In fact, as day two of the 74th Masters dawned on Friday at Augusta National Golf Club, rivals seem to be correct who predicted the sex scandal that forced Woods into a five-month layoff would also make him tougher to defeat.

Off to his lowest start in 16 Masters appearances, World No 1 Woods fired a four-under par 68 on Thursday to lurk only two strokes behind 50-year-old leader Fred Couples as the second round began Friday morning. “Unfortunately I didn’t putt very good or it could have been a very special round,” said Woods, who lipped out for birdie at 18 and eagle at 13 among several near-misses in his long-awaited return round. It was a special round anyway for reasons far beyond the score, although Woods also fired two eagles in the same round for the first time at Augusta National. “Guess I need a longer layoff then,” Woods joked.

Woods answered doubts about his ability to set aside a humbling scandal in which more than a dozen women have claimed sex affairs and return to dominating golf form, but knows he must do more to win his 15th career major on Sunday. “We’ll see what happens,” Woods said. “I feel like I’m in the right spot. Anybody can win this event so we’ve got some work to do.” So do his rivals, who saw Woods set aside the scandal distraction and produce his most intimidating start yet at a course where he has won four times in his quest to break the all-time major win record of 18 by Jack Nicklaus.

“You wonder how he could have competed at such a high level with all this going on,” world number two Steve Stricker said. “It’s actually scary to think that if he gets his mind a little bit free and uncluttered that it could be better. The guy is so talented and mentally strong that if he can maybe get rid of the outside factors, he could actually perform at a higher level.”

US legend Tom Watson shared second on 67 with England’s Lee Westwood, US star Phil Mickelson and South Korean 2009 PGA Championship winner Yang Yong-Eun — who all tee off in the afternoon — and South Korean KJ Choi, who is playing alongside Woods.

Elin Woods was not among the thousands who gathered to watch her husband’s much-anticipated comeback to golf after his secret sex affairs exploded into global gossip headlines last November. But Kultida Woods, his Thai-born mother, was among those who walked along the course watching Woods receive what he dubbed the best reception he has ever enjoyed at any Masters.