Masters blog - day four at Augusta National

SERGIO GARCIA WINS THE MASTERS

0040: I don't know where to take the blog from here. I'm not sure we need anything else - Sergio Garcia has just won the Masters Tournament and everything in life is good.

Justin Rose could not have been more gracious, Garcia could not have been more ecstatic. He has fought so hard for this.

Twenty years of getting beaten up and he produces that golf at Augusta National. He follows his idols, Seve and Jose Maria, in winning a Green Jacket. 

He is a worthy champion. Good night.

0035: Never stop trying.

0033: There are no tears - yet. He's just so, so happy. What a performance. Happy birtthday, Seve.

0031: Sergio Garcia is the Masters champion. They're chanting his name. This is everything.

0030: MAKES IT!

0029: I'm not sure I believe I'm typing this. Two putts for the Masters. Seve's 60th birthday. Twenty years since last that maestro played this golf course.

0029: Low. Sergio has two putts for the Masters.

0028: Silence.

0028: Rose, then, from maybe 15 feet. It's a putt we've seen made so many times, and it's on the same line as the shorter version he missed not half an hour ago.

0027: For two decades, Sergio Garcia has been trying to win a major championship. All he needs now is for Rose to fail to make a putt, then surely, surely, he can take two.

0025: Rose needs the shot of his life. He needs Cabrera, 2013. 

He hates it, but it's not bad. He will have 18 or so feet. If he misses, Garcia has two putts for the Masters.

0024: Garcia now. How aggressive dare he be? Brilliant. Just brilliant. Inside 15 feet.

0023: Rose is a long way back and needs to bend this ball left-to-right, and low, under some branches. We're talking a Bubba shot from 2012. Not sure he can get to the green.

Rose bumps it out, and not very well. It might still be his turn.

0020: Past the 40-hour and 40,000 word mark with the blog. Nothing left.

That drive from Garcia helps. Right-hand side of the fairway.

0019: Miles right and he gets a huge kick left. Still in the pine straw but could've been worse.

0018: They're on the 18th tee. They go 18-10-18-10 and so on and so on. It's sudden death. There can be only one winner.

This time it's Rose to play.

0017: Tim: "This is too much."

Yep. We've all lost years of our lives tonight and it's been worth it.

0015: Mike: "Never hit the refresh button so much. Things a la the Arctics could not be tenser n your efforts have added to the event."

Appreciate that, Mike. Some people don't get sport, they don't get how much it matters to people like me, people like you, everyone who has stayed up with work tomorrow morning, unable to leave this drama. It's nice to have you along for the ride.

0014: Steve says: "Sergio can only win with a par, pray Rose bogeys here."

He won't be alone in thinking that. If Sergio thinks it, he's in trouble.

0012: I've just paced up and down and talked things though with Dave John, a far more emotionally balanced character than me. I had tears in my eyes as Sergio stood over that putt. It was there. It was his time.

0008: Garcia missed from five feet on 16, and from five feet on 18. Rose missed from seven feet on 17 and again on 18. Something has to give.

0007: Rose's putt was close. I suspect he hit his line. Garcia's started outside the right edge and stayed there. He looks baffled, but if anything that putt is left of centre. It always has been.

0006: A lovely embrace between the two. I just don't understand how you go again if you're Sergio here. He's got back up off the canvas so many times today, so many times in his career, but must surely be wondering how he's going to get that ball in the hole when it matters. The Masters was his to take.

0005: He's missed. And it wasn't close. He blocked it right. Play-off.

0003: Rose to putt. Misses. Sergio has six or seven feet for the Masters. I'm shaking. I know it isn't anything about me, but I know you're shaking too.

0001: Rose was lucky there, absolutely no doubt. He has around eight feet and a flat putt. Sergio might have seven but downhill. I fear I know what happens. I hope so much that I'm wrong.

0000: Oh, Sergio! What a shot. He's inside Rose. What a shot. How tough is this guy? Both make them and let's have some more.

2359: Wow. Rose pushes it, hits the bank, and bounces left to 10 feet. Garcia's career summed up.

2358: Rose first. The club has been chosen. Remember that four-iron he hit at Merion to seal it? That will be on his mind. The club this time will be more like eight.

2357: Rose is maybe 15 yards behind Garcia.

2356: Moore finishes ninth, tied with Scott. Chappell and Rory share eighth, Casey is sixth, Kuchar and Pieters share fourth, Schwartzel third.

Unfortunately, one of these two has to be second.

2355: While they walk up, Fowler finished 5-4-5-5 for 76 and a share of 11th. A disappointing Sunday and it'll take some recovering from I suspect.

Spieth shoots 75 to also finish 11th. Georgia's Russell Henley, the last man into the field, is there too with Koepka and Hideki. They all earn 2018 invites.

2354: Rose, as tough as they come, hits an equally good drive and, perhaps crucially, will play first.

2353: Over to you, Justin. There will have been few better drives at 18 all day. Tell me this guy has no bottle. Just simply is not true.

2352: Garcia first. So important that he finds his best. This hole does set up for the squeeze cut of his. Double-cross and it's trouble left. Overdo it and it's in trees to the right.

2352: Makes it. We're tied at nine-under.

2351: Rose. Must be six feet. And he misses low - a tentative stroke from him, too.

Please, Sergio, make this putt. Take us to the 72nd tied.

2350: Garcia now, for birdie. Not much to this but it is slow - can he get it to the hole?

No is the answer. With the Masters on the line, he's produced two very poor putts on 16 and 17 and he's not guaranteed a par yet.

Rose to putt first.

2348: It's good from Rose, underneath the hole and inside five feet perhaps, certainly not much more than five if at all.

All the superlatives are not enough to describe Rose's performance today. It's been a masterclass in patience, courage, skill. And he's still not shaken off the Spaniard.

2346: Garcia's ball is a little further than first thought. It was another iron straight at the flag, but a club short. You can't go long on 17, though.

It's odds-on they both par, but clearly Garcia should have at least one chance to get the shot back, maybe two.

2345: Caddie says go and he's right - but it's safely on the green. Twenty feet, no more than that. Rose has a good lie in the bunker. 

2344: Rose now, around 170 to go from the first cut. Uphill lie. Wind slightly off the right - what there is.

He likes it I believe... but it comes up short in the bunker. Sergio, what can you do now?

His last four iron shots have been of the highest quality. He needs another.

2341: Rose is again a long way back of Garcia as he takes a drop from a sprinkler just to further prolong this drama.

It's been a good while - four years - since this tournament was still on the line at the 72nd hole.

2338: It's a beauty. Low, left-to-right, miles down there - that's Sergio's go-to shot. He needs another iron of the highest quality to try to get back on level terms here.

This duel deserves a play-off.

2337: Rose goes right off the tee but it's just about ok - in the first cut. Garcia needs to find his best once more but how deflated he must be after 16.

2335: I can't find words for this. Rose has just produced the birdie of his life given what had happened at 13, 14 and 15.

Can Garcia reply? No. The lead returns to Rose's hands. That was a really poor stroke. All Rose's doing. Sergio will have thought after his ball came to rest that he had taken control. Two blows from Rose and it's back in his hands.

2334: Rose first. It's there.

2332: Rose's putt is probably easier - it's certainly slower and I imagine a good deal straighter. Garcia's is beyond the pin and breaks left to right, although maybe not quite as much as you'd think.

2331: Rose's shot was so brave. He didn't use the slope - he went right at it. Anything but a perfect strike and he was in big trouble, tournament over. He got the distance spot on, as he so often does.

2330: Sergio. Brilliant. Inside six feet. We end this day crying whatever happens don't we?

Rose loves it. And so he should - maybe six inches further away. High five between them. What men.

2328: How good is that from Rose? Birdie and he's level. Off to 16.

These two friends walk off the green together, Rose giving Garcia a nod of approval. In a career of getting beaten up on the golf course when it matters most, this is a show of extraordinary course, extraordinary resolve.

Come on Sergio. Stick it in tight at 16.

2327: Saliva left my mouth just then. Control has been lost. My heart rate is dangerously high. Rose's must be higher.

2326: Garcia, for eagle... IN!

2325: Good leave from Rose, maybe six feet at most beneath the hole.

2324: It's 14 feet for Garcia, over 50 for Rose.

2323: He's a yard from being stone dead there. It pitches six feet left of the hole and that's where the ridge is. In fact it may have even hit the flag! It did, it hit the flag. Wow. Bad break, but awesome shot.

2322: What. A. Shot. Almost lands flush in the hole and while it spins away to the left, he has 25 feet at most for eagle.

2321: Rose then, and he wants it to come down.... which it does. It's left of target by quite some way but in the fringe and he'll have a reasonably easy putt across the green.

Garcia needs to find the putting surface here.

2320: Were he to par home, Garcia would be the only player in the field to break par all four days, and he'd likely finish second. That would rather sum up his career, wouldn't it?

But whatever happens this week, with the team he has around him now, they'll surely be able to use his performance as evidence that he can win one of these.

Maybe they won't have to. He's a good 30 yards beyond Rose at 15.

2318: Fowler bogeys 16, missing from five feet. No idea how he's going to contrive not to place here but I suppose you'd say the same about Scott (10th) and Spieth (15th).

2316: Garcia's drive is not far off as big as Pieters'. Stunning and down the middle.

Can Rose respond? Yes is the answer. Of course he can. Not quite as good as Sergio's but he will play first and there are few better from the sort of range we have coming up.

2314: Credit to Rose, he also makes it. He saw off the Open champion in Rio last summer, and he say off Phil at the US Open in 2013. He knows what it takes and that putt was all heart.

2313: Garcia makes it. This is really brave. Imagine, being beaten time and again for 20 years. And getting up for more.

2312: Rose now and I wouldn't be certain he's closer than Garcia after that birdie putt. Too high, too fast, and five feet down the hill to come - at least.

Garcia is closer than he looked at first. Another huge moment coming here at 14.

2311: Spieth birdied 15 and has a great chance on 16 but that will only get him back to level should it go in.

Fowler misses left, again, and is in sand. Clinging on for the place payout here.

