AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods' bid for a grand slam began today with the world's No. 1 player feeling as though he skipped a major.

After Woods posted only his second birdie-free round at the Masters in shooting an even-par 72, he compared Augusta National's long layout and the dry conditions to a U.S. Open.

"There's really no roars out there anymore because it's hard to make the eagles and the big birdies," Woods said. "The golf course is playing so much more difficult now being longer, and it has dried out this week. As the week has gone on it's gotten drier and it's going to get more that way toward Sunday."

Woods drew one of the day's biggest gallery roars when he chipped in for eagle at the par-5 15th hole to offset back-to-back bogeys at 13 and 14. But aside from his chip-in, Woods mostly plodded through a quiet round that started with 12 consecutive pars.

"I hit the ball really well. I hit a lot of good putts that just didn't go in," Woods said. "That's just the way it goes. I've just got to stay patient out there and hopefully it'll turn."

The ho-hum first round should not be disconcerting for Woods' fans: The four-time Masters champion has never broken 70 in the first round in 14 appearances here, including 12 as a pro.

Woods is four strokes behind co-leaders Justin Rose and Trevor Immelman, who are 4-under par. Woods was seven shots off the first-day lead in 2005 when he won his most recent green jacket.

"I kept myself in the tournament. I'm right there," Woods said. "With the weather supposed to be getting more difficult as the week goes on, I'm right there."

Woods thought he was in prime birdie position when his drive settled in the fairway at the par-5 13th. His "sweet" four-iron was headed for the flag, but ended up in a valley behind the green.

Woods' chip was short and rolled into a collection area. He chipped on and two-putted for his first bogey, and was scrambling a bit following another bogey at 14.

But Woods righted himself at 15 after his approach landed beyond the green. This time his chip was dead on.

"It was a pretty easy little pitch," he said. "It was straight uphill. The ball was sitting up. It was pretty soft underneath there and just had to carry it far enough, and it went in."

Defending champion Zach Johnson was two groups ahead of Woods at No. 17 when he heard a "pretty substantial roar" at 15.

"Sure enough," Johnson said, "Tiger made eagle. So that was pretty loud, too."

The only louder moment came earlier when Englishman Ian Poulter made a hole-in-one at the par-3 16th. It was not the first time Poulter created a stir this year.

In an interview published in January, Poulter said no player on Tour could hang with Woods but he believed he was capable of holding the No. 2 spot.

Poulter, who shot a 2-under 70, said being the world's second-ranked golfer in this era is almost irrelevant.

"Look how far out in front Tiger Woods is to No. 2," Poulter said. "Quite frankly, there's nobody in the same bracket as him. He is that good."

If history is any guide, Tiger will be roaring by tournament's end.