JOIN USImpressive Woods shows his class
Disgraced world number one Woods, welcomed back from self-imposed exile by cheering crowds at Augusta National, soared into contention with two eagles on the way to a four-under 68 to lie two strokes off the pace.
"It's unbelievable," Woods told reporters after breaking 70 for the first time in the opening round at Augusta in his 16th Masters appearance. "I would think that a couple under par would have been probably a pretty good start.
"Everybody seemed to go low today and there are 30-plus guys under par. So the golf course, even though it was windy, it could be had today. If I putted well today, it could have been a really special round."
Asked about his rousing reception by the fans, Woods replied: "It was unbelievable all day. I haven't heard them cheer this loud in all my years here."
While the 14-times Major winner drew the day's biggest gallery, 1992 champion Couples fired a sizzling 66 in breezy conditions to take command of the year's opening Major.
Maintaining the loose-limbed form that has swept him to victories in his last three starts on the seniors tour, the 50-year-old American birdied four of the last seven holes to break clear of the field.
On a gripping day featuring sudden weather changes and electric displays by several former champions, 60-year-old Tom Watson defied his age to share second place on 67 with fellow American Phil Mickelson, Britain's Lee Westwood and South Koreans Yang Yong-eun and KJ Choi.
The main focus amid the Georgian pines and heavily contoured layout was on four-times champion Woods, who looked remarkably composed as he started one of the most eagerly anticipated rounds of all time under intense scrutiny.
Despite not having competed since winning the Australian Masters on Nov 15 following stunning revelations about his extra-marital affairs, he raced to the turn in three-under following two birdies, a bogey and an eagle at the eighth where he coaxed in a curling eight-footer.
Woods, who tipped his cap to the supportive crowds on every hole and repeatedly said "thank you," bogeyed 10 and 14 but comfortably birdied 13 before rolling in a nine-footer to eagle the par-five 15th.
The 34-year-old, who had never before recorded two eagles in one round at Augusta, raised his putter in celebration before lipping out with a four-foot birdie attempt at the last.
Leading scores (Round 1): 66: Fred Couples (US); 67: Tom Watson (US), Lee Westwood (Bri), Phil Mickelson (US), Yang Yong-eun (Kor), KJ Choi (Kor); 68: Anthony Kim (US), Nick Watney (US), Ian Poulter (Bri), Tiger Woods (US), Ricky Barnes (US); 69: David Toms (US), Sandy Lyle (Bri), Trevor Immelman (SA), Charl Schwartzel (SA), Adam Scott (Aus); 70: Francesco Molinari (Ita), Soren Kjeldsen (Den), Zach Johnson (US), Yuta Ikeda (Jap), Matt Kuchar (US).