Legend Palmer gets 73rd Masters under way

American legend Arnold Palmer got the 73rd Masters tournament at Augusta under way on Thursday by hitting a ceremonial drive up the fairway on the par-four opening hole.

Arnold Palmer shows he has not lost any of his old magic as he strikes the first ball in the 73rd Masters.

Palmer, who will be 80 this year, then retired to watch the action, with 1991 champion Ian Woosnam and American pair Chez Reavie and Briny Baird the first grouping off the tee.

Former Masters winners Sandy Lyle, Craig Stadler, Ray Floyd, Gary Player and Woosnam were all among the early starters and all dropped shots over the early few holes.

Tournament favorite Woods is in the penultimate grouping of the day, teeing off at 13:52 pm (1752 GMT) partnered by U.S. Ryder Cup team-mate Stewart Cink and Jeev Milkha Singh of India.

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World number one Woods is seeking his fifth Masters title and his 15th major, three short of the all-time record of 18, held by Jack Nicklaus.

World No. 2 Phil Mickelson, the winner in 2004 and 2006, will begin his attempt to win a third green jacket alongside Camilo Villegas of Colombia and fellow-American Jim Furyk.

Meanwhile, Englishman Ross Fisher made a dream start to his Augusta debut by taking the lead after the first six holes of play.

The 28-year-old, who has already made his mark in the United States this season with a fourth-place finish in the WGC-Match Play in Arizona, birdied the long second, pitched to eight feet at the 350-yard next and added a two on the short sixth.

On three under par, Fisher — winner of the European Open last year — was one ahead of American Nick Watney, runner-up to Mickelson in the WGC-CA Championship in Miami last month.

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Hamilton slams new Formula One rules

World champion Lewis Hamilton has joined the growing number of critics of the new rules to be introduced to Formula One this season.

McLaren star Hamilton is defending his Formula One title this season.

McLaren ace Hamilton had kept his council until Friday while he tested in Spain, but his reaction to the changes, which will see the 2009 champion decided by race wins and caps put on team spending, was outspoken.

“I think it’s a shame what’s happening to Formula One,” he told Press Association.

“It’s hard to believe these recent decisions will improve things for the trackside spectators and TV viewers, who should always be our number-one priority, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

“Whatever the points system, I know all Formula One drivers will always race our hearts out.”

Under the new rules Hamilton would have finished second in last year’s championship to Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, who had one more race win.

Points will still be used to break a tie between drivers with the same number of wins and for the constructors’ championship.

World governing body FIA rushed through the new rule changes on Tuesday, taking Formula One teams by surprise.

From next year they will be forced to choose between freedom to spend, but keeping to the current technical regulation, or ability to innovate, but with a £30 million cap on their spending.

Hamilton added: “For the first time in recent years we have the teams, drivers, sponsors and fans all working together for the good of our sport — now we just need the governing bodies to listen to us and help us.

“Formula One is the pinnacle of motorsport and that’s what we all love about it. We should all be working together to maintain that.”

Ferrari president Luca di Montzemolo has also been highly critical and feels the new regulations run “the risk of turning on its head the very essence of Formula One and the principles that make it one of the most popular and appealing sports.”

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher wrote on his personal Web site that the changes were “astonishing” while Renault star and two-time champion Fernando Alonso has also been critical.

Later on Friday, The Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA), which is chaired by Montzemolo, said they would be challenging the decision to change the way the world title is decided.

The teams claim the decision was made too late to be valid with the 2009 season starting on March 29 with the Australian Grand Prix.

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Tiger confirms return to action in Arizona

 LONDON, England (CNN) — Tiger Woods will make his return to professional golf at next week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.

Tiger Woods poses with his family including new son Charlie and dogs Yogi and Taz.

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Woods, who has been sidelined since last June after knee surgery, is the defending champion and also won the event in 2003 and 2004.

Woods has returned to the PGA Tour soon after the birth of his second child.

“Elin and our new son Charlie are doing great. I’ve enjoyed my time at home with the family and appreciate everyone’s support and kind wishes,” Woods said on his Web site.

The world’s richest sportsman has not played since beating Rocco Mediate in a playoff to win the U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines, his 14th major title, last June.

Woods had to go through the pain barrier to secure an epic victory, but shortly afterwards underwent extensive knee surgery which brought his season to an abrupt finish.

Speculation has been mounting about a date for his return, with his caddie Steve Williams telling Television New Zealand earlier this week that Woods was “95 per cent fit.”

This week, Tiger Woods released the first photos of his new baby boy. Charlie Axel Woods was born on Sunday, February 8, and is the second child for Woods and his wife Elin.

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