2310: Pieters makes par to tie the clubhouse lead with Kuchar.

2308: Stunner. It's not stone dead, but it's inside 10 feet.

2308: It's short and left but does catch some of the slope, so he'll have 40 feet up the slope. Not his best, but safe enough when you're leading by two.

Now Sergio. He has to make something happen and it has to be now.

2307: Rose will play first at 14. This pin is so tempting and you have no choice but to attack it - it's that or you're putting up a ridge and will do well to make par.

So, he'll aim this 20 feet left of the pin and if he gets it right, it could even go in...

2305: Pieters on 18. Just a wedge... and it's good, almost exactly where Casey just holed out from. If that goes in, Pieters posts six-under and a guaranteed top-three finish on his Masters debut.

Only Fuzzy Zoeller has won this on debut in the last 80 or 90 years. Spieth finished second. A similar finish for Pieters would go down as exceptional.

2303: Another pull from Fowler, this time with his third to 15. He has a long-range birdie putt, not dissimilar to the one he made yesterday.

Garcia hits a good drive at 14 but it feeds right and into the first cut. It's not necessarily a bad thing but given how accessible that 14th pin is, playing from the fairway is a positive so it's advantage Rose.

Casey meanwhile signs off with a birdie for 68, currently tied for sixth with Fowler. At the same hole just earlier, Rory made a good par save and that's bad news for the layers who went eight places - he'd tied eighth currently.

2302: A nice par at 18 sees Kuchar post 67 for five-under. It won't be enough to win, but he's tied for third which would equal his previous best here in 2012, which is also his previous best in any major.

Rose, to his immense credit, rips one down the 14th fairway.

2300: Well done Sergio. Seventy-one majors in succession he's played. He's flawed, we know that, but he does not stop trying.

Rose, for birdie... misses it. Could there be one final twist? No doubt Rose is playing better, no doubt Rose is more qualified, but walking off 13 as you were is a huge boost for Garcia. He just has to make something happen for himself now.

2257: Sensibly, Rose putts at 13 and he judges it to perfection. In fact... it very nearly goes in. So steep is that slope that he'll have maybe even eight feet for his birdie.

Best case for Garcia is he makes, Rose misses, the lead tremains two. Worst case is the reverse, in which case the lead would be four and they can start measuring up the jacket.

2255: Garcia is further back than it first looked and it's a simply stunning wedge to get inside 10 feet. Must make. Absolutely must make.

2251: This is really hard to watch. Justin Rose is a lovely man, and would be a worthy winner. He's still got work to do, too - he can't think this is over, because it isn't, not quite.

But as a near neutral (OK, I'm not anywhere near being a neutral), a close battle looked guaranteed today. Spieth, Fowler and now Garcia have failed to produce the goods - the best round of the final 10 players on the course is Pieters', but he's never been all that close in truth.

It's all very 2014, when I felt Bubba wrapped up the tournament at 13.

A small chink for Garcia, at least, as Rose goes long on the par-five. From there it's a really fast chip and he'll do well to make birdie. 

The Spaniard simply must put some pressure on by pitching close. Or conjuring some kind of Seve magic and pitching in.

2249: Schwartzel birdies the 15th hole, a good two-putt. He needs his 2011 finish to have a chance - birdies home for eight-under, but right now Rose is going to beat that I suspect.

2247: No word yet on Garcia's drive. If it's in the hazard, Rose is on the brink here. And it is. Oh dear.

2245: Nothing worse than birdie will do for Sergio here on 13.

First to go is Rose, and it's perfect.

Sergio now and he says 'get right just a little' which is worrying. It's very hard to get over those trees with his ball-flight, which is flatter than Rose's.

Fowler hits another poor iron shot to the inviting 14th green and unless he can find some magic with the putter, he's out of this soon.

Pieters is probably done now, too, as he bogeys 16.

2241: Garcia's birdie putt comes up a foot or two short. Solid enough and he'll head to 13 looking to set up an eagle chance.

Rose now... can he further close the door here? Not quite - it's a fine putt but it just dies right at the hole. He's still got two feet for par but it looks like the hole is halved in three so to speak.

At 16, Pieters will have around eight feet for par.

2240: Pieters misses left at 16. Credit to him though - he's got eyes only for flags and that's because he's only interested in winning.

Scott's hopes are definitely over now as he finds water at the par-five 15th.

Given that Kuchar has only one hole left, the potential winners of this event are Rose, Garcia, Pieters and maybe Fowler at a push. A big push.

Schwartzel is level with Fowler at four-under but is running out of holes and may need to make his 60-foot eagle putt at 15.

2237: Rich Beem says go for the flag, Padraig says don't. Sergio goes sensibly left, further left than Rose, and will at least have the chance to putt first and maybe, just maybe, hole one.

Fowler birdies 13. He probably needs to birdie 14, 15, 16, 17 and maybe even 18.

2235: Rose says 'go' when his ball is in the air but it's perfect - straight over the bunker, the sensible route, and 20 feet away.

Will Sergio go the same way or will he attack this flag? All or nothing if he does.

2233: Rose misses, a reprieve of sorts for Sergio and the rest of the chasing pack.

Chappell signs for a 68 thanks to a birdie at 18 and he's tied for seventh. 

Over to 15, Pieters has an eagle putt from 25 feet... which he hangs out to the left. Should be a birdie, though, and that would see him within two.

Pieters taps in and that's four birdies in a row. It shows you what can be done, but the only person close enough with those holes coming is Garcia and he needs to turn things around after a series of bad shots to begin this nine.

2231: Scott birdies 14 but he's just too far back given the way Rose is playing. 

Garcia now, 15 feet or more and it's quick. Wide. Rose has a putt to go three clear.

2229: Fowler needs eagle at 13 and takes it on but is on the top tier, putting downhill from 35 feet.

Back to 11, Garcia is putting from the front, maybe 100 feet, and it's not great. I'm amazed he hasn't chipped that and he'll be going again before Rose putts for birdie.

How quickly the shape of this tournament has changed. Garcia has to find something - a par save here, a birdie at 12, an eagle at 13. Something.

2227: If Rose makes and Sergio doesn't get up and down, the Englishman will lead by three.

Scott meanwhile has a short birdie putt coming at 14, which would see him move to four-under. Alongside him, a pulled wedge from Schwartzel will likely end his challenge - he has 50 feet for par.

2225: It's a massive drive from the Belgian at 15, too. He'll be hitting something like a seven-iron into the par-five and he won't be holding back.

This could be the tournament for Sergio. He's in the pine straw, a tree in front of him, water to the left...

It's a magical shot, with a bit of luck too, and he's on the front edge of the green. This pair by the way are out of position - any other week they'd surely be getting told to speed up.

Remember when they gave a 14-year-old a slow-play penalty at Augusta? Easy target. I promise you they won't do that here.

Rose now and he's taking control. Inside 12 feet.

2222: Pieters does birdie 14. He's three back.

2220: Pieters, at four-under, has seven feet for birdie at 14 and could yet launch a late challenge as Scott gets to three-under, five back, with a four at the par-five 13th.

Rory birdies 16 but loses the hole to Kuchar's one. As I mentioned about five hours ago, Rory has broken 70 on Sunday Augusta the last two years from too far back.

Repeat.

2218: ACE! Kuchar makes a hole-in-one at 16 and leaps to five-under. Two more birdies would at least post a total to think about...

Fowler at 12 hits a modest second and has six feet for par, while Garcia's drive is in the pine straw whereas Rose is dead centre.

Garcia needs to cling on here. This reminds me a little of Bubba's second win; it was this point of the tournament where he basically put it to bed. Rose could be a couple of swings from doing the same.

Fowler bogey. It's been a miserable effort from this penultimate pairing.

2217: Worth a reminder that the top 12 and ties get invited back for next year. Almost all of the current top 12 will be back regardless, but for players like Chappell (T7, playing 18) and Hoffman (T7 playing 13), getting that spot wrapped up early will be a definite target.

2215: As Rory misses another putt at 15, I can't imagine how frustrated he must be. Not for the first time, he's played nowhere near his best at Augusta - and he's seventh.

Rose pars 10 to take the lead. Over at 12, it's a familiar ending for Spieth as his tee-shot finds water. He was out of this already but that will sting.

Fowler finds sand and simply has to get that up and down. Then he needs fireworks.

2213: Kuchar should save par after finding water at the 15th, via the crowd. He's five back and out of time.

I really see this as the current front five and that's pushing it, even as Garcia bogeys 10.

2211: Garcia just has no shot and actually does well to cling on to the fringe on the other side of the green. He'll have 40 feet uphill for par and must make sure he makes his five.

Rose now, pitching up to 10. Not his strength... but this is a good one, leaving five feet for par. We're likely to have a new, clear leader very shortly.

2209: Fowler bogeys 11. He needs to find three birdies from 12 to 15.

2208: Fowler's long-game woes catch up with him at 11 and he has 25 feet for par. Horrible few minutes here if, like me, you're emotionally and financially invested in both Garcia and Fowler.

2206: Good break for Fowler on 11 but his second shot is too long and through the green. Another up and down needed to keep in touch with these two.

Garcia is first to play at 10 and, after backing off, he hates it. It's way, way right and towards some bushes. Even if he has a shot, it's horrible.

Rose now and his is short of the green. His shot will be easier, regardless of whether Sergio's ball is anywhere in play. Ah, now we see - Garcia is in the pine straw. He has no shot that I can see and may have to nudge it into the bunker.

Pieters birdie at 13. Four back.

2200: Rose first at 10. Three-wood. And he hangs it out to the right. It's short enough not to make trees but not anywhere close to where he wanted it.

Garcia next. He's got less than driver, too, as he looks to turn one off the right. Unfortunately he's also gone right. His ball is on the fairway but possibly further back than Rose's.

Tree trouble for Fowler at 11. It's the back-nine on Masters Sunday and all of a sudden these wide fairways become awful hard to hit for some.

2156: Spieth bogeys 10 and his goose is cooked - he's seven back, three-over today, and out of this.

