Rose, Immelman share the lead as Tiger sputters

Justin Rose overcame a rugged start with four straight birdies that carried him to a 4-under 68 and his name atop the leaderboard, which is becoming a tradition like no other _ at least on Thursday at the Masters.

It was the third straight time he has held at least a share of the 18-hole lead at Augusta National.

Trevor Immelman, who made a weekend getaway to Augusta a few weeks ago with Rose and Ian Poulter, also shot 68. They were one shot ahead of Lee Westwood, Brandt Snedeker and Masters rookie Brian Bateman.

Tiger Woods failed to make a birdie for the first time since the opening round in 2003, although there was no reason to panic. His lone highlight was chipping in for eagle from 25 feet behind the 15th, the ball falling on the final turn that sent Woods into a fist-pumping crouch. It helped him salvage an even-par 72, putting him in a tie for 19th, four shots behind.

"I played a lot better than what my score indicates," said Woods, who has never shot better than 70 in the first round of the Masters. "I kept myself in the tournament. I'm right there."

But he was hardly alone.

Eighteen players broke par on a warm, gentle day that might be as good as it gets this week _ receptive greens, only a trace of wind and several hole locations that allowed for birdies.

There were a few surprises, such as 51-year-old Mark O'Meara, who celebrated the 10-year anniversary of his green jacket with a 71. And among the familiar faces were Phil Mickelson, the '04 and '06 champion, who opened with an amazing birdie and settled for a 71.

There also was a familiar sound _ a few of those Augusta roars _ even if Woods didn't hear them.

"The way the golf course plays now, you don't really shoot low rounds here anymore," Woods said. "You've just got to plod along. It's playing more of a U.S. Open than it is a Masters. There was really one roar I heard all day, and that was Poulter's eagle. But other than that, it was really quiet."

Woods must not have been listening closely to a few familiar sounds on a warm, spring afternoon in golf's prettiest garden:

_ Mickelson was 60 feet over the first green in a walkway, his ball on pine straw. Using a putter, the ball scooted up the slope and rattled the pin before falling, turning bogey or worse into a birdie.

"It was at least a two-shot swing, possibly three," Mickelson said.

_ Defending champion Zach Johnson, hoping to prove last year was no fluke, could only shrug when his 45-foot birdie putt went up over a ridge and into the cup for a birdie on the fifth.

_ Poulter used an 8-iron from 169 yards on the 16th, watching the ball funnel down the slope and into the cup for an ace.

There was a big ovation again for Arnold Palmer, smacking his ceremonial tee shot so far that he never saw it land _ but that was only because of soupy fog that caused a one-hour delay. More cheers followed Gary Player up the 18th fairway as the three-time Masters champion set a record by playing for the 51st time. He shot 83.

"I heard some roars today," Arron Oberholser said after a 71, despite playing with injuries that will keep him out for two months after this tournament is over. "But this is about as easy as it's going to play for the week."

Rose was 2 over through four holes until making a slippery 6-foot birdie on the sixth, the first of his four straight birdies. He added two more on the 12th and 13th, and settled into pars the rest of the way to join some elite company _ Palmer, Player, Jack Nicklaus and Lloyd Mangrum are the only other players to have a first-round lead at least three times at the Masters.

Now if the Englishman can only figure out how to finish.

"I seem to throw the home run early," Rose said. "I've gone out there today with a really relaxed frame of mind, and that's obviously what I've got to recreate the rest of the week."

Immelman is getting close to full strength after a strange year of health problems. The South Africa lost 20 pounds (9 kilograms) because of a stomach parasite after last year's Masters, and late in the year had a benign tumor removed from his diaphragm.

He was in good company two weeks ago.

Rose, Immelman and Poulter flew up to Augusta for two days of practice, playing a few money games (Rose won) and sharing tips with each other. Immelman could only smile when he saw his mates on the leaderboard. Poulter was among those at 70.

"It's a great coincidence," Immelman said. "Hopefully, we keep it going."