The soundtrack is back. Mother Nature, in cooperation with the Masters Tournament competition committee, made sure of that.

A day after Masters and Augusta National Golf Club Chairman Billy Payne said the criticisms of the golf course and the lack of excitement in recent years hurt his feelings, the club set out to prove it still has what it takes to put on the best show in major championship golf.

Red replaced green as the official tournament color Thursday as the course gave up so many birdies and eagles that the pines echoed with the cherished hymn of Augusta National -- roars.

"It is exciting for us when there is a buzz like that out there," Padraig Harrington said. "When you hear a lot of cheers around, it makes you a little bit more anxious to be part of that. Just a little more urgency to make sure you are making birdies, too."

Payne used an analogy Wednesday to describe how he feels about the stinging criticism that the course's changes have snuffed the life out of the Masters.

"It's like when you go to a piano recital of one of your granddaughters and you hear somebody say, 'Boy, that's the worst kid I've ever seen,' " Payne said. "It hurts your feelings."

So on a perfect Thursday with warm sunshine and moderate breezes, they used every favorable tool in their setup arsenal to ensure the course's defenses were at a minimum and that scoring opportunities were at a premium.

"They must have felt sorry for us," said Chad Campbell, who opened with a record five consecutive birdies and threatened to break the all-time major championship scoring record before two closing bogeys made him settle for the lead at 7-under 65.

Said Harrington: "Today was definitely one of the more generous days ever around Augusta."

How easy was it?

It was so easy that three senior citizens broke par.

It was so easy that 2007 champ Zach Johnson actually went for and reached the par-5 15th in two.

It was so easy that Tiger Woods almost broke 70 for the first time in a Masters first round.

"It was a day you definitely wanted to shoot in the 60s," said Harrington, who shot 69 to be one of the record 19 players with sub-70 opening rounds.

You have to admire the confidence that Augusta National has in its course that they can make a statement like Thursday. Convinced that foul weather was to blame for the recent somberness of the tournament, they put a little pop in the first round and challenged players to go as low as they could.

Forward markers shocked players when they reached the first tee, and a members-only front pin on the second green signaled that this setup would not be like any other.

"They were nice pins," said Carl Jackson, Ben Crenshaw's caddie, carrying a bag in his 48th Masters. "I think they were trying to make an effort to get more excitement back in the Masters. They tried. They made a good effort, and I don't think they should shy away from it. They rewarded good shots."

Surprisingly, it also rewarded some of the most modest hitters in golf. A course that has the reputation of being a bomber's paradise was disproportionately kind to plinkers Thursday. Some of that could be attributed to a favorable westerly wind.

"Sometimes the longer you hit it on this golf course, the tighter it gets," said the short-hitting Jim Furyk, who shot 66. "I think that the firm, fast conditions allow the shorter or midlength hitter an opportunity here."

Now that the club has proved that the course is not ruined and the roars are not extinguished, their generosity should not be taken for granted the next couple of days. In addition, thunder showers forecast for Friday might soften the course a little and make it a tougher grind for old-timers near the top, such as Larry Mize.

"At some point this week I expect to play a golf course that is really difficult," Harrington said. "Because we are playing a major championship. So at some stage, you really expect to be tested right to the end of your limits."

Augusta National can still do that test with the best of courses. But the club just wanted to let everybody know who is in control -- weather permitting.

This granddaughter can still play a pretty good tune on the piano and restore the roars when she feels like it.

Reach Scott Michaux at (706) 823-3219 or scott.michaux@augustachronicle.com.