Rose on top of leaderboard; Tiger fails to break 70

AUGUSTA, Ga. ¿î The Masters had a familiar feel Thursday, from the warmth of a spring garden to the pockets of cheers that celebrated spectacular shots, even to some of the names on the leaderboard.

Justin Rose was at the top after 18 holes, the third straight time he's managed that.

Tiger Woods couldn't break 70 on the first day for the 12th straight year.

The four-time Masters champion failed to make a birdie at Augusta National for the first time since the opening round in 2003, although there was no reason to panic. He chipped in for eagle from 25 feet behind the 15th green to salvage an even-par 72, leaving him four shots behind Rose and co-leader Trevor Immelman.

Woods didn't sound terribly worried.

"I played a lot better than what my score indicates," he said. "I kept myself in the tournament. I'm right there."

So is Rose, and that's becoming a tradition like no other at the Masters ¿î at least on Thursday.

The 27-year-old Englishman overcame a sluggish start with four straight birdies that carried him to a 68. The trick now is to figure out how to stay there over the next three days.

Rose led through 36 holes in 2004 until stumbling to an 81 in the third round. He was tied for the lead after 18 holes last year and stayed in the hunt all week until a late collapse on Sunday.

"Eventually you've got to say, 'OK, it's time to step up,'" Rose said. "But I'm not putting too much pressure on myself."

Pressure might come from the course.

Unlike last year, when Augusta was brisk and brittle and the scores were among the highest in history, a warm afternoon of sunshine and only a light breeze brought back some of the scoring ¿î and sounds of cheering ¿î on the fabled course.

"I think the golf course is right where they want it," Rose said. "They can take it whichever direction they would like. If they want to create some birdies, they can do that. And if they want to make par a good score, that could be done. It's probably perfect right now."

Immelman played that way, keeping bogeys off his card in his best start at the Masters. Perhaps it was only a coincidence that Rose, Immelman and Ian Poulter made a weekend getaway to Augusta last month for prac- tice.

Poulter was at 70 and drew the loudest cheer with his hole-in-one on the 16th hoe.

Masters rookie Brian Bateman, Brandt Snedeker and Lee Westwood were at 69, which defending champion Zach Johnson, Jim Furyk and Stephen Ames among those in the group at 70.

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 ¿î a few of those Augusta roars ¿î 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.