Augusta — The man who owns four green jackets has a word of advice for anyone — including himself — who wants to add one to his wardrobe on Sunday.

"Patience," said Tiger Woods right after shooting an even-par 72 in Thursday's first round of the Masters. "You've got to have patience. The way this course is playing, it felt more like the U.S. Open out there today. We didn't hear a whole lot of roars."

Jason Getz/AJC Staff (ENLARGE)

Tiger Woods makes an eagle at No. 15. But he finished the first round at even par and said, 'I just couldn't get anything going today.'

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Ian Poulter's ace at 16 caused the biggest explosion of sound on the day, but the second-loudest roar came when Woods chipped in from just off the back of the green for an eagle on the par-5 15th. Woods was 2 over at the time after bogeying 13 and 14.

"It was an easy little chip. All I had to do was just make sure I got it to the hole," Woods said. "Once I got it there it just rolled in."

Woods had a chance to go 1 under on the par-3 16th, but he hit his short putt too firm, and it lipped out left. He hit it in the trees on 17 and had to scramble for a par.

"I was happy with the way I hit the ball, but I just couldn't get anything going today," said Woods, who opened the round with 12 consecutive pars. "That's just the way this course is playing right now. It's hard."

Asked what he was going to work on at the practice range Thursday evening, Woods said, "I'm just going to hit a few putts and try to relax. I hit a lot of good putts today, but they just didn't go in. I'm in good position."

In 14 Masters appearances, Woods has never broken 70 in the first round. Still, he has four victories and seven top-10 finishes at Augusta National.

Woods acknowledged feeling "a little nervous" when he teed off at about

11:45 a.m., an hour later than he was scheduled to start because of a delay caused by heavy morning fog.

"But that's OK. If you're not nervous, then you don't care," said Woods. "I care about what I shoot out here. I'll be fine."