Rory McIlroy began his Masters preparation in spectacular fashion on Monday by making a hole-in-one on the 16th hole at Augusta National.
McIlroy, who is looking to become just the sixth player to complete the career grand slam by claiming a first green jacket this week, holed out with a seven iron from 170 yards to complete a 3&2 win in his match against England's Chris Wood.
"I don't think I have ever heard a roar that large in a practice round," the four-time major winner said of the reaction from the crowd.
"It was great. It was a nice practice round and a bit of a highlight. And it ended the match as well.
"I played well. I feel like my game is in good shape. We both hit just one ball (off the tee). It gets me into a nice mindset of this is how I'm going to play, so I'm going to try to do the same tomorrow, play 18 and a match with someone.
"I feel that's the best way for me to prepare. It's competitive. You're trying to shoot a score. The pins aren't in the spots where they are going to be at the weekend, but at the same time you still have to get the ball in the hole and hole putts that you feel a little bit of pressure on."
Asked about the condition of the course, McIlroy, who finished fourth last year, added: "It's not very different at all from what we saw last year.
"I feel like the way the course is now is probably the way the course played last year because it was soft and a little slow. I'm sure they are trying to get it faster and firmer as the week goes on."
Wood, who now owes McIlroy dinner, was faced with the daunting task of also trying to make a hole-in-one to keep the match alive, but joked: "I suppose it wasn't quite game over but when the crowd are chanting 'Rory, Rory' and you've got to try and hit a seven iron to that flag there's not much chance.
"I've never quite heard a noise like it - it was pretty mad. It was great fun. It was a cool moment."
Meanwhile. former champion Fred Couples has withdrawn from the Masters due to "acute back problems".
Couples, who has suffered from back problems throughout much of his career, won his only major title at Augusta National in 1992, carding a final round of 70 to finish 13 under par, two shots ahead of Ray Floyd.
The 56-year-old former world number one has recorded 11 top-10s in 31 appearances in the Masters, including finishing sixth in 2010 at the age of 50.
With Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and Jose Maria Olazabal also ruled out due to injury and Korea's Sang-moon Bae performing military service, only 89 players remain in the field, the fewest since 2002.
