World number 31 Haas has yet to win a major but has pedigree in the tournament as his father Jay played in it 22 times, finishing fifth in 1995, and his great uncle Bob Goalby won the Masters in 1968.

Haas played a steady round to finish on four-under-par, scoring a birdie on the 18th hole.

"I was leading last week after the first round [at the Shell Houston Open] and finished 37th, so I know there's tons of golf left," said Haas, who shot under 70 at the Augusta National Golf Club for the first time in 17 rounds.

"And, maybe understanding that, I know that I can't expect too much.

"You've just got to go out there and keep playing golf, try to hit that fairway on number one tomorrow."

Scott has been backed by many to retain his title, particularly in the absence of world number one and four-time winner Woods, and he got his defence off to a steady start by negotiating the front nine in 33 and hitting the front after birdying the 10th hole.

Australian Bill Haas has made an impressive start at the US Masters and leads the field after the first day's play ©Getty Images



But the 33-year-old hit trouble at the 12th, which proved to be the most difficult hole on the course today, and dropped three shots after finding the famous Rae's Creek from the tee.

A birdie at 14 followed by a par-run to the finish saw Scott finish on three-under, where he was joined by 2012 champion Bubba Watson of the United States and the man he beat in that year's play-off, Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa.

Watson picked up shots on the third, 13th and 15th and parred the other 15 holes, while former Open champion Oosthuizen came through the front nine in three-under and despite a couple of wayward shots managed to reach the clubhouse on the same score.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy ended his round with a bogey at the 18th hole to finish three shots off the lead ©Getty Images



Tournament favourite Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland got off to a "solid start" as he chases his first Masters title in a tournament due to finish on Sunday (April 13).

The two-time major winner is one of 19 players lying on one-under par after the first round and got his campaign off to a promising start by being two-up through the first five holes, but a bogey at the eighth followed by another at the tricky 12th threatened to sour his first day.

But the 24-year-old picked up two shots at the 13th and 15th but will be ruing his approach to the 18th when he found a bunker forcing him to leave a difficult 30-foot putt for birdie.

The world number nine ended up three putting the last to finish with a bogey.

McIlroy nevertheless appeared to be satisfied with his day's work afterwards.

"It was a good day," he said.

"It was solid.

"I think that they [Augusta Golf Club] set the course up very difficult.

"Some of the pin positions were tough to get close to.

"The greens are firming up.

"The wind was all over the place.

"Anything under par was a good score."

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