Rose and Garcia tidy up and still have this between themselves for now. Schwartzel has half a chance at 12, while Rickie heads to the tough 11th.

2155: Garcia now, for birdie, down the slope... and always left. The putter has cost him on the last two holes.

2154: To 10 and Fowler's putt looks in for all money to my eye, but just stays high. It's a par and he's just putting too much pressure on the putter.

Still just three back, mind you.

Back ast nine, Rose's birdie putt goes just a couple of feet past and he should make par.

2153: Fowler's second to 10 is solid enough but above and beyond the hole, leaving a lot of work to get close never mind threaten the hole.

At nine, Rose is first and it's up above the hole, leaving a really delicate 40-footer.

Garcia next and it's very good, inside 10 feet. Huge drive, superbly-controlled wedge, birdie chance.

2151: Gary writes: "Evening Ben from Brittany.

"I've managed to get the Mrs and kids in bed early so can listen to the golf.

"I'm on Garcia at 40s and a bit more at 7s plus a two-ball double Casey and Garcia.

"Could do with a result, my last golf bet was a two-ball at Bay Hill, Snedeker 2 up 1 to play, yep you guessed it he bogeyed and opponent birdied. Cost me a monkey. 

"Love Rose but wish he would go away!

"No laying off, surely it's fate, Seve's birthday..."

We've all been there, Gary. Including Brittany - what a lovely part of the world. Heading there myself in June.

To business, and I hope you're right. I'm very fond of Rose, but twice this year I wrote about how big an eye-catcher he was for the Masters, only to decide his short-game demons would cost him.

And here I am, cheering on the demon-ridden Garcia. Come on Sergio.

2147: Pieters birdies 12 to get to three-under, but Hoffman drops out of that group with a bogey at 10 where Moore can't make his birdie putt.

2145: Rory gets his birdie at 13 and is two-under, one shot off third but six off first. His chance to win has disappeared with the quality play of the final pair.

It's definitely helped Garcia to be playing with a friend in Rose, who now has all the momentum. Three in a row and he's eight under.

He sighs after his drive on nine, but it's on the fairway and no bother at all.

Over to 11, Schwartzel, for birdie, 10 feet... and it's there. He's within four and remember, it was Schwartzel who birdied in from 15 to win this in 2011.

2142: Garcia now, left-to-right, eight feet... and it's wide. It just didn't break and we have a tie.

2141: Rose first... 15 feet... in every step of the way. Over to you, Sergio.

2140: Another big moment coming at the eighth as both Garcia and Rose are a little heavy-handed. Sergio is much closer but Rose could put some pressure on first.

Ahead to nine and Fowler again hits a poor iron followed by a good chip. It's a par.

2136: Fowler finds the ninth fairway - next job is to find the correct tier. It's a huge birdie chance if you can do that.

Back to the eighth and Rose lays up just in front of the green, a position from which he should get close.

Garcia now, iron in hand, 203 to cover, and he's not keen on it. Certainly not his best but it's two yards short of the green, only 40 feet from the pin.

2133: Stricker signs for a closing 68 to sit level. That could be enough to be top senior - he's level with Couples, who is playing the 15th. Some nervous punters observing his progress, no doubt.

2132: Rahm shoes what can be done with an eagle at the 13th. He's one-under for his Masters debut. For that he wil get a nice crystal trinklet.

2131: Sergio is hitting the biggest drives of his career today and will have iron into eight from the middle of the fairway.

Fowler, up ahead, cleans up for birdie. He's level today and the big danger to the front two despite still struggling tee-to-green.

For him, everything will depend on whether he can find a swing to trust on the back-nine. The way he's hitting it right now he just won't have enough birdie chances.

2128: Fowler's short game is the heir to Mickelson's. So creative; he can bump them, fly them, spin them, whatever he wants.

We see evidence of it at eight and he will have three feet for birdie to keep in touch with the leaders.

Back on the tee, Rose goes left and into the first cut. It'll help get some juice on his three-wood but he will have to move the ball hard right-to-left.

2127: Casey's second at 11 was, understandably, right of the hole and in the bunker. From there he has to be cautious and he'll have 15 feet for par.

As Fowler goes left of the green at eight, this really does look like it's developing into a duel.

Casey now... and it's a bogey.

2125: Trademark Sergio fist-pump - nobody does it like he does it - to salute a par save which just, and I mean just, catches the right lip. Fine margins.

Rose now... and he makes three. Back within one having been three behind two holes ago.

2123: Matsuyama does make his par save and is currently T12 having finished at one-under. He just went off the boil in the run-up to the Masters but you can probably expect to see him contend for majors later this summer.

2122: Big moment coming up at the seventh. Garcia will putt for par before Rose putts for birdie - the Spaniard having come up six or seven feet short in trying to use the contours.

2121: Hideki almost chips in at 18 and should polish off a lovely round of 67, which I suspect won't be beaten today.

Fowler bombs one down the ninth fairway as he goes in search of his second birdie of the day.

2120: Textbook from Rose, almost holing his approach, and he will have four or five feet up the hill for birdie.

Should Garcia fail to get up and down and Rose make his putt, we will have a tie at the top.

2119: Garcia has to hit a low, raking hook at seven and does really well to find sand. It's a slightly hanging lie and he'll need to use the contours, but he has a good chance to save par.

Rose, though, will smell an opportunity. He's in the fairway and we've seen hole-out eagles here.

2117: Plenty have got in close at nine and the latest is Schwartzel, who goes out in 35 and is five back.

Casey goes left off the 11th tee and surely can't attack the flag from there while up ahead, Rory makes par to remain seven back.

Birdie for Hoffman at eight following a double-bogey at seven and Harrington says the California man lacks imagination when he gets out of position.

2116: Spieth now for par to remain within six... and this one drops. 

Fowler's birdie try comes up short which means he's still putting down the slope, but he too mops up for par.

Spieth certainly needs to take advantage of the par-five eighth and Fowler could do with it, too.

2114: Kaymer drops one at 18 and that's a round of 68. Matsuyama is on for 67 if he can par the last and both are close to the top 10.

Spieth's chip at seven is really poor and he has 12 feet uphill for par.

Back on the tee, Rose hits a fine drive and Garcia has to back off due to some rumblings in the crowd... the officials won't hesitate to eject any offenders.

Garcia finally steps up to hit it and it's left, Fowler country.

2111: Good save, Sergio. There was work to do there and he's taken care of it.

It's Garcia by two to Rose, another two back to Casey and Fowler, and then Scott and Moore both five back.

The group on two-under is a large one and I've no doubt one of them will make a run. So much depends on what Garcia can do from here.

It sounds simple, but if he can play the remaining 12 holes in two-under, he'll take this out of the reach of everyone bar Rose, who would have to produce sensational golf to force a play-off.

And yet, as we saw last year, no lead at Augusta is big enough (except the one where you lead by about 10, and the one where you lead by five playing the last).

2110: Spieth's second to the seventh is way short and he'll be chipping, whereas Fowler finds a gap and a shot and will have a fast but doable birdie putt from 25 feet.

At six, Rose makes a real point of celebrating his first birdie of the day and he's two back as Casey pars 10.

2108: So far for Garcia, it's been serene. Yes, a good two-putt at five but he got a good read on that from Rose, likewise at the fourth.

Here's the first real test. He has five-feet of break, around five feet to climb, too, and this could easily go horribly wrong.

Here we go... it's another really good approach putt. He's improved so much in that domain over the last three years and has three feet for par.

2106: More good stuff from Casey, who will have 35 feet up the hill on 10. Compatriot Westwood turns in 35, two-under. He's wearing the same shade Willett wore alongside him last year.

Not sure Willett's was Dunlop mind.

2104: Garcia plays a cut to six but the ball doesn't behave and he's going to be putting from one ridge to another.

Much more like it from Rose as he finds the top deck and will have a good chance from just outside 12 feet. Could be a two-shot swing coming there.

Fowler on seven plays a very poor three-wood to the left. Such an accessible pin if you find the fairway, as Spieth has done. I'd back him to make three from there.

2102: Westwood has a great chance at nine - that to climb inside the top 10. Scott misses a birdie putt at the eighth but Moore taps in on seven to join him at three-under.

The only players who started the day under-par and are under-par for the round are Garcia and Pieters, and the big move has come from Casey who is four-under for the day and for the tournament.

2100: Fowler makes, Spieth misses, and it's a double for Hoffman at seven.

2059: Fowler plays a craft chip at six. Spieth's took in all the break; he was hoping he might hole it.

Fowler took out the break, knowing he would definitely miss the hole low but equally wouldn't run far past. He's inside five feet, Spieth twice that.

Casey birdies the ninth. I'm sorry, but if Paul Casey steals a major from Sergio Garcia, I will be furious.

2058: Spieth's pitch at six isn't great and he'll have 10 feet down the hill for par. We're getting towards must-make - he'll be six back if he misses.

Hoffman is about to drop at least one at the seventh and Rose does drop one at five. Sergio's lead is three and everyone is struggling except the Spaniard.

2057: Rose putts from one end of the green to the other and has at least 12 feet, probably more, for par.

At seven, Moore is the latest to hit it tight while Casey is close in at the ninth and could be about to join the group at four-under.

Back to the leader and Garcia's putt is just beautiful. Another par ticked off.

2055: Rob Lee goes with 'future Masters winner, no doubt about it," in referring to Pieters. Baffles me how learned pundits, particularly ex-players, hand out majors like there are 20 a year.

Pieters will play 20 of these if he's lucky with form and fitness and everything else and if he wins one he'll have done really well.

Enormous talent, but the list of brilliant players who didn't win the Masters is much longer than the list of brilliant players who did. Let's just see how he goes shall we?

2053: Spieth comes up short at the sixth. Fowler will be really aggressive with his shot, you can be sure of that, but can he execute and does he have the right club?

The answer to at least one of those is 'no', as he too comes up short. That wasn't even close and Butch sounds furious with his man.

"You're not gonna win this great tournament with shots like those," he spits. And he is right.

2051: Rose backs off his shot from around 185 yards. It's a great angle but the target here is tiny.

Rose also comes up short and his ball does fall back onto the lower tier.

