(Follow Tom Spousta all week for real-time coverage of the Masters. Tom has written about golf for USA Today, the New York Times and other national publications.)

7:37 Like Dave C from Canada said, can't wait for the storylines and showdowns to play out on the weekend. Look forward to hearing from you during Friday's second round of the Masters.

7:34 What a day, what a leader board. And it will go down in the history books as nearly the kindest and gentlest first rounds at the Masters. A record 38 players broke par, shattering the old mark of 35 in 1992. And the 72.25 scoring average was the second lowest all-time, just above the 72.06 in 1992.

7:18 The drama never ends, does it? As frustrated as Woods looked today, he still had a chance to shoot his best Masters first round. Instead, it's another 70 ... if his putter was as hot as Campbell's, Woods could've shot 63.

6:53 There was nothing in Hunter Mahan's two previous Masters to offer a clue to his 6-under 66. He had never broken par 72 in tying for 28th in 2003 and missing the cut in 2008. Yet here he was making nine birdies (the Masters record is 10 by Nick Price in the third round in 1986) and overcoming a double-bogey at No. 11. But his round was indicative of the perfect scoring conditions and the fact some tees were moved up and pin placements being generously accessible. "It was a day to be had," Mahan said. Chad Campbell also made nine birdies ... don't count on things being as easy as they were today at Augusta National.

6:22 Davey M, USA ... No double eagles yet, but you never know. Gene Sarazen hit a wood for his famous double eagle, but nowadays most of these guys would need only a long iron to do it on the par 5s. Nobody would dare hit a driver off the fairway like they do at some non-major tournament courses.

6:11 Woods blasted his drive down the middle of 15 fairway. Eagle or birdie in his sights. Some great scores have been posted today, but here's my headline if he comes home strong: "Woods finally breaks 70 in Masters first round, look out above!" It's just an amazing statistic for the world's greatest player, and I think he's about to change that.

6:06 Hey, you gotta give some kudos to Chad Campbell, who just admitted that he was thinking about the course record when he got to 9 under. He knows you can't do that, but at least he was honest about it. He bogeyed the last two holes for a 65, but he can always say he put together the best start in Masters history with five opening birdies.

5:59 Scores obviously were low in the first round, and all the par 5s played under par. But the toughest hole at Augusta National on Thursday was a surprise to me ... it was the par 3 fourth, which played to a 3.75 average and relinquished only four birdies.

5:40 Woods might finally get some momentum. He just hit No. 13 green on his second shot, but needs to be careful just to two-putt for birdie. Still, his putter is stone cold. So far, he ranks 80th in putts with 21 through 12 holes.

5:24 Campbell bogeyed the 17th after hitting into a greenside bunker. He still has a chance to tie the course record with a birdie on 18. Campbell's 31 on the front nine has been shot only four other times in the first round of the Masters. Ken Venturi did it in 1960, Mike Donald in 1990, Jeff Sluman in 1992 and Padraig Harrington in 2002. None of the above went on to win the Tournament.

5:06 What a 5-under 67 by Larry Mize, the 50-year-old former champ who hadn't broken par here since a 67 in 2000. Mize needed only 24 putts. Here's Mize, 22 years after his playoff chip-in to beat Greg Norman, one stroke from the lead on the day Norman returns to the Masters and shoots 70 himself. The Masters always produces those unexpected storylines.

5:01 Masters course record is 63, shot by Nick Price in 1986 and Greg Norman in 1996.

4:57 ... Make that 17 putts through 15 holes. Campbell just tapped in for his fourth birdie in a row on the back nine. He's 9 under. This is truly rare air. If he makes another birdie, he could be the first in major championship history to shoot 62.

4:45 Chad Campbell is on pace for a course record, which is 9-under 63. Needs birdie at 15 ... he's just over the green in two shots. This is amazing ... Campbell has only 16 putts through 14 holes.

3:46 OK, let's hear it ... Woods is 1 over par, just made a nice par save from the bunker at No. 7. Everybody knows he's never shot in the 60s in a Masters first round. Today has served up perfect conditions ... just look at all the red numbers on the leader board. Can he do it this time, in his 15th Masters?

3:36 Why does Jim Furyk always seem to be overlooked at the Masters? He's got the lead at 6 under now after four straight birdie putts (Nos. 14-17) that dove in the center of the cup. Furyk has missed only one cut in 12 previous Masters and has never finished worse than 33rd. He's had two fourths and a sixth as his best performances.

3:32 Tiger dumped his tee shot into a bunker at the par 3 sixth and took bogey. He's 1 over.

3:27 Back after a seven-year hiatus from the Masters, Greg Norman shot 2 under 70 and basked in adoration from the Augusta National patrons. "It felt like it was the first time I ever played here," said the Shark. Norman thought his round could have been much better, but said the cold and windy weather during practice rounds hurt his preparation on the greens. "I could have shot a nice mid-60s score, but I didn't. I'm not complaining. It was a good solid round of golf."

3:17 Tiger seems to be easing his way into Round 1. Five straight tap-in pars. Birdie putts aren't exactly charging the hole yet.

2:56 Shingo Katayama birdied 18 to take the lead at 5 under. Geoff Ogilvy is making a charge at 3 under, thanks to birdies on 12, 14 and 15. Furyk, Mike Weir and Stenson also steady at 3 under.

2:52 Big Vee, USA ... No weather advantage to later tee times. If anything, greens are getting quicker. Breeze might be picking up a little too.

2:45 A lot of attention is on the young guns Anthony Kim, Rory McIlroy and Ryo Ishikawa playing in the final group. None of them hit the first fairway, and Ishikawa made bogey. The other two made pars. They also have the tough task of playing behind Tiger Woods, which will test their focus.

