Greg Norman brought the roars back to the Masters Tournament on Thursday, and he heard one voice above all the others: that of wife, cheerleader and now golf muse, Chris Evert.

Greg Norman walks to the seventh green with his caddie, son Gregory Norman. Competing in his first Masters since 2002, Norman matched his third-best start at Augusta National. "Everything seems like it's falling into place to some degree," he said. (Rainier Ehrhardt/Staff)

"I know exactly where she is, and I know her voice, too," Norman said. "She likes me to know where she is, too, which is great."

Norman let the rest of the field and a vocal number of patrons know that his game is in great shape by shooting 2-under-par 70.

The 54-year-old is five shots behind the leader, Chad Campbell.

Thursday was Norman's 79th Masters round but his first since marrying Evert last summer.

The tennis legend followed the golfer known as the Shark around Augusta National Golf Club, and Norman responded much the way he did in July in the British Open, where he led going into the final round and finished in a tie for third, earning a trip back to Augusta.

"When you have that really good support behind you, it really makes you feel good," Norman said.

"I'm getting a little more focused into the game. Everything seems like it's falling into place to some degree," he said.

Norman should feel comfortable heading into today's second round. His 70 on Thursday equals his third-best start in the Masters, and he has finished outside the top 10 only once when opening with such a low score.

Evert's presence might be enough for him to ward off his Masters demons.

Norman has elicited more groans than roars at Augusta National over his career. He has finished second or third six times and is notorious for Masters misses.

He lost the 1987 tournament on Larry Mize's miracle playoff chip-in and the 1996 Masters when he shot 5-over-par 77 to go from six shots up to start the final round to five strokes down at sunset.

Norman isn't the Norman of back then, though.

He's no longer dealing with expectations that only Tiger Woods could appreciate.

He has succeeded as a businessman. His children are grown, and his son, Gregory, serves as his caddie. He is married to a woman he considers his true love.

Gregory summed up his father's on-the-course mentality after Thursday's round.

"We're going to keep our heads down and have fun," he said.

The Normans would have had an even better day Thursday if Greg could have made a few more putts.

He missed four inside five feet, including a 3-footer for birdie at No. 18.

Playing partner Bernhard Langer, who also shot 2-under-par 70, said Norman had many opportunities.

"He's playing well and driving the ball very well," said Langer, who won the 1985 and 1993 Masters. "He could have been two or three shots better."