Heath Slocum shot a two-under-par 34 on Augusta National Golf Club's first nine to take the early lead in the 71st Masters Tournament.

Slocum, whose nickname is "Laser" because of his accuracy off the tee, birdied the two par-3s and the par-5 eighth hole before bogeying No. 9. Six players were tied for second place at 1-under.

Another player from Slocum's group, Brett Wetterich, was among that group. He overcame two bogeys in his first four holes with a pair of birdies then eagled the par-5 eighth. Ian Poulter, Peter Lonard, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Nick Dougherty and Justin Leonard were also 1-under as of 11 a.m.

Play started an hour late Thursday morning because of heavy fog. Ben Curtis hit the first official shot of the tournament around 9 a.m.