AUGUSTA, Ga. - The 51 weeks between the 2006 Masters Tournament and this year's event did little to change Englishmen Tim Clark's fortunes at the Augusta National Golf Club.

Clark, who fired a 3-under-par 69 in the final round of last year's Masters, was even par through his first nine holes of the 2007 tournament. The score topped those players who had completed the first nine as of 11 a.m. Thursday.

Two-time Masters champion Tom Watson topped the leaderboard early in his round. He was 1-under through five holes, birdieing Nos. 2 and 5 and bogeying No. 3.

Watson, 57, is playing in his 33rd Masters.

Aaron Oberholser, a 32-year-old Californian, Argentina's Angel Cabrera and American J.J. Henry were tied with Watson in the early going of their rounds.

Augusta's Vaughn Taylor opened his round his round with six straight pars to trail by a stroke. Another Georgian, Davis Love III of St. Simons Island, was also at even par.

Large and early-arriving galleries greeted the golfer's Thursday. Several thousand patrons arrived at the course before the gates opened to see Arnold Palmer hit the ceremonial first tee shot.

Palmer, who retired from Masters play after the 2004 tournament, hit his drive down the left side of the No. 1 fairway.