2050: Spieth's par putt at the fifth only just sneaks in the side. Both he and Fowler need to find a spark but there's time and it wouldn't surprise if they both started feeding off each other at some point.

Back in the fairway, a first mistake from Garcia but his ball somehow stays on the correct tier. It's some way short but on the green and two putts will secure him a par on a really tough hole.

2048: Spieth's putt at five is high and firm and misses; at six, Hoffman's is low and weak and also misses.

Back to five and a big putt for Fowler... which he misses. He was one shot off the lead walking off the third green. He's four adrift walking off the fifth.

At 18, Hagestad wraps up the Silver Cup with a closing par. Stupendous effort. Reminder: he is a part-time golfer. This is not his career. Amazing.

2046: So, the only man under-par from the last five groups is Sergio Garcia.

2045: Less than driver for Garcia at the fifth and it's another fairway - he's hit four from four and all four greens so far, too.

Casey joins Scott and Spieth at three-under, Scott having made par at seven.

Rose meanwhile finds the fifth fairway, too.

Up ahead at the green, Fowler's pitch is just inside 10 feet. He made all of those yesterday. He's missed one of them already today. Needs this one.

2042: Garcia and Rose both par the fourth. It's far too soon to call this a two-way battle but if Fowler bogeys five, they will have daylight over the field.

Rose's save is really good - he was 74 feet away with his tee-shot.

At seven, Scott has a mid-range birdie putt while Casey also has a chance up at the eighth. Holes seven and eight are definite birdie chances coming up for the leaders.

2040: As good as it gets from Rose at the fourth and he will have three feet for his par.

At the fifth, Fowler isn't keen on his second and it's almost exactly where Hoffman was, which means a tricky pitch. After a birdie at the third, the momentum has gone for now.

Spieth at fifth hits a super approach to 20 feet under the hole. It's remarkable how quickly he has worked out where to be and where not to be here.

2038: An update on some of the European challengers other than Rose...

McIlroy made birdie at eight following a couple of good scrambles and is one-under, not quite out of it just yet but clearly in need of something sensational.

Westwood birdied seven to get back under par, as is Pieters, and ahead of them, Kaymer is five-under through 15 for the day, one-under overall. They're all tied for 11th.

Casey is one place better, tied seventh with Couples, Schwartzel and Moore.

2035: Garcia's tee-shot on four is the better of the two and he'll have Spieth's putt from 45 feet. It's hard to make but, in theory at least, quite easy to lag close.

Rose is a further 20 feet left of Garcia and facing a much more challenging two-putt, as Hoffman bogeys the fifth.

2032: Scott for birdie at six.... and he makes one. He's level with Spieth now, five shots back at three-under.

Now Fowler, from probably as much as 12 feet in actual fact, and he misses. Three back.

If Garcia could've drawn up an ideal start, it would've involved neither Fowler nor Spieth playing the first four in under par, and gaining a couple of shots on Rose with some early birdies of his own.

Can't say it enough though: there's a long way to go. They say the Masters doesn't begin until the back-nine on Sunday and we're still a good way from that.

2030: Fowler can't quite get up to the pin with his second at the fourth. His 100% sand-saves record is under threat as he has at least eight feet for par.

Spieth thinks he's made a long-range birdie putt but it just runs out of steam.

2028: Hoffman. Cart path. Hybrid. Not a great surprise that he comes up short and right and it'll take a great third shot to get that close.

Garcia now for birdie and a two-shot lead... makes it! He's had three chances, he's taken two of them, and he leads with daylight at Augusta.

2027: Not mad on Butch as a pundit - you have to wade through a lot of dross for the occasional gem.

But I tell you what, he comes into his own at Augusta. Infectious excitement all week.

At the third, Garcia's chip is just lovely and he will face a curling 10-foot birdie chance. Rose does what Spieth could not and chips inside four feet.

2025: If Rose has a weakness, it's pitching, and his second to the third goes through the green.

Sergio could be wise to pitch out to the right and leave himself 20 feet here, but with those hands who knows what he might try?

Fowler short and bunkered at four - that was an aggressive line but just a yard or two short. All now depends on the lie.

2023: This leaderboard has thinned out considerably as Moore drops another, Spieth makes bogey at three and Scott makes bogey at four.

There are now four players within two of the lead and then a gap to Spieth, who was two back starting the day but is now four off Garcia's lead.

2020: Driver for Garcia at the third and to underline how good Scott's shot was, he's 30 yards short perhaps.

Up at the green, Spieth... misses on the low side and still has four feet for bogey.

Rose also hits driver and he'd be a little longer than Garcia usually. Today they're just about side-by-side - Rose maybe 10 yards shorter.

Back to the green, Fowler... birdie. Within one.

2018: Spieth takes a wide stance at the third and plays a bump into the bank with check, which comes up short. He has work to do for par.

At the fourth, Hoffman's birdie putt is brilliant from a long way and he should make par with little fuss.

2016: Sergio, for birdie... and that was not a good putt. Rose has five feet to tie the lead once more as Spieth goes long at the second.

Rose now for his birdie... and he also misses. That was a much more straightforward putt and he should've made it.

2014: "Argh, Jordan," says Spieth after a pull off the third tee. He's really lucky though, coming to rest on a small patch of grass between bunkers.

Garcia's third does use those slops and he too will have five feet for birdie. A trickier putt than Rose's but a good chance.

At the third, Fowler, from the fairway, hits a beauty to six feet. It's straight downhill but an obvious chance to get off and running.

2013: Rose plays a beautiful third shot, landing it on a sixpence, and will have five feet for birdie. Huge shot.

2012: Rose's lay-up from sand at the second isn't his best - he misses the fairway left and while the angle will open up the green, it's not going to be easy to control that.

Another green hit, another putt missed for Scott at the fourth, where Schwartzel makes a good save. He's five back at two-under with Couples and Casey...who saves par at the sixth.

2009: Garcia's drive goes 360 yards. His longest drive on the PGA Tour last season was measured at 339.

Unfortunately he can't take advantage, coming up short and in sand. He's quite a way back, too, so will need to use the slope to get that ball close.

It's a double for Moore at the third as Hoffman's birdie try misses.

2007: Pretty special from Spieth as he bounces back with a birdie at the second.

He made a nine on Thursday and birdied the next and that just says so much about him.

2006: My least favourite pin today is at six - I thought they might go front-left, which is where Casey's ball ends up after his tee-shot fails to get to the top ridge.

At the second, Fowler chips to within two feet but will be a little frustrated not to make birdie after the tee-shot.

Moore has eight feet, maybe seven, for bogey at the second.

2004: Spieth's bunker shot is really creative as he takes all the spin off and runs his ball down towards the hole, with 10 feet up the hill left.

Kaymer birdies 13 - that's five in a row - and is under-par for the Masters.

Moore is in big trouble at three but Hoffman has a birdie chance while back at two, Fowler's chip is heavy-handed and through the green, 15 feet from the flag.

2003: Garcia's drive down the second is just awesome. There is a heck of a long way to go here but driving the ball like that must give him enormous confidence.

Rose next. He was way left here yesterday, but this time leaks one right and into sand.

2000: Spieth's second to the second is short and left and he faces a lengthy bunker shot, something like 35 yards across the green.

Schwartzel meanwhile drops a shot at the third. We have a little gap between the leading five and the rest - and I stress little.

Garcia for birdie... in the middle. What a start that is for the Spaniard.

1959: Two good swings from Fowler at the second but his approach just doesn't quite cut enough and he'll be chipping down to the flag. That's seriously quick.

Rose for par... in the middle and that's an important save.

1957: It might still be Rose to play at the first - his chip is good but he still has five or six feet for par.

Another birdie for Hagestad and top amateur honours are almost his, but back at three Scott misses from a couple of feet. The story of his week.

1955: Moore from 11 feet - and he makes it. That's an excellent start and he's within one and Hoffman follows him in.

Ahead at the third, Scott drives the green. No - he drives through the green. That's an amazing strike but he's got a devilishly tricky chip to come.

Scott chips it to within three feet.

1954: Rose comes up short with his approach to the first, very close to where Spieth was minutes ago.

Now Sergio, from the middle of the fairway, and he almost lands the thing in the hole. Six feet for birdie. I'm dangerously clammy already.

1952: By far Martin Kaymer's best Masters, this, and that's despite playing holes 10-15 in seven-over on Thursday.

Today, he birdies nine, 10, 11 and 12, something which may never have been done before at Augusta (probably has but not by many). He's tied 12th.

Surely, the German wins again soon.

1950: Fowler's shot at the first is pure wizardy to around a foot. Spieth's is also good and he'll have five feet as Casey makes a good save at the fourth. Lovely start from the man who calls himself PC.

Spieth, for par... misses. Fowler taps in for his par.

1947: As you'd expect, Rose finds the first fairway with three-wood. He'll have something in the region of 170 yards in from there.

Garcia chooses driver, and why not? On any other day he's among the best in the world with the big stick.

Today, of course, isn't any other day... but he smokes it down the middle. Perfect.

1945: Scott's birdie try at the second goes begging as Westwood bogeys the third. No real fireworks bar those from Casey just yet. Schwartzel does make birdie, though, and joins Scott at three-under.

1943: Fowler spends as long over this shot as I've seen him spend over any and it's because he's opted for a big, curving fade. Big risk and it doesn't quite pay off, although he's just short of the green.

Today has been billed by some as short-game (Spieth, Fowler) chasing ball-striking (Rose, Garcia). Spieth and Fowler both need to showcase their best here.

1942: Spieth, from a downslope in the sand, just fails to get up onto the first green and now faces a similar chip to that which Schwartzel just about coped with.

Fowler is much further in the bunker and while it's only 154 yards, he's looking at lay-up options. The pin is in a little bowl here and being 50 yards short is no disaster.

1940: Hagestad is one roll from an eagle at 13 and now leads Luck by three. At four, Casey finds the green and will have 35 feet for birdie; up ahead it was a bogey for Rory and his race may be run.

