World No. 1 Luke Donald has avoided the scare of being disqualified on the first day of the Masters and with Augusta National officials later accepting the blame.

For a good two hours after his round there was suggestions Donald was facing disqualification in signing for a birdie ‘3’ at the par four 5th hole and then handing in a card showing one under par when in fact it was thought he should have signed for a 75. 

Augusta National officials indicated near 6pm that ‘an administrative error’ had caused the concern.

What Augusta National officials did not say that in faxing Donald’s scorecard through to the central recording area there was a smudge appearing on the place where Donald recorded his score at the 5th hole.

In looking at the fax it appears as a ‘3’ when everyone present and those watching around the world on TV observed Donald three-putt for a bogey five.

Donald’s playing partner Francesco Molinari correctly entered a ‘5’ and Donald later signed for a three over par 75.

The English golfer had earlier spoke of the disappointment in his eighth Masters and confirming in his comments his effort on the 5th hole.

“I’m disappointed as that’s not what I wanted,” he said.

“I three putted five and six and three over at that point and playing catch up. I didn’t hit enough greens and give myself enough opportunity for birdies.

“This place, if you are a little bit off it can eat you up and I was eaten up today.

“I hung in there nice birdies on 17 and holed a nice putt for par on 18 it’s somewhat encouraging to know that three under is  only leading. 

“With the greens being soft I would have thought someone would have gone low, but I’m only six back and if I can go out tomorrow and get back in the red numbers hopefully I will be in the mix. I’m going to the range to work on my irons.

“I was a little bit off with those. I struggled with a bit  with mud on the ball but everyone did.  I had three or four today and it’s hard to control those. It certainly cost me a couple of shots. 

“My preparation has been as good as it has ever been. I almost wanted it to start last weekend because I was hitting it so nicely.

“Maybe I peaked a couple of days too early but hopefully I will find something on the range and go low tomorrow.”