Pádraig Harrington goes on roller coaster round on welcome return to Augusta

Pádraig Harrington was proving absence makes the heart grow fonder as he made a welcome return to the Masters last night.

Back at Augusta National after his fading form had meant he missed out last year for the first time since his debut in 2000, the three-time major champion earned his return ticket by winning the Honda Classic last month, his first PGA Tour win since 2008.

His pre-tournament confidence had looked a little misguided when he bogeyed the first hole of his opening round after finding the trees right of the fairway off the tee but he emerged with a bogey that could have been worse but for an excellent approach shot to 14 feet, from where he two-putted.