Palmer and Nicklaus launch Masters, late teeoff for Woods

Augusta: Golfing greats Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus launched the 74th U.S. Masters on Thursday while Tiger Woods was poised to make his highly anticipated return to competition later in the day.

Watched by a packed gallery under clear skies, four-times champion Palmer and six-times winner Nicklaus hit the ceremonial first shots at Augusta National`s par-four opening hole.Palmer struck a solid blow up the right side of the fairway after being introduced by Augusta National chairman Billy Payne, prompting Nicklaus to ask him: "How did you do that?" Dead-panned, Palmer replied: "Just keep your eye on the ball." Nicklaus then followed suit, also pushing his drive to the right. Although his ball ended up slightly ahead of Palmer`s, a security guard kicked it another 10 yards up the hill. Palmer, 80, has struck the honorary first shot as a solo act in recent years and was delighted to be joined by his long-time rival and good friend, the "Golden Bear". "It felt great," Palmer said. "If there was anyone that deserved to be up there with me it would Nicklaus." Ten minutes later, Australian Nathan Green struck the tournament`s first competitive shot by teeing off at the opening hole. Green was followed by American Heath Slocum and South African Louis Oosthuizen.The eyes of the golfing world, however, will be firmly fixed on disgraced world number one Woods when he tees off at Augusta National at 1342 local (1742 GMT) in the second-to-last group of the day. The 14-times major champion, who has won the Masters four times, has not competed since winning the Australian Masters on Nov. 15 following startling revelations that he had had a string of extra-marital affairs. With a record television audience likely to be watching his first competitive round in one of sport`s biggest events this year, Woods will play the first two rounds in the company of South Korean KJ Choi and American Matt Kuchar. Asked earlier this week if he felt ready to clinch his 15th major title after a lengthy break, Woods replied: "Nothing`s changed. I`m going to go out there and try to win this thing." "A lot has happened in my life over the past five months, and I`m here at the Masters to play and compete. And just really excited about doing that." Twice Masters champion Phil Mickelson has been drawn with Australian Robert Allenby and 2008 PGA Championship winner Yang Yong-eun of South Korea for the first two rounds. They start at 1035 (1435) on Thursday. In-form Ernie Els, who has triumphed twice in his last three PGA Tour appearances, will tee off with American Anthony Kim and Japan`s Ryo Ishikawa two groups in front of Mickelson and company. Argentina`s Angel Cabrera, who won last year`s Masters in a playoff with Americans Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry, will launch his title defence with South Korean An Byeong-hun and American veteran Jim Furyk at 1024. Bureau Report