Jack Nicklaus has long maintained that the most important shot in a round of golf is the first swing of the day.

The six-time Masters champion believes the opening tee shot sets the tone, and that holds true at Augusta National Golf Club.

During the Masters, the drive off No. 1 tee isn't just important - it's nerve-wracking.

Even the best players feel the pressure when they step to the tee on Tea Olive, including the Golden Bear.

In the first round of the 1991 Masters, Nicklaus rope-hooked his drive into the ninth fairway. He proceeded to play a 2-iron over some huge pines, hit the green and birdied en route to a 4-under-par 68.

On Sunday, Retief Goosen was tied for the lead at 11-under par, but yanked his drive on No. 1 into the left-hand trees. The jittery swing resulted in an opening bogey for the seemingly unflappable South African.

Goosen soon fell out of contention.

Although Tiger Woods finished the 2002 Masters with a green jacket, he began the tournament Thursday by hitting his drive on No. 1 in the right trees.

That came as a relief for Woods' playing partner Bubba Dickerson.

"When you see a player like him hit a bad tee shot on No. 1, you don't feel so bad," the U.S. Amateur champion said.

No. 1 appears harmless enough. The driving area is generous, and the gentle dogleg right has only two bunkers, one in the fairway and one by the green.

Still, it played as the second-hardest hole in the Masters last year, and was one of the more difficult par 4s in 2002.

"No. 1 is a tough hole," Masters rookie Jerry Kelly said of his first experience with the recently revamped hole.

The first tee was moved back 25 yards for this year's tournament, giving No. 1 a maximum distance of 435 yards. The hole played to its full length in the final round.

Additionally, the fairway bunker was reshaped and extended 15 yards toward the green.

In the past few years, big hitters blew their drives over the bunker, but that now requires a 300-yard carry.

Woods challenged the bunker Sunday, but the long-hitting three-time Masters champion failed to clear the hazard.

As expected, players faced a difficult pin placement on No. 1 in the final round.

The hole was cut left, perched precariously close to the lone greenside bunker.

Sunday's pin placement dictated how aggressive a player could be on his approach shot, depending on where the drive was placed.

From the left side of the fairway, most players fired to the fat part of the green.

Approach shots that were long or left caused problems. Sergio Garcia went past the hole Sunday, then three-putted for one of eight bogeys recorded on the hole during the final round. The hole surrendered just six birdies Sunday.

The pin was more accessible from the right side of the fairway, and the angle wasn't bad from the fairway bunker. Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson both birdied after hitting their drives into the sand.

The biggest challenge on No. 1, though, isn't the rolling green or the cavernous fairway bunker.

It's the aura of teeing off No. 1 at Augusta National.