AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods walked onto the first tee this morning to awkward silence from about 500 fans who gradually warmed up to him as he began a practice round with Fred Couples.

"Welcome back, Tiger," came the occasional shout from the gallery.

Woods turned to acknowledge the fans with a nod and a smile — something he rarely did before a sex scandal made him the source of so much ridicule.

It was his first time playing before a gallery since Nov. 15 at the Australian Masters and its sellout crowd in Melbourne.

Woods teed off about 8 a.m., right as the gates to Augusta National opened. The crowd increased with every hole.

Woods hooked his opening tee shot toward the ninth fairway and hit another. He walked briskly, chatting with Couples as fans lining the fairways took pictures of every step.

The real test was to follow his practice round today — his first news conference since the public learned of his sordid extramarital affairs, which continue to be a sensation on the Internet and in tabloids.

His conference is getting so much attention Augusta National has asked media outlets for only one reporter to make sure every organization has a chance to fill the 207 seats in the press center.

By The Associated Press