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AUGUSTA, Georgia -- Matt Kuchar slumped against the giant oak tree that stands in front of the clubhouse at Augusta National. His face was flushed, his legs felt like jelly and he just wanted to find a shady place to sit down.

Sergio Garcia floated up to the 18th green like he was living a dream, hardly breaking a sweat in the sweltering Georgia heat. Observing the scene, Tiger Woods put his arm around Garcia's father-turned-caddy, pointed toward the 19-year-old Spaniard and gave a thumbs-up sign.

Those scenes signalled an amateur changing of the guard Thursday during the first round of the Masters.

Kuchar, who captivated the crowds a year ago with his gee-whiz grin and boyish enthusiasm, couldn't get his flu-ridden body to do what he wanted in his second trip to Augusta. Rarely smiling, he struggled to a 5-over-par 77 and had trouble keeping up with his playing partners, Tom Watson and Australia's Stuart Appleby.

"Last year was a little more of a fairy tale," said Kuchar, the Georgia Tech junior who finished 21st in the 1998 Masters - the highest finish by an amateur in 14 years. "This year, I'm under the weather and it's taking away some of the fairy tale."

Garcia enjoyed playing with Woods during the first round.(Allsport)

Garcia, the Spanish phenom dubbed El Niño, picked up where Kuchar left off, and he took another amateur, South African Trevor Immelman, winner of the 1998 U.S. Amateur Public Links, along for the ride.

Both shot even-par 72s on the first day, impressive scores when swirling wind and rock-hard greens made for brutally difficult conditions.

"I was a little nervous at the beginning," said Garcia, who earned a spot in the tournament by winning the British Amateur. "But after three or four holes, I got so relaxed. I couldn't believe how relaxed I was."

While most of the amateur hoopla centered on Kuchar, Garcia and long-driving U.S. Amateur champion Hank Kuehne, Immelman quietly put together one of the most solid rounds of the day.

Paired with a hero, countryman and three-time Masters champion Gary Player, the 19-year-old Immelman saved his best shot for the end, salvaging a par at 18 when he chipped within 3 feet of the hole from some 30 yards away.

"I saw a future champion today," said Player, who hugged Immelman after the round. "He's got to be the best player in the world for a 19-year-old. He's got everything. It's a thrill to see a young man play like that."

Of course, Player didn't get a look at Garcia, who was in the threesome with Woods.

The Spaniard bogeyed the first two holes after errant tee shots. He landed in a patch of trees along the left side of the first fairway, then hooked his shot at No. 2 into a ditch, forcing him to a take a one-shot penalty.

Garcia made the turn at 3 over, but he felt like things were about to turn for the better.

"Just enjoy yourself," he said under his breath. "Just keep playing and the birdies will come."

They did on the next two holes. At 10, he hit a 9-iron within 6 meters (20 feet) of the cup and made the putt. At 11, his 8-iron provided an easy - by Augusta standards - uphill putt from about 7 feet. He missed a downhill birdie putt at 13, but made up for it four holes later by using his sand wedge from 127 yards to set up a 10-foot birdie putt.