1939: Moore misses from nine feet and Hoffman from 14 at the first. Over at three, Casey makes a mid-range birdie putt and is two-under. A fine start for this habitual Augusta contender, who missed a short eagle try on two.

1937: It's just a par for Westy at the second despite a good bunker shot to six feet. Pieters does make his four to get within four as Fowler steps on the tee.

It's driver and it's sand for Fowler. A mistake and from there he probably can't reach the green.

Spieth next, a club less, and also bunkered. The difference at first glance is that Spieth doesn't have much of a lip to contend with and that could mean he can reach.

1932: It's a closing bogey from Luck and a disappointing finish to a fine rally over the closing holes.

You'll be hearing a lot of him in the future whether low amateur here or not.

Moore was low amateur 12 years ago but he's in the mix to win this thing and both he and Hoffman have birdie chances at the first.

1930: Scott's birdie try misses at the first but, unlike some of yesterday's efforts, it is a good, aggressive putt.

Alongside him, Schwartzel gets up and down despite a so-so chip. 

At the fourth, Rory is left of target. On the green, but a long way from the hole. He's struggled to cut the ball all week.

1926: 4-4-4 start for McIlroy, which is what the leaders have spent the night dreaming of. For Rory, it's a shot shy of the aim I would suspect.

At 18, Luck missed the green, in fact, and has five feet for par and +8 overall.

1924: The top amateur gap is one after a Hagestad bogey and a birdie for Luck, who now finds the green at 18. Going to be close I suspect.

Rory for birdie at the third.... high and wide from range as Scott hits it inside 20 feet at the first. Another GIR.

1922: Westwood is A1 down the second as Schwartzel and Scott play their approaches to the opening hole. Charl's comes up short, but he chipped in at this hole en route to victory in 2011...

1920: As you may have guessed, the £50 takeaway has arrived. Wow.

Pars to begin for Pieters and Westwood, while McIlroy birdies the second to get under-par.

1904: Given the quality above him and the conditions, Rory needs a silly start and a silly round, really.

So, he'll want to go eagle-birdie at two and three, also eagle the eight, pop another in at, say 11, and at that point he's six-under. Birdie 13 and 15 and who knows?

Yes, unlikely. Impossible? Certainly not. Perfect drive at the second.

As Luck pars 16, Hagestad makes a brilliant birdie at the 10th to restore a three-shot cushion in the battle for the Silver Cup.

1902: Rory needs fireworks today but finds trees off the first, and in the end it's a really good par to remain six back.

Couples in fact bogeyed three, not four, and gets the shot back right away. He's just four behind the leaders, who tee-off in 43 minutes.

1848: Grace birdies three of his first seven holes and is +2, as Couples bogeys the fourth.

Worth noting that Grace only just made the weekend and has made only one bogey since, and that at the tough 11th.

Five birdies and counting and he's T20, a nice tune-up for next week's title defence at the RBC Heritage.

1845: Two fine blows and Luck is just on the back of the par-five 15th in two. He should make birdie from there and narrow the gap to one in his battle with Hagestad.

1840: If you want to read what I make of today in detail, see above, but in a nutshell there are so many small factors in his favour that I have high hopes for Sergio.

I explained this in detail to the aforementioned partner, and she was not convinced. However, I stand firm. 

Someone on Twitter just asked who I want to win, as a Fowler backer, and I said Garcia. I mean it, too. Winners come and go but if Sergio wins I will never forget this day.

1835: Luck has another chance coming at 14 as Couples adds another birdie at the second. Freddy is now within five of the lead.

1825: Hagestad drops another, Luck picks up another. The gap is just two.

Meanwhile, Steele doubles the ninth. So much hard work gone and with it all hopes of a top-12 finish.

Couples, meanwhile, starts with a birdie and is now level. He leads Stricker by three in the 'top senior' market.

1822: Scott says: "Interested in your thoughts on a winning score Ben, -9?"

I will say this: each and every player on the leaderboard would love to finish this tournament at nine-under. I suspect eight-under will, at worst, get a play-off. 

1820: Amazing television (don't leave me) just now on Sky Sports.

"Your heart would pick Sergio, wouldn't it?" says the presenter.

Padraig Harrington, long-time Sergio enemy, replies, "Well, maybe not mine."

Harrington has been a wonderful addition to the team last week - he's already streets ahead of each and every one of them. He speaks eloquently, honestly, and with an intensity which does justice to the magnitude of the Masters.

He also speaks as someone who has been there and done it, in major terms at least, and that adds so much weight to the well-chosen words.

I could listen to him all day.

1809: Eagle Phil! He finds away of making magic just about every time he plays this course. Lefty is level and while you might say he's too far back, try telling him that.

1807: And there you have one - Luck hits it to four feet on 12 and makes birdie to get to within five of Hagestad.

1806: The battle for top amateur isn't particularly close right now, but Stewart Hagestad has made things interesting with a couple of dropped shots.

He leads Luck by six, but the Aussie has a couple of par-fives to come and it's easy to see nerves getting the better of Hagestad, despite how well he's done this week.

In other words, this one isn't over. I fancy if Luck can make two or three birdies over the closing six holes of his round, he might pinch it.

1801: Before the real excitement begins, a word for Ernie Els, who has just made another two doubles and props up the leaderboard.

The Big Easy knows this could be his last Masters - in fact the way he's been talking, you wouldn't be surprised if he retired soon. There has been precious little to shout about this year bar an out-of-the-blue top-20 in Qatar.

Els has four holes left to wave farewell to Augusta National and you can be sure he'll receive a great reception at the 72nd and final one.

1755: Paul writes: "Fickle argument but just can't see Jordan Spieth winning. Front 9 yesterday had the most amazing luck and has used it all up.

"Don't think he's played well enough to win a Masters this year."

It's funny, I find people tend to see more luck in Spieth's shots than they do some others.

I saw a player who missed birdie chances on one, two and three yesterday, then made a long-range birdie at the sixth - his only lengthy putt of the round.

He had a slice of fortune on seven, definitely, but then hit two shots to 10 feet at the par-five eighth before missing that putt, too.

Then he goes to nine and hits it to about two feet, while on both 13 and 15 his birdies were from 18 inches at most. His sole bogey was a three-putt and he missed birdie chances at 17 and 18.

Was there really all that much fortune involved?

Remember that Garcia's ball stayed on the bank at the 13th having looked set to gointo Rae's Creek...

1752: It's another birdie for Steele, this time at the seventh. He's four-under for the round and two-over for the tournament.

Steele is tied for 21st at present. The top 12 and ties get an invite for next year's event - and that may well be in his mind. Certainly there's little to lose in going all-out over the next 11 holes.

His best major finish so far is a tie for 12th in the 2015 PGA Championship. He contended for the '11 edition but a disappointing finish saw him end in a share of 19th.

1745: Masters Sunday means takeaway in this office and Sir David John has stepped up big-time, offering to pay for 'the lads'.

Unfortunately, the great man has turned up with what he understandably considered to be a sufficient wedge for three - £30 - and we've just run up a bill for £50.

Fifty sheets on a takeaway! My word. I hope my dear other half hasn't decided, after six years, to finally read some of my work.

1730: Mike is looking for value on day four and writes: "Rory getting in the top 8 is what my wallet needs but for final round odds isn't Charley too big at 22s?

"He's one of the few at the top who can't be feeling some weight of expectation upon him. After 3 days at the top and given the starts others have made he could find another low one."

Funny you mention Hoffman, Mike, as a colleague has just texted asking for reassurance that Hoffman can't win.

I replied with a flippant 'nah' to the question 'Hoffman can't win, can he?'

Of course, he can... but it would surprise me. Does that make 22/1 a bad price? Absolutely not - five-times the odds you'll get for Jordan and on the same score.

Plus, Hoff is streaky as anything. It's a slightly reductive argument but he could shoot anything from 66 to about 80 today.

1725: Time for some stats I think.

Sergio leads the all-around. That's distance, accuracy, greens, scrambling and total putting. It's imperfect as it doesn't take into account strokes-gained, but it's still a strong indication as to who is going well.

Moore is second, and it's the same one-two in the bogey avoidance charts. That tells you plenty.

Garcia and Rose both rank T7 for greens hit, a statistic led by Justin Thomas who will tee-off shortly at four-over. Scott, Fisher and Casey are tied for second.

McGirt leads Moore, Fowler and Garcia in scrambling while Fowler is clear in strokes-gained putting. He'll either need to hit it better or keep that putter hot today.

Five players had made eight par-five birdies across three rounds: Holmes, Fowler, Koepka, Rose and Schwartzel. Only Dufner had made as many across the par-fours while Hoffman still leads par-three birdies at five.

Nobody in the field has made more birdies than Rose (16), while there have been only 14 eagles all week. Of the top 10, Fowler, Pieters and Schwartzel have all made threes on par-fives.

Finally, sand saves. Garcia and Fowler are both a perfect four from four.

1714: Interesting (maybe?) quirk: the three best rounds on this Sunday a year ago all came from English players as Fitz, Casey and Willett all shot 67 and of the seven Englishmen to make the cut in 2016, six signed off with an under-par round.

Today, Casey (level) and Westwood (-1) need to better 67, one would expect, to have any sort of chance and the same goes for Rory, who has broken par on Sunday here four years running.

Still, to really stand a chance he might need to match the 65 he scored on day one here in 2011 and I suspect even that would be one shy. Eight-under the target I think.

1710: Fitzpatrick also goes birdie-birdie-birdie - the third player this week to open up 3-4-3, after Steele earlier and Garcia on day two.

Leishman turns in two-under after a poor third round and is currently tied for 40th, with the field propped up by Els and Mize at +15. Luck is +11, and five adrift of Hagestad in the top amateur battle.

1706: Full tee-times can be found above but here are the final five groups, made up of the only 10 players to be under-par through 54 holes.

Westwood & Pieters (1905)
Schwartzel & Scott (1915)
Hoffman & Moore (1925)
Spieth & Fowler (1935)
Rose & Garcia (1945)

1702: In a bid to peak at the right time - around 2200 with the leaders going through Amen Corner - we'll keep updates fairly sporadic for the next hour but all (friendly, reasonably well-written) emails will be posted.

