Annika Sorenstam defied her critics with a highly creditable one over par 71 in her first ever round on the PGA Tour.
Sorenstam carded one birdie and just two bogeys, the second on her final hole, which gives the women's world number one every chance of making the halfway cut on Friday.
Teeing off on the 10th amid immense interest, Sorenstam completed the first nine holes in one under par thanks to a 15-foot birdie putt on the par three 13th.
That actually moved the Swede within two strokes of leader and 1999 champion Olin Browne, who was three under through 10 holes at the time.
She dropped back to level with a bogey five on the fifth after three-putting, and also bogeyed the last in a disappointing finish.
However, she recorded the same score as one of her playing partners Dean Wilson, who spent £2 on a 'Go Annika' badge earlier this week, and one better than the third member of the group, Aaron Barber.
Sorenstam is the first woman to play in a PGA Tour event in 58 years, and got her round off to a light-hearted start when she feigned a collapse after finding the fairway with her first tee shot.
Despite winning 43 times on the LPGA Tour, she has drawn harsh criticism from some PGA Tour members who said she should have had to qualify for the event.
The 32-year-old is playing on a sponsor's exemption, which was granted to her in February.