Adam Scott has given himself a shot at winning a second Masters a decade after his historic first after enjoying a career-best start at Augusta National.
Scott marked the 10th anniversary of his landmark 2013 triumph with a first-round four-under par 68 to sit three shots off the early lead in a tie for fifth.
He is the leading Australian during the opening round, with British Open champion Cameron Smith signing for a 70 to be also in the mix.
But young guns Min Woo Lee and amateur Harrison Crowe both have work to do to make the halfway cut following opening rounds of three-over 75.
Scott wound back the clock on Thursday with a vintage display of ball striking and could easily have shot even lower with a touch of luck.
After recording back-to-back birdies on the second and third holes, he reeled off 10 consecutive pars before bursting to life late on the back nine.
He birdied the par-4 14th, then eagled the par-5 15th after a breathtaking six-iron approach over the water.
Scott was desperately unlucky not to have aced the par-3 16th, his ball spinning back and missing the cup by centimetres.
Unfortunately, he missed the birdie putt then another short attempt on No.17 before making his only bogey of the day on the last.
Still, the 42-year-old was well-placed ahead of what appears to be a wet and stop-start Masters.
He's opened with 69s three times before, including when he won in 2013, but never carded a first-round 68.
"I have to be satisfied with that," Scott said.
"But it was ideal conditions, still fairly soft out there with all the humidity and there were going to be low scores.
"There's no wind. So it was nice to get started in the right direction.
"You want to put yourself in the right spot early - any week you want to get off to a good start - but we just don't know what's going to happen and how the weather might affect the rest of the week.
"So if you're hanging around right from the start on a week like this it's probably helpful."
Norway's Viktor Hovland and Spanish superstar Jon Rahm share the clubhouse lead following seven-under 65s.
Hovland upstaged playing partner Tiger Woods (74) with his bogey-free round while Rahm recovered brilliantly from a first-hole double bogey with seven birdies and an eagle three on the eighth.
American Cameron Young carded a five-under 67 to be third among the early starters.
Scott's fellow Australian former world No.1 Jason Day teed off in the afternoon and was making a promising start, two under par through his front nine.