Former champion Sergio Garcia says he felt like he had "gone 12 rounds with Mike Tyson" after a windswept opening round at the 88th Masters.

Garcia was three over par with six holes remaining following a double bogey on the par-three 12th, but birdied the 13th, 15th and 16th to post a level-par 72.

"It was very tricky, not only because of the strength of the wind but the gusts," Garcia, who beat Justin Rose in a play-off to win the title at Augusta National in 2017, said.

"On this golf course you have to be so precise with everything you do and all the shots into the greens. Not only on the tee, off the tee, but into the greens.

"When you have wind like this that is gusting and you don't know if it's blowing five or 30 (miles per hour), it's very difficult.

"It happened to me a couple of times today where I felt like I hit a good shot. Ryan (Fox) hit a pitching wedge on 12 and hit it in the middle of the green about 15 feet away.

"I hit a nine iron and I was 15 yards shorter than him. I caught a big gust and made a double bogey.

"It's challenging, that's for sure.

"It feels like I've just gone 12 rounds against Mike Tyson. I'm looking forward to going home and rest."