This Augusta is no softy

Ten years after Tiger Woods brought a grand course to its trees with his tournament-record 18 under par, Augusta National might finally be getting root revenge.

After Day 1 of the 71st Masters, the course is leading the players, 1-0.

Now that’s what the Georgia Green Jackets have been talking about all these years.

Ninety-six players made the start and only nine finished under par. The scoring average was 76.1, more than four strokes over par. Only four higher first rounds have been recorded since 1966.

Justin Rose and Brett Wetterich cobbled a share of the first-round lead after shooting three-under 69 and that probably suited the suits just fine.

David Howell and David Toms are one shot behind at 70 and five players are in a one-under scrum at 71.

Woods and Phil Mickelson are still in the water cooler conversation despite shooting 73 and 76.

Among those struggling to stay above water were Ernie Els (78), Retief Goosen, Sergio Garcia (76) and Jim Furyk (75).

Rose was the only golfer to play a bogey-free round and required only 20 putts to get his 69.

“Certainly my short game was unbelievable today,” said Rose, who hasn’t played since late February because of a back injury.

This is Rose’s third Masters and Wetterich’s first, so no one’s getting too excited.

“It’s nice to shoot three under and see your name on top of the leaderboard,” Wetterich said, “but it’s only Thursday.”

Rose is from England and Wetterich calls Jupiter, Fla., home, and if either wins Sunday he’ll be on another planet.

As far as the Woods-Mickelson rivalry goes, well, it sort of went stale in crispy-weather conditions.

Woods got to one under after a birdie at No. 15, but he finished bogey-bogey to ruin his day.

“I’ve got to go organize some things,” he said. “I just threw away a good round of golf. I had it right there, then threw it away.”

And one more incredible streak continues: Woods has won four Masters despite never breaking 70 in his opening round.

Mickelson needed rallying birdies on No. 15 and 16 and a par-saving putt on the 18th to salvage his take-it-or-leave-it 76.

Mickelson was five over after seven holes but thinks his late recovery was important.

“I don’t feel I’ve driven myself out of it as even par is going to be in the hunt tomorrow,” he said. “If I get out and shoot a 68, I’ll be right back in it.”

Mickelson misfired with a four-over 40 on his front. Woods was able to recover from an opening 40 in 1997 to win in a romp, but no one has ever suggested anyone try that again.

Woods wore a coral-colored shirt and vest combo that matched his game face.

Fans lined up 30 deep to watch him tee off in the 1:52 p.m. group that included playing partners Paul Casey and Aaron Baddeley, whom Woods virtually ignored as he narrowed his laser focus in pursuit of his 13th major victory and third straight.

Woods boomed his tee shot 300 yards on the par-four first, but this was a day when spectacular shots were at a premium.

Davis Love III, who shot even-par 72, says Augusta National may have given all that it’s going to give.

“This is probably the best we’re going to catch this course,” he said.

And isn’t it, 10 years after Woods’ record-setting 270, about time?

The green sleeves of Augusta National have taken great pains to maintain course integrity by stretching yardage to its limits and planting more trees than the Sierra Club.

Every year, it seems, wet weather, the great equalizer, has dampened intentions as it softened landing areas, throwing the advantage back to the golfers.

This year could be a true unveiling.

Thursday, the 7,445-yard course played with unusual muscle.

Golfers are more like house guests here, so don’t expect the kind of griping you get when the U.S. Golf Assn. sets up a U.S. Open track. You may remember the griping at Shinnecock Hills.

Augusta National on Thursday was as nasty as it was beautiful.

The sobering and/or terrific news is that the weather is supposed to stay dry with temperatures sinking lower, and that means scores might get higher.

A freeze advisory was issued Thursday that had nothing to do with Fred Funk shooting 10-over 46 on the back nine.

Temperatures are supposed to dip as low as 27 on Saturday night -- maybe cold enough to keep birds from chirping on CBS.

As far as the top hawks go, Rose may just be renting the lead, the way he did for two rounds in 2004 before Mickelson swooped in to win his first major.

How high could this tournament go? That’s the double-bogey question.

The record for highest winning score, one-over 289, is shared by Sam Snead (1954) and Jack Burke Jr. (1956).

There is no telling how far north scores might go if the weather forecast holds.

Rich Beem, one of five players at two shots off the lead, is bracing for the worst -- or maybe it’s the best.

“Once you start factoring in some windy conditions,” Beem said, “With these big slopes, it gets real interesting real quick.”

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chris.dufresne@latimes.com