India's first Masters competitor Jeev Milkha Singh overcame early butterflies to make a solid debut at Augusta National on Thursday.

Singh finished the day with an even-par 72, three off leaders Justin Rose and Brett Wetterich, but experienced the thrill of seeing his name at the top of the leaderboard at one point.

"I was a little nervous on the first tee," he told reporters.

"On the front nine I holed a lot of putts. On the back nine I didn't make too many putts. But I'm pretty happy with the way I played my first round in Augusta."

Singh, who topped the leaderboard at the turn at three under, became the first Indian to qualify for the opening major of the year after winning four titles on three separate tours and topping the Asian Order of Merit in 2006.

The 35-year-old was not disheartened despite bogeys at 10, 11 and 18 pushing him down to joint 10th place after the first round.

"It is a dream come true for me," he said.

"When I was growing up I always wanted to play the Masters Tournament. I've done it today."

Singh said his Masters adventure would be closely followed back home.

"I think it is big in India because golf is the fastest growing sport in the country," he said.

"Cricket is the number one sport, but me performing well and other players doing well on other tours will be good for golf."

Singh birdied the third hole with a 10-foot putt, chipped in from 15 feet on the fifth hole and rolled in a 10-footer at the eighth before he drifted back.

The son of a former Olympic sprinter, Singh conceded his father was still better known in India.

"But a win here would change that," he said with a grin.