A hole in one at the 170-yard par three 16th helped Ian Poulter to a first round 70 and the early lead on day one at Augusta.

It was the 21st ace recorded at the Masters - the 11th at that hole - and the first since South Africa's Trevor Immelman holed out at the 16th in 2005.

The eight-iron shot got the Englishman, ranked 24th in the world, to three under after a birdie at the fifth, but his second shot at the 440-yard 17th went through the green and he failed to get up and down, so he had to settle for a two-under-par opening 70.

"It was a perfect eight-iron. I hit it really solid, flushed it and as soon as it left the club I knew it was going to be pretty good," he said. "It was an unbelievable buzz, a special moment.

"The hairs on the back of my neck were standing up. It's probably the biggest adreneline rush I have ever had."

The flamboyant former Ryder Cup star will be hoping for a strong showing this week after recently inviting riidicule from his fellow pros by suggesting he is second only to Tiger Woods in terms of ability.