Stephen Gallacher recovered from unknowingly hitting a female spectator down the first hole to post a superb one-under par 71 on the opening day of the Masters.

Gallacher hit the middle-aged woman on the right hand when he pulled his openind drive on the occasion of his second straight appearance at Augusta National.

There was the call of ‘Fore’ and with spectators ducking for cover.

However by the time Gallacher had walked down the slope off the first tee and then up the slope leading to the green the woman had simply brushed off the incident and disappeared into the 79th Masters gathering.

“Did I hit somebody did I?” he said.

“I wasn’t aware of that but it’s good to hear she’s okay.”

Stephen Gallacher on route to shooting a round of 71 on day one of 2015 Masters. (Photo – Getty)

Gallaher had been awake at 5.30am local time and then arrived at the course around 6.45am ahead of a stretching workout before watching the ‘Big Three’ in Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player hit the ceremonial tee shots.

He stepped on the tee just prior to 8.51am local time ahead of the simple introduction: “Fore please. Stephen Gallacher now driving.”

He walked off close to a long five-hours later with a one under par 71 and headed to the scorer’s hut just as Tiger Woods was about to play his second shot from within the trees down the right side of the first.

It was a similiar 71 as a year ago but on this occasion with Gallacher posting three birdies and two bogeys, including taking bogey at the first after the incident with the female spectator.

“I didn’t realise it was my same score as last year and someone just mentioned that.

“But then anytime you shoot under par around here you have to be happy and you just need one really good round and three half-decent scores and you’re contending.

“Though I have to say standing on that first tee this morning you’re always excited and a bit apprehensive. But that’s why you play the game. It’s more exciting if you can get excited and a wee bit nervous. But Augusta is something.”

Gallacher capped his round with two great birdies, one on each nine starting with a 3-iron gem to three feet at the par three third.

Then at the par five 15th, and the last hole on the three-hole Amen Corner stretch, Gallacher, after his tee shot had come to rest behind a tree, he played his second back to the fairway.

His third shot failed to carry Rae’s Creek that runs the lenght guarding the green but with Gallacher’s ball fortunately coming to rest on the greenside slope.

Then in a shot that would have done the late, great Seve Ballesteros proud Gallacher holed the chip to a pin only seven yards on.

“That was nice to see that go in,” he said.

“I had a good three days practice this week and that showed out there today. I’ve not played for about a month or something, maybe five weeks. So I’e got four big tournaments in five weeks, so I’m just trying to pace myself, especially around here. It takes out your mental and physical.

“The greens were maybe a little bit softer because of the heavy downpour we had. The course is perfect. You can’t fault it in the slightest. It’s fair. But some tough pins you’re going to get.

“And you know the wind picked up the last four or five holes, which has caused these problems. That’s the biggest problem is when the wind gusts. At least when it’s constant, but when it gusts, especially the back nine it can cause havoc.”

Gallacher was then heading to a well-earned lunch and after a short session on the practice range he promised his son, Jack and dressed in an Augusta green top, he would take him to the local Dick’s Sporting Goods store.

“Surely not for golf clubs or equipment,” said this journalist.

“No, I promised to get him some gym equipment”.