Rose rewarded on return

Rose holed a bunker shot, took only 20 putts and handed in the only bogey-free scorecard of the opening round.

"It's exciting to go bogey-free on any course on any day, but at Augusta when the scoring is pretty high makes me very happy, that's for sure," he said.

It needed a birdie at the 17th for American debutant Brett Wetterich to join him, while Howell, without a top-20 finish all season, was right on their heels and alone in third place.

Tiger Woods, chasing his third successive major and 13th in all, was only four behind with four to play despite struggling with his swing, but defending champion Phil Mickelson matched his worst-ever round on the course - he even needed two late birdies for a 76 - and Ernie Els had his third worse score with a 78.

On his last appearance in 2004 Rose was the halfway pacesetter, but crashed to a third round 81 and then failed to qualify the next two years. He has been desperate to get back.

Howell had the only eagle of the day on the 530-yard 15th and that certainly made up for a double bogey on the fifth. He also had birdies at the seventh, eighth and 10th.

After six opening pars Woods had tree trouble on the 450-yard seventh and in the end had to make a nine-footer just to drop one shot. It took him until the 13th to register his first birdie.

Mickelson began as he did a year ago, with a bogey five after hitting his second into the guarding bunker, but although he rallied with a birdie at the third it flattered to deceive.

The left-hander, winner two of the last three years but with indifferent form coming in, turned in 40 and stood six over when he dropped further strokes at the 12th and 14th - either side of three-putting the long 13th for par.