For 15 years, Charles Howell has trumpeted the praises of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters. It's only fitting that he made his long-awaited debut wearing striped pants suitable for the Masters marching band.

"They're great," Howell said Thursday of his tapered white slacks with the Masters green ribbon down the outer seams. "I love 'em. It fits my personality well, because I can take the grief."

Howell, who shot a 2-over 74, experienced enough grief for one day. It started with a few guffaws on the practice range from Tiger Woods and others regarding his fashion sense.

Even his mother, Debra, couldn't resist a dig, saying she stayed up late the night before "hemming his prison pants."

His new fashion statement earned mixed reviews, earning comparisons ranging from a Boston Celtics bench warmer to the Good Humor Guy.

"They're more of a tuxedo-style golf pants, with Augusta influence on the colors," said the equally chic Jesper Parnevik.

The color Howell enjoyed seeing most Wednesday was red. After birdies at Nos. 3 and 5 moved Howell to 1-under, his name showed up on the leaderboards - exactly where he's dreamed of being since attending his first Masters, won by fellow Augustan Larry Mize, in 1987.

"I wish I had a camera," said Debra Howell as she gazed up at the scoreboard on the sixth hole.

Howell saw it as well.

"It caught me off guard when I glanced up and saw my name up there," he said. "I said, 'Wow!' That's where I want it. I want to be at the top of it, and, as I've said, to win here would be unbelievable. But just to see your name on the leaderboard, you can't win without your name there."

Howell's round made for tense viewing from his family outside the ropes. Debra Howell and Dr. Charlie Howell displayed more nerves and frustrations than their son. Charles' wife, Heather, couldn't watch at some points.

His younger brother Ben, on the other hand, just wandered around with friends and had a blast.

"I don't get all nervous like they do," he said.

Howell stuck it close for birdies on Nos. 3, 5 and 8 only to offset them on the front nine with bogeys at Nos. 1, 6 and 9 because of errant tee shots. A frustrating three-putt at 11 turned what looked like a birdie into a bogey, and a gust of wind forced his 8-iron to fly the 16th green into the bunker, where he saved double bogey after his sand shot rolled into the pond.

A textbook birdie on the grueling 18th left him at 74.

"Hey, for a first time I think I did OK," he said.

Playing with three-time champion Gary Player and Argentine Jose Coceres, Howell teed off in the group immediately behind defending champion Tiger Woods.

It began with the simple phrase from first-tee starter Phil Harison: "Next on the tee, Charles Howell III."

"It was almost surreal," Howell said of the moment.

Augusta National member Jeff Knox, who played with Howell across Rae's Creek at Augusta Country Club, made a point of finding his way to the tee to see Howell's first swing.

"It makes you feel kind of proud," Knox said.

Howell's next quest is to stick around for the weekend by making the cut, something he did for 25 straight tournaments before slipping at the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta last week.

Whatever happens, Howell will do it in style.

"I think a lot of players out here dress really boring," he said. "When I stepped on the practice tee, I could hear people in the stands laughing and talking. It gets people's attention."