Playing at the Augusta National Club on Thursday, Atwal bogeyed the fourth and fifth, and his sole birdie came on the eighth. On the back nine, he double bogeyed the 10th, 12th, 13th and 18th, but in between eagled the 15th.
Atwal, who played practice rounds with Tiger Woods, was unable to come to terms with the tough course. Woods shot one-under 71.
Current World No. 1 Martin Kaymer went for 78, while Lee Westwood shot even par and Phil Mickelson was two-under 70.
However, Asian Tour honorary members Y.E. Yang and K.J. Choi of Korea got off to a flying start at The Masters with matching five-under-par 67s in the opening round on Thursday.
They lie in tied third place two strokes from tournament leaders Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Alvaro Quiros of Spain at the Augusta National Golf Club.
Among some of the big guns at the back of the pack, was World No.1 Martin Kaymer of Germany, who shot 78, and Yang, Asia's first Major champion, made the turn in 32 before mixing his card with two birdies and one eagle against three bogeys in the back nine. He would have taken a share of the lead but slipped back with bogeys in the last two holes.
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