The disgraced world No.1, welcomed back by cheering crowds in his first tournament for almost five months, struck a solid tee shot and looked calm as his ball bounced up the hill on the right side of the fairway.
With the breeze swirling, he twice threw up a few blades of grass to test the wind direction and changed clubs once before hitting a superb approach to 12 feet.
Woods tipped his cap to acknowledge the fans as he approached the green and narrowly missed his birdie putt, his attempt sliding past the left edge of the cup.
He also pared the second hole after hitting another good tee shot and two-putting from 20 feet.
A four-times champion at Augusta National, Woods has not competed since winning the Australian Masters on Nov. 15 following stunning revelations about his extra-marital affairs.
Under leaden skies, the galleries were packed at least five-deep all the way down the opening hole to watch the game's leading player start what media experts predict will be the biggest single-day television audience for a US golf event.
While Woods had to be feeling a little anxious about his emotional state of mind, he exuded a warm smile as he shook hands with playing partners KJ Choi of South Korea and American Matt Kuchar on the first tee.
The official starter announced: "On the tee, Tiger Woods,” prompting loud cheering by the fans crammed on either side of the fairway in front of the imposing clubhouse at Augusta.
There were calls of "Go Tiger" and plenty of hooting and hollering in the loudest applause the world number one has received all week.
The 34-year-old Woods is bidding to become the first player to launch his season with a major victory since fellow American Ben Hogan clinched the 1953 Masters.
While Woods began his opening round in strengthening winds, veteran Tom Watson was putting the finishing touches to a flawless five-under-par 67.
The 60-year-old American, who came agonizingly close to the most remarkable major victory of all time before losing the 2009 British Open in a playoff, rolled in an eight-footer to birdie the last.
The eight-times major winner threw his arm skywards in celebration to take a two-stroke lead over fellow American David Toms who bogeyed the final hole for a 69.