Got a strong view on how this plays out? Contact me on the above address.

Conditions are set fair, that's one thing we know, and the pin positions are almost all exactly where you'd expect them to be on Sunday at the Masters.

Evidence of what can be done early can be found in Brendan Steele's birdie-birdie-birdie start. At three-over he's not a contender here, but if anyone inside the top 20 starts like that later they might just be.

1700: So here we are, with one round to go at Augusta National. When I started this blog on Thursday, it would've been hard to envisage a leaderboard so stacked with storylines.

None is more compelling than that surrounding Sergio Garcia who, on Seve's 60th birthday, bids to win his first major at the 74th attempt.

He tees off alongside former US Open champion Justin Rose in less than three hours. What a spectacular evening we have in store.

The Masters - Day three recap

-6 Rose, Garcia
-5 Fowler
-4 Spieth, Moore, Hoffman
-3 Scott
-2 Schwartzel
-1 Westwood, Pieters

0012: Right, I need to somehow write a summary of that exhilarating day. 

I will leave you with this: 

Tomorrow night, Rose and Garcia tee-off in the final group, tied for the lead.

Behind them, it's Rickie, one back, playing with Spieth, two back.

Then it's Hoffman and Moore. Before them are two former champions in Schwartzel and Scott. And Ryder Cup team-mates of last year, Pieters and Westwood.

These are the men who are under par, and it's from this bunch that the champion will surely come. Join me from 1700 BST for a nerve-wracking finale.

0010: Garcia now... it's there and so is the fist pump. Rose and Garcia, Ryder Cup team-mates four times over, will play together in the final group of the Masters on Seve's birthday. Goosebumps.

0009: Hoffman first and that's a brave par save given what happened over there on 16. One swing cost him two shots but maybe he'll find things easier in the low-key, third-last group with the quiet, friendly Moore.

0008: Where Hoffman was on-line but short, Sergio is pin-high but right. He too has work to do for his par. He's worked very hard to put this round together and whether it's 70 or 71 is the only thing left to be decided.

0006: Hoffman's putt comes up short. He needs to make that save to stay within two and play with Moore tomorrow, rather than with Schwartzel.

0003: Hoffman first to play his approach to 18. It's a little left but he's unlucky to see it roll 20 or 30 feet back down the green having appeared to find the correct level.

That'd be a great shot to Sunday's pin but now he's maybe 55 feet away.

Garcia now. Can he nose in front? He's not mad on it and comes up short, on the middle tier, and it'll spin back to Fowler territory. 

0000: Yet another brilliant save from Fowler, this time from seven or eight feet. He's putted beautifully and will play with putter supreme Spieth on Sunday - unless Garcia bogeys the last after a perfect drive, or Hoffman birdies it.

2355: Pars for Hoffman and Garcia at 17. Ahead to 18 and Fowler's approach, which he wants to go... golly, that's a bad shot, way short.

On day one he three-putted from there. Put that right please, Richard.

2353: Two bogeys to finish for McGirt and he's level par, probably out of the race given the class of player above him.

The current top 10 are all Ryder or Presidents Cup players, bar Hoffman.

Four of them are major champions.

Three of them are Masters champions.

And then you've the two best current players in the sport yet to win a major, bar perhaps Hideki I guess. And Westwood there in 10th.

Good leaderboard.

2351: Moore, for birdie... and like so many putting from that side, fails to see that it just hangs out there to the right. It's a par from Moore, good progress from one-under to four-under with a round of 69 to put him right in the mix on his ninth Augusta visit.

Easy to forget he was the man who holed the winning the putt at last year's Ryder Cup, so low-key does he do things these days.

2350: Hoffman's approach to 17 is the other side to Sergio's and kicks further away. It's on the green and beneath the hole but a waste of a good drive.

2348: Fowler finds the 18th fairway. Alongside him Pieters keeps close enough with a birdie at 17 to get to two-under.

Back to the fairway there and it's Garcia to play. Good chance to put one in close...

It's left of target but on the green, pin high, and inside 30 feet. Outside chance.

2347: Good stuff from Moore at 18, as he gets it inside 20 feet for birdie.

As things stand, we're on for Rose & Garcia, Fowler & Spieth as the final two-balls tomorrow. Lordy.

2345: Bullish from Scott, who says he wants to be in the mix come the 13th tee and then 'anything can happen', just as it did in 2013, when he made three birdies from that point on before another in the play-off to beat Angel Cabrera.

Garcia and Hoffman produce nice drives at 17 as we edge towards the finish. Today hasn't disappointed.

2342: Hoffman makes his double - just. His putt was left of centre but sneaks in and he's two back.

Fowler saves par yet again. He's been the best putter in this tournament.

Garcia also saves par and remains tied with Rose.

2340: Fowler from across the 17th green leaves himself maybe six or seven feet for another scrambled par, to stay within one of the leaders.

Garcia plays a lovely bump with one of his fairway woods and will have four feet for par at 16, where Hoffman has a similar distance for double. Ouch.

2338: Rahm will likely win the Masters one day, but to do so he'll need to work out the back-nine. He's four-under the front this week, just one bogey, but five-over the back having just signed for a 73. He's level and needs fireworks tomorrow.

2336: Hoffman's third is also a pull and he'll have 40 feet for bogey. So much good work undone and we're suddenly looking at a potential Rose-Garcia final group. My word, says Ray Wilkins.

2334: Hoffman finds water on 16. That's a massive miss, way left of his target, and from there it's a likely double.

Garcia also misses the green but to the right.

2331: Birdie Garcia, par Hoffman, and we have a three-way tie for the lead.

2328: Hoffman plays a sublime pitch from a horrible spot but his birdie putt is right and far too strong - he has six feet back up the slope for par.

At 17, Moore - bang in this, going about his business quietly (whatever that means) - is annoyed to come up short and right, likely in sand.

2327: As a Fowler backer who is head over heels in love with Sergio, I'd be quite happy with them paired together in the penultimate two-ball...

2325: Fowler, for birdie at 16, plenty of break and not one to be bold with... and bold he is not. Just runs out of pace but it's the simplest of pars.

2323: Garcia now from the back of 15. Needs to be bold and check it and he does that - this is sensational... and he'll have at most six feet back up the hill for birdie.

2320: Scott tidies up for par at 18. He's been overshadowed by Rose today but is bogey-free and three back.

At 16, buoyed by the birdie at 15, Fowler manages to find the top tier and will have 15 feet for birdie. Bold shot.

Back to 15 and it's way right for Charley, whereas Garcia goes just through the back. Both face delicate pitches but remain in the birdie hunt.

2318: Moore saves par at 16.

Now Rose, for birdie...and he's fist pumping before it's anywhere close to the hole. Two beautiful putts over the closing two holes, a back-nine 31, and Rose leads the Masters.

2317: If you just tuned in, the 'chapeau' was a joke. I'm not that bad. 

Rose's approach to 18 is straight at the flag and he has 10 feet for birdie. I expect that's to play in the final group.

2315: CHAPEAU! Fowler birdies 15. He made bogey from prime position on this hole yesterday. Today, bad drive, solid lay-up, bad wedge, great putt. Birdie.

2313: A couple of chances have gone begging for Garcia, even if he did get a lucky break at 13, and another slides past the edge at 14.

Even so, he's one back now and his drive down 15 finds the fairway, albeit beneath the trees to the left and therefore maybe a lay-up.

Hoffman's drive is perfect and he now has to decide whether to go for the green or play safe. Has to go for it, surely.

2312: One of the forgotten elements of Spieth's 2016 Masters is his Saturday finish - bogey, double-bogey, to open up the event.

Today's effort is much better and while his birdie try misses at the last, he avoids disaster by making the return par putt. He's two back, four-under.

It's a closing par for Phil who is +2 after a 74.

2310: Hoffman is heavy-handed with his third and has 15 feet for par at the 14th.

At 15, Fowler pulls his wdge left and has 25 feet or so - he really hasn't had his best stuff, pulling a lot of shots, but he's just two back as Hoffman miosses.

2307: Fowler lays up after a poor drive at 15. Hoffman plays a superb recovery at 14 and is just over the back of the green, but Garcia is in pretty close after a lovely iron shot.

Rose, meanwhile, drives one up the right-hand side of the 18th fairway. 

2305: Spieth likes his approach to 18 and so he should - it's all the way to the back tier and 15 feet away. That could be huge - if it goes in it could be the final group again and that's where he'll want to be.

At 17, Rose's birdie putt is straight in the middle. He's been exceptional since the turn and is tied for second.

2303: Birdie chances to come at 17 for Rose and Scott, who have put on a stripe show today. Neither man is in close but they're within 20 feet or so.

Mistake from Hoffman. He pushes a drive right off the 14th tee and is in among the trees, whereas 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia is A1.

2301: Alongside Rahm, it was a double for Couples at the 15th and he's level for the championship. That's T13 and for top senior punters, he's four clear of Stricker. My regret of the week: not opposing Stricks with Couples and Langer, who could be combined at around 11/8.

2300: Spieth is really swinging it nicely and finds the 18th fairway, where up ahead it was another par for Rory, who is level.

At 15, Moore has three-wood in hand and blasts one to the back-left of the green. That's an almighty shot for one of the shorter hitters in the mix.

Ahead at 16, Rahm - now five back - pulls one long and left but it's dry and he should be able to two-putt.

2258: Hoffman shot 65, seven-under on Thursday. And after a superb birdie at the 13th, he's back at seven-under. Could be the winning score, you know.

2256: Just be thankful I've not reverted to 'chapeau' yet, right?

2256: Rickie on 14.... Vamos!

2255: Possibly the worst putt Spieth will hit this year on 17 as he misses a 15-foot chance a foot to the left. Never looked like having a chance.

At 18, McIlroy's second isn't great but it's inside 20 feet - possibly as close as 15 - and he has that to get under-par.

To 13 and Sergio chips it stone dead. Vamos! (They say that in tennis - think it's Spanish for woooooo!)

2254: As with many a poor putter, Scott is better when he has to bash it - his win here came on a Sunday where the greens played as slow as they ever play.

