Tiger Woods tees off at the 2010 Masters

Tiger Woods began the challenge of winning a fifth green jacket when he hit the first shot at the 2010 Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.

Tiger Woods waves to the gallery on the first tee during the first  round of the 2010 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club  in Augusta, Georgia.(AFP/Getty Images/Jamie Squire)

The opening round of the years first Major championship marks the Americans return to golf after a Thanksgiving night car wreck led to revelations of numerous extramarital affairs. Woods is in the penultimate group and was playing alongside K.J. Choi and Matt Kuchar.

The current world number one received a warm welcome as he approached the first. Woods successfully hit his drive into the fairway and put his second shot within about 15 feet of the cup. The American made another par at the second but claimed his first birdie of the tournament at the third, the shortest par-4 hole on the famous course. However the unpredictable weather in the region could curtail Tigers opening round, with heavy rain and stormy weather predicted to move over the course within hours.