Ian Poulter is ranked 24th in the world. (Getty Images)

Inside the magazine, Poulter bared his soul as well, saying that if he could fulfill his potential, "it will be just me and Tiger." Bold words, to be sure. And a bit misunderstood? Definitely. But right there in black and white, all the same.

On Thursday at the Masters Tournament, Poulter was much more suitably attired in lime green pants, white shirt and green visor atop that spiked brown hair. And this time he let his golf clubs do the talking with a 2-under 70 that left him one stroke off the clubhouse lead.

Poulter said his round, which included an ace at the par-3 16th hole, was one of the best he has ever shot in a career that includes seven wins worldwide.

"You know, you don't have to go and shoot 61 for it to be the best round of golf you've ever played," Poulter said. "If I sit back home tonight and go through it for 10 minutes, I wouldn't want to putt the ball in any different positions from where I did today."

As for 16, he didn't have to putt at all. An extremely well-struck 8-iron landed 25 feet from the hole and rolled toward its target like it was launched by radar. The buzz from the crowd was "massive, unbelievable," Poulter said.

"It was a special moment, and the hairs on the back of your neck were standing up," he recalled. "There's an instant adrenaline rush. That's probably the biggest adrenaline rush I've had."

Poulter said he didn't come to Augusta National with anything to prove after his comments earlier this year. The 70 was his second sub-par score in 13 rounds in the Masters, matching the one he shot Sunday of last year.

Poulter only made on bogey in the first round. (Getty Images)

"I just wanted to play good golf to be honest," Poulter said. "It's not about proving anybody wrong to be honest. I fully believe in my own ability. You know, that's down to me to go out and just play good golf, and if I can get my mind set right, then I know I can go out there and achieve big things. But that's down to me to go down and do that."

Poulter, who made one birdie, an ace and a bogey on Thursday, said his comments in the magazine were taken the wrong way. His peers gave him some grief -- he says Tiger even has taken to calling him "No. 2" -- but some people thought he was actually tossing down the gauntlet.

The idea, Poulter says, was preposterous. He wasn't saying he'll race Tiger to see who could win a record 83 PGA TOUR events first -- he hasn't even won one yet.

"Look how far out in front Tiger Woods is to No. 2," Poulter explained. "We said it before, it's the equivalent of 2 to 1,000 in the world. Well, quite frankly, there's nobody in the same bracket as him; he is that good.

"And while he has got a golf club in his hand, I don't think anybody is going to knock him off that No. 1 spot. You have to be realistic I think with your goals."

Truth be told, Poulter admires Woods, who is just 11 days older. Poulter, who turned pro at the age of 18 and spent his early years working in a pro shop, says Woods' early success fueled his own desire.

"He's been a role model to be honest," Poulter said. "It just gave me a massive buzz to go out and start practicing harder and harder and harder 10 years ago, and it's nice to be playing golf in the same arena that he's playing golf in right now, because you have to test yourself."

Augusta National was a stern test in the first round, as well. Poulter said the course, dampened by rains last weekend and shrouded in fog Thursday morning, was playing quite long. He called his 70 a "very good score."

Added Poulter: "The fairways are soft. It's going to get a little shorter as the week goes on, so it's probably played as long as it's going to play all week. There was even a few tees today which were moved slightly forward I think for that very reason.

"When the wind is southeast or easterly, the tough holes play into the wind. You have 14, 7, 17; they are tricky golf holes, and they played into the wind today."

Poulter's goal for the rest of the week is to stay patient and within himself. Recent major victories by players such as Zach Johnson, who is defending at Augusta National, and Angel Cabrera and Padraig Harrington, who last year won the U.S. Open and British Open, respectively, are nothing if not confidence-builders.

"There's a certain golfer out there that is winning a lot of them, and that's who we talk about week in, week out, and with Paddy winning the Open, and Zach winning last year, anything is achievable," Poulter said.

Who knows what can happen come Sunday night? But the lime green pants notwithstanding, the man known for his flashy clothing line admits he doesn't own a green jacket.

"No, but I'd quite like to," Poulter said with a grin.