2:31 Campbell now has two pars in a row. His five birdies in a row to start the first round is a Masters record. Previously, Ken Venturi birdied the first four holes to open his first round in 1956.

2:18 Gettng a lot of responses from you about the record for most consecutive birdies. It's seven, on two occasions. Steve Pate in 1999, from Nos. 7-13 during the third round. Also Tiger in 2005, also starting at No. 7, although his birdie run was separated by a rain delay and came over two days during completion of the third round.

2:13 Just watched Tiger at No. 1. Fairway, middle of green, tap in par. He's got a sweater vest on ... kinda warm out there, hardly any wind. Greens are getting a little faster, too.

1:53 Well, Chad Campbell still hasn't made a par at the Masters. He just birdied No. 5 ... five in a row to start!

1:49 Davide S, France ... You're right about Romero. But he's sooo streaky. Yes, he knocked in his second shot and eagled No. 3, but he also bogeyed the par 5 second hole that's an easy birdie for most guys today. Can't be doing that and contend. Still, even the pros out here marvel at how hot Romero can get.

1:43 Tom P, United Kingdom ... Saw the Shark get pin-high in two at 13. Couldn't get up and down for birdie, though. I think that's the difference with some of the older stars that come back to the Masters. Short game has to be so precise here, and you absolutely must convert those type of opportunities whether it's Thursday or Sunday.

1:36 Wait, Campbell birdies the first four! Tied for the lead with 14 holes left. Campbell for his career in the Masters: 3 missed cuts, tie for 17th in 2005 and tie for third in 2006.

1:32 Just as I say that, Chad Campbell birdies the first three holes ... hey, can't birdie them all unless you birdie the first three! I also like Freddie Couples as a darkhorse pick. Him, Norman and Tiger in the final group on Sunday!

1:26 Michael P, USA ... Tiger, Phil, Furyk and Stewart Cink (only because he was one of my picks) have to be the top American hopefuls. Who else? Haven't heard much talk about the Strickers, Weekleys, et al. Not sure if anyone else is playing that great coming in here.

1:19 The Shark just made a nice par save from the bunker on No. 12. He's playing great, hit 8 of 11 greens and 8 of 9 fairways. Does he have enough to reach 13 in two shots?

1:00 Tim Clark just finished, posted a 4-under 68. Shooting that score was probably easier than having to listen to all the questions about the Par 3 curse.

12:45 Angel Cabrera got to 4 under, but bogeyed No. 9, and he just missed the green to the left at No. 10. That's gonna be a real tough up-and-down for par. ... He's got the game to win at Augusta National. Saw him win the U.S. Open at Oakmont. He's long off the tee, but needs to hit more greens.

12:39 Greg Norman dropped a 10-footer for birdie at No. 9 and is 2 under. He missed about three other birdie chances inside 15 feet. The Shark could easily be 4 under, but he's got Amen Corner ahead of him. Lot of demons down there ...

12:09 Clark just drained his birdie putt ... 4 under, tied with Fisher. He's got the long putter and uses a semi-claw grip, but he's scorching hot with the blade.

12:04 Tim (Par 3 Champ) Clark was forced to layup at No. 15 after his tee shot landed left behind some trees. He's at 3 under now ... and stuffed his approach 5-feet for a birdie try. If he posts the early lead, I gotta hear what he has to say about the so-called Par 3 curse!

11:55 This year's sentimental favorite has to be Greg Norman. The patrons gave him the loudest roar so far today when he teed off. He's 1 under par after a birdie at No. 6.

11:43 Nick Watney eagled the second hole and is at 2 under through nine. He's established residence on just about every leader board lately. He's already won at Torrey Pines this year, played well at Pebble Beach and was second to Tiger Woods at Doral. This is only his second Masters (T-11 last year). He plays the big courses well ... nice rep to have.

11:38 Phil Mickelson fans take note ... he bogeyed No. 1, birdied the par 5 second, and made par at No. 3.

11:29 Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand learned what the pros have always known about No. 4 -- it's a par 3 where you can easily make a big number. He made triple bogey 6, but has rallied strong. He came back with birdies at No. 7, 8 and 12. He's at 1 under going through Amen Corner.

11:19 Ross Fisher on the tee at 12 ... coming off birdie at 11 .... Has about a 12 footer for birdie. It looked like he was taking several deep breaths as he marked his ball.

11:13 Saturday J, USA ... Clark has played well here. He missed the cut last year, But he chased Mickelson down the stretch in '06, finished second. And he was 13th in '07, thanks to a third-round 80. It's gotta happen someday, the Par 3 winner taking down the Masters.

11:07 European players are flying out of the gate ... Lee Westwood, Justin Rose, Padraig Harrington and Langer are all under par early in their rounds. A lot of them were on the top of their games coming into the Masters. Not surprising ...

10:55 These are perfect scoring conditions. After a few years of battling Mother Nature, this Masters should have perfect weather ... Guess I just jinxed it, huh?

10:51 The first groupings will reach Amen Corner in a few minutes. Masters.com will have a live feed showing the action at Nos. 11-13 as soon as that happens.

10:43 We've got a leader board full of international players. Tim Clark is 1 under through nine holes. Let's not forget he was the Par 3 Contest champ. Bernhard Langer, Shingo Katayama ... Oh, and Fisher just bogeyed No. 9 to drop to 3 under.

10:34 We're off, welcome to the 2009 Masters, and if anybody knows Ross Fisher, give me a shout. The 28-year-old from Ascot, England, is 4 under par. In his first Masters, he birdied Nos. 2, 3, 6 and 8.