He takes the rare opportunity to hit one hard up the slope at 16 and mops up from three feet for another par. Bogey-free today and three birdies, all at par-fives. Textbook.

Rose also mops up as Fowler clips one to eight feet. Can he make yet another save?

2252: Moore bogeyed 14 having gone through the back with his approach while at 16, both Scott and Rose fail to find that top level and they're not alone.

Hoffman lays up at 13 - I believe from pine, rather than wimping out - but Sergio goes for it... and finds Rae's Creek.

Oh no he doesn't! HIS NAME IS ON THE, erm, collar? The ball stays up anyway. Must capitalise and get up and down for birdie.

2250: Fowler goes a little defensive off the 14th tee, hitting hybrid and leaving 182.

Maybe that's a sign that he's not quite trusting himself today and is adapting the game plan. Maybe it's a well thought-out ploy because a lower ball-flight might be the way to get to this flag.

We'll about to find out... and the plan backfires because he's way short and facing a difficult pitch from short of the green.

2247: Westwood very pleased with his day's work - how costly Friday's 77 may prove to be. He bogeyed four of the final five holes yesterday.

Rory bombs one miles up 18. One day ago, he was level par playing this hole, hit the flag, dropped a shot. He returns level par and needing a birdie.

2245: Rory makes a good par at 17 as Fowler does tap in for birdie at 13. Spieth now at the 17th and he loves it. A1.

2243: "Come on Rickie, chip it in," I say out loud to nobody. He nearly does and it'll surely be a birdie to get back within two.

To 16, where Spieth has six feet up the hill for par... and this one slides by. It's his first bogey of the day - his first bogey since the fourth hole yesterday actually - and he's two behind again.

2241: Nice try from Hoffman at 12 and he'll make par. Really impressed with this. After leading on Thursday he said he would struggle to sleep, and that worrying admission showed itself as he went to pieces midway through round two (reminder: he was eight under through 23 holes).

To come out today and do this in the final group is seriously impressive.

Alongside him, Garcia's chance goes begging.

2240: Two good blows to the back of the par-five 15th green for Rose. 

Rory is in trouble at 17 - he needs to finish par-par or better to have any sort of chance, really.

2237: The 16th pin is tricky - back-right. Possibly easier than yesterday's but still not one you can exactly attack.

Spieth's shot is poor and way short, but it's safely on board.

At 13, Fowler is looking to sling in a draw to the par-five and it's a fine shot which just runs through the back.

Back at 12 and the final group both avoid disaster, Garcia's shot coming to rest inside 10 feet.

And to 14, where Couples makes a massive par putt. Sensational. He's four off the lead.

2235: Garcia makes par at 11 and so too does Hoffman. All the excitement around Spieth - which is justified - but this pair, plus Fowler and Pieters, have the two par-fives in hand.

Spieth, meanwhile, has to put the finishing touches to this round. If he fritters away shots at the final three holes, he'll likely have plenty of work to do tomorrow. 

The mission for him will be to get into that final group.

2232: Spieth is on course to make the final group in all four of his Masters starts. I'll look out for a stat to reflect how silly that is.

Par for Fowler in 12 as his birdie putt stops just short, while at 16, Rory finally makes one... for par.

2230: I underestimated him. Spieth's ball pitches 15 feet over the pin... but spins back, almost into the hole. That's a tap-in birdie and he'll be one behind.

2228: Spieth is quite a way back following his enforced lay-up at 15 and I'd expect him to play safely 15 feet beyond the pin from there. Anything short could be wet.

Rory's approach to 16 is poor and a round which started with such promise is fizzling out. At 14, Scott's birdie putt cruelly lips out and he makes par to stay three back.

2226: Augusta and course form/knowledge: there are four Masters champions in the top 10.

Hoffman may not be a champion, but unless he has a complete meltdown this will be his fourth top-30 finish in four visits. His approach to 11 is sensibly 35 feet right and safely on the green.

Garcia next and he too is right of the flag, just inside Hoffman's shot and therefore set to get a good read.

2224: Scott's approach to 14 leaves 10 feet down the slope for birdie. At 11, it's actually a double for Pieters and five back - three putts from no more than four feet for the Belgian.

He'll look to bounce back, as Rahm does with birdie at 13. He's two-under.

This is so bunched behind Hoffman.

2222: Fowler for par... makes it. The putter has kept him in this thing today. Sloppy bogey from Pieters, however, and he's four back.

Hoffman goes left off the 11th tee and I'd bet that he'll go right with his approach in a few minutes. Garcia is straight down the middle and this hole is playing easier today - especially from there.

Another miss for Rory.

2219: Westwood pars 18 for a best-of-the-day 68. He's one-under, currently five behind, and in need of a fast start if he's to have a chance tomorrow.

Fowler at 11 now...it's wide and heavy-handed and while Rich Beem's comment is 'he won't mind that', I can assure you he will. Eight feet long is five feet too long.

2218: Rory's pitch is too good, almost, at 15. It checks almost to a standstill and while safely the right side of the hole, the eight remaining feet are straight downhill.

Spieth misses a lengthy birdie try at 14 and Moore from closer at 12 also has to accept par.

2216: Rose matches Scott's birdie and both are three-under. Good stuff from the former US Open champ after being over-par through the first third of his round.

At 10, Garcia's birdie try leaves a slippery five-foot par putt whereas it'll be a tap-in par for the leader.

One hole further ahead, Fowler has to shape one under and around some branches and does really well to hit the green.

2215: Rory pulls another shot he's trying to hold up from left to right, this time going long at 15 which means pitching back towards the water. He just has to get that up and down to stay in touch.

Scott pours one in at 13 and is three-under. They're bunching up behind Hoffman.

2213: Hoffman's approach to 10 is good and he'll have a reasonable birdie chance from 20 feet. He's been great today, making just one mistake at the sixth.

Garcia's approach is equally good and while his putt is from further away, it's probbaly easier as it's uphill.

Rose may be about to join the group at three-under as he's got five or six feet for birdie at 13, while Moore does join them with birdie at 11.

Evidence of what can be done over these holes comes from Schwartzel, who goes 4-4-3 across 13, 14 and 15 to get to two under. Where did that come from?

2210: Rory's drive down 15 is very good if a little left of ideal. He's driven it really well today but the short-game has gone.

2208: Tim asks: "Benjamin...

"Garcia v Fowler.

"Both -8 on the 72nd tee.

"Heart v Wallet.

"What do you want?

"Sorry." 

That feels a long way off right now, sir, after a poor bogey following a good drive from Fowler at the 10th.

But I would probably go wallet. Just. No, wait - I'd level it off so both won me the same. Not the answer you wanted, I'm sure...

2206: Watch out for Westwood - he birdies 17, his third in five holes, to get to one-under. One more would have him in one of the final four or five groups for the, oh, 50th time.

2204: Another miss for Rory and a massive mistake from Rahm - who goes long with his third at the 12th. He has a massive task on his hands to drop two shots.

At 11, Moore nearly slam dunks his approach and will have a great birdie try while Fowler is looking at bogey at the 10th after a poor chip.

2202: Fowler has made more poor swings today than the previous two combined and another will leave him fighting for par at the 10th. He's in Spieth territory and will need similar magic.

At 12, Rahm makes a huge error and comes up short and Garcia also makes a big mistake to drop a shot with a three-putt at the ninth, where Hoffman makes his birdie.

That sees him share second with Fowler - for now - and Spieth, who two-putts for birdie at 13.

2200: After missing a big chance at 10, Rahm makes no mistake at 11 with a valuable birdie - that's stealing a shot on such a demanding par-four.

At 12, Rose's tee-shot is as good as it gets and he converts for birdie to get to two-under.

Rory's approach to 14 is well-controlled and he will have 10 feet for birdie. He should've birdied 11 and 13, birdied 12 when he was off the green... who knows what will happen with this one.

What I do know is that if he makes it that could trigger a big finish with the par-five 15th to come next.

2157: Rory takes his anger out on his ball at 14 and is a long way down the fairway.

At the tricky 10th, both Moore and McGirt drop shots - that means there are now just five players within two although that may change soon as Hoffman has a great birdie chance to come at the ninth.

Over to 12, and Scott's 20-foot birdie putt is timid and he'll make par. He's made nothing this week but he may not need to if he can find the 13th and 15th greens in two.

2155: Spieth has a flat-faced club in hand, suggesting he's going for the green at 13. He's almost exactly where Mickelson was in 2010.

Here goes... it's a brilliant shot from Mickelson's Augusta heir and he has 35 feet across the ridge for eagle. That shot underlines the difference between how he and Rory have managed this course - Rory was 30 feet left and dead. Spieth was 30 feet right and ideal.

2152: Fowler just misses from 30 feet at the ninth. That flag, like the one at six, is so hard to get all the way back to.

Pieters is also putting from 30 feet beneath the hole but his attempt comes up short. Should be a par.

2150: Rory for birdie at 13... misses low. He'll be furious with that after a perfect drive. There will truly not be a better drive on this hole all week and he's walked off with par.

Scott makes a good par save at the 11th, Rahm misses a good birdie chance at the 10th, and the leading pair both find the fairway at the ninth.

2148: Spieth's drive at 13 is into the pine needles as Hoffman misses for birdie on eight.

Ahead at the 13th green, Rory's pitch is poor and he has 15 feet, with plenty of break, to make birdie. Garcia has no problem at eight and ties the lead.

2145: Spieth. For par. It's there - just grabbing enough of the left edge. A crucial, momentum-saving putt.

Back at the eighth, Garcia's second is bang on-line and his eagle putt from 50 feet is, too, only to come up three-feet short. Should be a birdie.

2144: Rory is further back than first appeared and it's a poor, pulled approach which misses the target. Far too often, he's been short-sided.

2143: McGirt misses a great chance for birdie at the ninth, where Fowler's drive is A1.

Spieth will have eight feet for par at the 12th after a so-so chip from a difficult spot.

2140: Birdie Fowler. Huge. He's one back. At 12, Spieth misses the green but it's long and left, rather than short and right as per last year.

