's club, Franco saw his first Masters on television. Though he doesn't recall the year, he remembers watching and idolizing Jack Nicklaus and Seve Ballesteros.

``I liked Jack the most because he is very aggressive,'' Franco said. ``Just like me.''

Franco has won 29 amateur and professional tournaments worldwide, with five victories in Japan since 1994. Last November, he went to Q-School and earned his PGA Tour card, then played in the President's Cup last December. He is currently 46th in the World Golf Ranking.

Franco now lives with his wife, Celsa, and sons Carlos Jr. and Ramon in a two-story, five-bedroom home in Asuncion.

``I feel very lucky,'' he said.

Though Franco is now a national hero in Paraguay, he remains a virtual unknown in the United States. With a few more rounds like Thursday's, that could change quickly.

``I have a lot of confidence,'' Franco said. ``I think I can create something here and surprise the people.''