• The Masters, Round One: What They Said

What They Said: Stenson rues snowman at 18

It was hard work for the majority of the players on day one at Augusta © Getty Images

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ESPN is providing live commentary and updates during all four days of The Masters from Augusta National - along with comprehensive news views and opinions.

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Rory McIlroy was pleased with his finish, carding a round of 71 after starting with a double-bogey. He said: "I'm a lot more pleased coming off the golf course than if I had finished par and to come off under-par is pleasing. My perseverance and patience paid off and it was nice to finish as I did, but I'm surprised someone didn't go lower than five today."

Lee Westwood, as perhaps should be unsurprising for a man with the early lead, was satisfied with his day's work. He noted: "That's my lowest round around this golf course. I played well. There was no weakness out there in my game. I hit it close, hit a lot of fairways and rolled in some nice putts. I've been playing well all year. I've played well in the bigger tournaments and around the tougher golf courses like the Honda, so I was pretty confident.

"But trying not to let myself get carried away. I just wanted to come out and start steady and strong and play my way into the tournament, which I've done."

Tiger Woods was happy to put in a workmanlike performance after his level-par 72. He said: "I hit some of the worst golf swings I've ever hit today, and that's all right. I just hung in there and grinded my way around the golf course and stayed very patient, stayed in the moment. Unfortunately that was about as good as I got right there. I could have shot one, maybe two better, but I got a lot out of that round."

Henrik Stenson led for a time but a quadruple bogey on the final hole saw him sign for a 71. "I was struggling the whole back nine really, hitting over trees and all sorts. The real problem is that we misjudged the wind on the last and to walk away with an eight on the 18th hole is really disappointing. I made two great eagles on the front nine which is a good achievement at Augusta, but I wish I could have got away with something less than a snowman on the last. I made some great putts and recoveries but if I can't hit a fairway on the back nine, it's not really where I want to be, is it?"

Ian Poulter, who signed for a 72, felt the pin positions made it difficult to shoot low. "The pins were tucked away and that made it difficult early on. A lot of pins on the first six holes were tough to get at. The rain has made them want to protect the course score-wise, the answer was to tuck the pins away but I played pretty solid and I'm happy with that round. It's an early start tomorrow so hopefully I can get the best of the weather and the storm will have blown through. I can go out there and play aggressive."

2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell was downbeat after stuttering to a three-over 75. "It wasn't very good. I just don't play well around this golf course. It doesn't set up well for me. I'm not driving it well enough. I'm short with not enough right to left shape. It was tough today. The course played long and the pins were tricky and I just hit it in all the wrong places all day. I paid the price. I got off to a bit of a sloppy start with a bogey on one and a double on four and I was battling from there."

Paul Lawrie - back after a spell on the sofa with a virus - claimed the early clubhouse lead, although at the time Henrik Stenson was outshining him. He said: "I'm still a little bit weak and not quite 100%. I've played only nine holes every day (in practice) and worked a lot on my short game. I'm trying to keep it low key. I'm not thinking about winning at all."

Padraig Harrington, the current holder of the 'par-three winner's curse', was happy after finishing the first day under par. He said: "I'm pleased. There are very few players burning it up. Conditions are very good out there for scoring in terms of there's no wind, greens are soft. But I think they were aware of that and put in some tough pins today. It looks like I turned a little bit of a corner with the putting. I made a few changes this week, and I was very happy with what I saw out there today."

Past champion Craig Stadler was less impressed with his return, after he shot 81. He said: "It's special to come back, not enjoyable to embarrass yourself and I came close. Pitiful. I made six or eight putts coming in. I could've shot 90."

Justin Rose was relatively satisfied with his level-par 72, although he felt his work on the greens could have been better. "I got off to a decent start, had a lot of 10 footers early in my round, missed them all, missed them all high. I was kind of giving the greens a little bit too much respect. Even par - there's no damage done. I can build on it from there."

US PGA champion Keagan Bradley double bogeyed the first but came back well to finish with a one-under 71. "Not the start I was looking for but everything lived up to the hype and there was a great atmosphere. Phil Mickelson has helped me so much and I was thinking of him on a few of the shots after the advice and help from a champion."

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