Justin Rose & Brett Wetterich set Masters pace

Britain's Justin Rose and big-hitting American Brett Wetterich took early charge at the 71st Masters while Phil Mickelson made a shaky start to his title defence in Thursday's opening round.

Back on the PGA Tour for the first time in six weeks after nursing a back strain, Rose defied demanding conditions at Augusta National with a flawless three-under-par 69.

The 26-year-old Englishman, who led after the first two rounds at the 2004 Masters, reeled off three birdies on a 7,445-yard layout running fast and firm in bright sunshine.

Rose parred the last four holes to hold the outright lead before being joined by Wetterich, who notched three birdies and one bogey over the closing stretch.

The pair were one stroke ahead of Briton David Howell, who eagled the par-five 15th on his way to a 70.

South African Tim Clark, who finished two strokes behind Mickelson last year, carded a 71 to share fourth place with Americans Vaughn Taylor, Zach Johnson, Rich Beem and J.J. Henry.

Mickelson, who struck a spectator off the tee as he bogeyed the par-four first, opened with a 76 while four-times champion and tournament favorite Tiger Woods was one under with two holes to play.

Only 10 players in the 96-strong field were under par in the first Masters since 1999 to be played under optimal, dry conditions.

"It's exciting to go bogey-free in the first round at Augusta on a day when the scores are pretty high," Rose told reporters. "My short game was unbelievable and that's why I was able to shoot such a good score."

The three-times European Tour winner needed only 20 putts but said that statistic was a little misleading.

"On more than one occasion I felt like I was 10 or 12 feet from the pin putting for birdie but on the fringe, a one-putt that goes down as a zero putt," he added.

Wetterich, whose only PGA Tour victory came at last year's Byron Nelson Championship, relished the difficult conditions.

"The greens were awfully fast and if you're not careful you're going to make some bogeys out there," said the 33-year-old. "But I like it like that.

"It's nice to shoot three under and see your name at the top of the leaderboard but it's only Thursday."

South African Ernie Els, twice a runner-up, struggled to a 78 and U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia, who ran up a triple-bogey eight at the second, had a 75.

"It was a very tough day," said three-times major winner Els, who had to settle for second place after an epic last-day battle with Mickelson here in 2004.

"If you mishit a shot today, you really paid the penalty. Everything was firm out there."

Several players failed to break 80, among them 1987 champion Larry Mize and three-times winner Gary Player who returned matching 83s.

The 71-year-old Player is making a record-equaling 50th appearance at the Masters.

Cool, dry weather has been forecast for all four rounds at the pine tree-lined Augusta National.