Disgraced world number one Woods, welcomed back from self-imposed exile by cheering crowds at Augusta National, soared into contention with two eagles to lie two strokes off the early pace with two holes remaining.
While the 14-times major winner drew the day’s biggest gallery, 1992 champion Couples fired a six-under-par 66 to take command of the year’s opening major.
Maintaining the loose-limbed form that has swept him to victories in his last three starts on the seniors tour, the 50-year-old American birdied four of the last seven holes to break clear of the field.
On a gripping day featuring sudden weather changes and electric displays by several former champions, 60-year-old Tom Watson defied his age to share second place on 67 with fellow American Phil Mickelson, Britain’s Lee Westwood and South Korea’s Yang Yong-eun.
American Anthony Kim birdied the last three holes for a 68, finishing level with compatriot Nick Watney, while former winners Sandy Lyle of Britain and South African Trevor Immelman were on 69.
The main focus amid the Georgian pines and sloping greens was on four-times champion Woods who looked composed as he started one of the most eagerly anticipated rounds of all time.
Despite not having competed since winning the Australian Masters on Nov. 15 following stunning revelations about extra-marital affairs, he raced to the turn in three under following two birdies, a bogey and an eagle at the eighth where he coaxed in a curling eight-footer.
Woods, who had been tipping his cap to the crowds on every hole, bogeyed 10 and 14 but comfortably birdied 13 before rolling in a nine-footer to eagle the par-five 15th.
The 34-year-old, who had never before recorded two eagles in one round at Augusta, raised his putter in celebration.
Under leaden skies, the galleries were packed at least five-deep all the way down the opening hole to watch Woods start what media experts predict will be the biggest single-day television audience for a U.S. golf event.
EMOTIONAL STATE
While Woods had to be feeling a little anxious about his emotional state of mind, he offered a warm smile as he shook hands with playing partners KJ Choi of South Korea and American Matt Kuchar on the first tee.
The official starter announced: “On the tee, Tiger Woods”, prompting loud cheering by the fans crammed on either side of the fairway in front of the imposing clubhouse at Augusta.
There were calls of “Go Tiger”, not a hint of heckling, and plenty of hooting and hollering in the loudest applause the world number one has received all week.
While Woods began his opening round in strengthening winds, eight-times major winner Watson was putting the finishing touches to a vintage display.
The veteran, who came agonisingly close to the most remarkable major victory of all time before losing the 2009 British Open at Turnberry in a playoff, rolled in a five-footer to birdie the last before throwing his arm skywards.
“I did what I had to do today and took advantage of some of the holes that you could take advantage of at Augusta National,” Watson told reporters.
“I had a little bit of a different frame of mind going into this week. It seemed to help a little bit. The last four or five years I’ve gone into the tournament feeling like the course was too big for me.”
