Kaymer works on water to show Woods how to tackle 16th hole

The opening major of the golf season is full of its own traditions. A green jacket for the winner, a par-three competition on the eve of the event and an annual champions dinner among them.

The players are also encouraged by the crowd to try to hit the green at the short 16th not by normal means, but by skimming balls across the lake.

Woods and 1998 champion Mark O’Meara were among the first to try, but both failed to make it back onto dry land and decided not to give it another go.

Germany’s Martin Kaymer gave the fans what they really came to see when his skimmed shot at the 16th not only ended on the green, but in the hole.

He will be hoping it is a sign of things to come. On four previous trips to the Masters, Kaymer has missed the cut every time – and crashed out last year as world No 1.

As is his custom, four-time winner Woods was out early and, having played the course on Sunday as well, limited himself to just the back nine before heading into the Augusta National clubhouse.

He did not stop to speak to waiting media – his formal press conference is today – and on his website he spoke not about the Masters or his recent win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, but about an appeal he is launching.

Woods asked all his Facebook page admirers – more than two million of them – to make donations to help his foundation “send 10 deserving young kids to college through our Earl Woods Scholarship Program”.

Woods added: “My dad always taught me the importance of an education. He worked hard to put himself through college and graduated in 1953.

“There are a lot of extremely bright kids out there who can’t afford college and we’re trying to help them get there.

“If each of you donates as little as $1 we can send 10 more young people to college and help them become the first in their families to graduate.

“I believe in this so much I am going to match every dollar you raise and 100 per cent of what my Foundation receives will go directly to these incredible scholars.

“To make it a little more fun, I’m inviting the most active fundraiser to come to the AT&T National this summer and play in the pro-am.

“The airfare and hotel are on me. And one more thing – we can also hit the practice green for a putting lesson.”