Meanwhile, Moore finishes the front-nine with a brace of birdies to get to three-under, which is where Pieters remains after a fine save at eight.

2138: As you'd expect, Spieth does tidy up and his putting, which hasn't been as good as it usually is at times this season, is starting to come round exactly when he needs it to.

And now, back to 12...

2136: Rory's drive at the 13th is just silly. He'll be hitting a nine-iron, maybe a wedge, or else an eight at most, into the par-five.

2134: Fowler's third to eight is good but not great - he has 20 feet for birdie having missed the fairway off the tee.

Spieth's birdie try is very aggressive and a few inches wide - he has a slippery one for par but will expect to tidy up.

At 18, tidy up is what Casey does but it's for five and a round of 69. He's level.

2131: Garcia will drop one at seven if e makes a four-foot putt but it's a par for Hoffman, who therefore leads alone.

At nine, Rahm makes a good two-putt par to remain three back. Plenty of players close to this lead entering what's traditionally the scoring nine at Augusta.

One of them is Spieth and he's way left of target at 11, but this course is softer than usual and his ball comes to rest on the collar. That's now a great spot from which to putt, straight up the slope.

At 12, Rory birdies from the back of the green. That's massive - he's five back, but now heads to 13, where an eagle is possible. Then 14, where a birdie is possible. Then 15, where an eagle is possible.

He needs to kick on now to keep on the heels of Spieth, let alone Hoffman.

2128: Spieth's tee-shot on 11 is a little right for comfort, but kicks nicely out into the fairway. Rory slightly long and left at the 12th but safely over the water and not without hope of making two.

2125: Fowler does make his bogey at seven and is now two back, tied for third with Spieth, McGirt and Pieters.

At 11, Rory knows it's time to go and after a monster drive, he leaves a really good birdie chance from six feet at the most.

It's quick, it's left-to-right... it's wide. He remains one-over, six back, and needs fireworks over the closing seven holes.

2122: Spieth makes it. Bogey-free 33 to start Saturday and he's now favourite for the Masters - and rightly so.

2120: McIlroy made double at the seventh earlier and Fowler is in similar trouble after a poor pitch. His approach putt is better, however, and he should drop just the one shot.

At 10, Spieth almost chips in and will have five feet from beneath the hole for par. Sensational shot.

Looks like pars for Scott and Rose at nine - they'll turn two-under and level, respectively.

2117: Fowler is way right on seven - the one positive is he has plenty of green to work with. He's not got his game right now but these things can shift quickly and a par here followed by a birdie at the eighth could do the trick.

Spieth goes long and left at 10. He'll be pitching uphill to the flag but it's still hard to get it stone dead from there. Even with his hands.

2115: Both Hoffman and Garcia come up short with their putts at the sixth. Sergio first. Eight feet. Makes it. Hoffman next. Misses.

Italians have pasta to start and then a pizza, right? Yep. Good.

2113: Morale-boosting pizza has arrived in the office - on the heels of my ready meal/toffee crips combo.

Still... it's a long haul, isn't it?

2110: Spieth does make his birdie and so does Scott at the par-five eighth. Blemish-free so far for the Aussie.

At six, Sergio comes up 40-feet short, like everyone. Hoffman comes up 40-feet short, like everyone.

Spieth is way right off the 10th tee but it's ok. From a similar spot, Rory found the green but faces a tricky five-foot par putt.

2106: Many, many thanks. Needed that. 

GARCIA BIRDIE! Yep, batteries are recharged and the Spaniard is within one thanks to a long-range birdie at five.

The man to watch though is clearly Spieth and he has four feet for birdie at five.

2102: Mr Coley has polished off his ready meal and is back in the chair. Over to you BC. 

2100: Forgot to say that Spieth has got to -2 with that birdie on eight - four back and hovering. 

Rory has mixed memories on 10 and clobbers another wayward tee-shot this time goes down the right towards the gallery.  

2058: Hoffman safely on board the fifth green but a long way from the cup while Fowler finds the putting surface on six with a solid blow from his seven iron. 

Garcia will have a similar length putt to Hoffman on five with the pair well beyond on the pin towards the back of the green - three-putt country?

2056: McGirt also takes a step backwards with a bogey on the par three sixth while Mickleson can only manage a six at the eighth. 

2054: Good long-range effort from Fowler on five for his birdie leaves him a tap-in for par. Pieters comes to grief on the same hole and makes a five.

2053: News from the summit of the leaderboard - Hoffman leads by two as he knocks in his birdie on the fourth hole.

Over to you Sergio - who misses at the same time as Spieth misses a good chance for eagle on eight and taps in for a birdie four. 

2050: Lee Westwood squanders a chance to pick up a birdie two on the 12th with a weary putt from six feet that dribbles off to the left. The Englishman remains at +2 overall. 

Compatriot Casey can't make it four birdies in a row on the 15th and taps in for his par five. 

2047: Rory birdies eight after a decent up and down and he bounces back from his double at the seventh hole. He is now six behind The Hoff. 

2044: Confident birdie putt from McGirt on five and rolls it in to move to four under. 

One of the best tee-shots so far on the par three fourth comes from Hoffman and he has less than 1o feet for a birdie. Garcia matches it with a superb stroke of his own and a great chance for a two.  

2040: Good work from Spieth to save his par on the seventh as Sergio sizes up a putt for his birdie on the three - he gives it a lovely roll but misses by a fraction left. 

The Spaniard stays one back.  Good approach on the very tough fifth from McGirt comes to rest around 20 feet beyond the flag and he will have a good look at a three. 

2037: Fowler and Pieters hits their tee-shots at the par three fourth and both are left of the target - Rickie in the sand and the Belgian just coming up shy of the hazard. 

Mickelson meanwhile makes his par on even while a birdie putt for leader Charley Hoffman on three trickles just wide. Should be a safe par though. 

2033: Fowler makes the aforementioned putt to drop a shot off the pace while McGirt holes out for a par to remain two back.

Paul Casey rumbles inside the top 10 thanks to birdies on 12, 13 and 14 and joins the gaggle of players under par for the tournament. 

2031: Fowler will have a slippery 14-foot bogey putt at the third. As I said earlier, it looks an easy hole but that green and the slope guarding it makes things extremely testing.

Hoffman birdies the second and will soon be solo leader as Garcia fails to.

I'm now handing you over to David John. With my two making doubles (I presume) within minutes of each other, I need to regather. As do they.

2028: It's a double from Rory and all the fine work of those first three holes has disappeared - and then some. He heads to the par-five eighth absolutely needing to get at least one shot back.

At the second, Garcia will have 10 feet down the slope for birdie while it's just six feet for Hoffman.

Disaster for Fowler at the second - three shots and the ball is back at his feet. It's all going on here and I can't say I like it.

2023: Rory from sand now and it's not good - we didn't see the lie but it looked like it must've been plugged. That or he's hit a shank.

Anyway, it's left him 50 feet for par as Spieth, at six, makes a long-range birdie to get to one-under. Huge.

At four, Rahm three-putts and is back to two-under while Fowler's drive at the third is way left but not in the worst spot.

2021: This is a key part of the tournament for Rory as things just go against him a little. The latest is his approach to seven coming up just short and in the bunker - he can't afford to give these classy leaders too much rope.

That said, this back-nine offers all sorts of chances.

Meanwhile, Moore bogeys the third and Mickelson bogeys the fourth.

2018: Fowler birdies the second after a wonderful pitch to six feet and Pieters follows suit to stay within one of his playing partner.

Hoffman down the middle on two but it's a wide right from Garcia as Rory's drive at the seventh, while long, bounces right into the rough.

2015: Pars for Mickelson and Spieth at the fifth, and a big one for Hoffman at the first after a very nice, confidence-boosting save.

Rahm now at the fourth... that's to the back of the green, a popular spot, and he'll have 50 feet for birdie. 

Sergio makes a quick five-footer at the first. Two big saves.

2012: Rory has an important five-foot par putt coming up after a defensive birdie try - perhaps the putt which got away from him on five had a part in that.

At the first, Hoffman has maybe 15 feet for par and there's a little work to do for Sergio from around five feet.

Another birdie for Rahm, this one at the third, and he's within one.

2010: Disappointing approach from Garcia at the first as his ball tumbles down the slope and off the front of the green.

Birdie for McGirt at the second and he's one back, while both Spieth and Mickelson have good birdie chances to come at the fifth, likewise Couples and Rahm at the third.

2007: Rory looked really keen on his tee-shot at the sixth, but it's a good club short and he'll be putting up the slope for birdie.

It's been stress-free so far - at least in ball-striking terms. A clumsy three-putt at the fifth means he is once again four back.

2004: It's a bogey for Rory as his par putt drifts left. Garcia is off to a good start with a fine drive at the first whereas Hoffman is in sand.

Ahead at the green, Pieters makes bogey but it's a par for Fowler, who sensibly lags his lengthy birdie putt to tap-in range.

Rose birdies the third to get back to one-under.

2002: Rahm and Couples both birdie the second, Spieth makes an important par save at four, but Rory will do well to par the fifth after a very poor approach putt.

2000: Fowler finds the first green, 35 feet short from the first and only cut of rough. A solid approach shot after a slightly wayward drive.

Almost Full Mickelson as his birdie putt from range at the fourth misses by a whisker. He makes par and Spieth will hope to do the same from eight feet or so after splashing out from sand.

Back at the first, Garcia and Hoffman are about to tee-off as Pieters comes up way short with his approach.

1958: Amateur Stewart Hagestad is one-under for the day and two-over for the tournament, that's through nine holes of round three.

It's very difficult to put into words how good that is for the US Mid-Am champion. He has nothing worse than a bogey all week and is going along nicely.

At five, Rory's approach is a yard or so short of target and comes back to the front of the green.

1954: Rory finds the fifth fairway as both Moore and McGirt do well to make nerve-settling pars at the first, the former from greenside sand.

1951: Kjeldsen is back at level after a bogey at the fourth, and Rose joins him there having made six following a penalty shot at the par-five second.

Scott makes birdie at the second and moves to one-under which is where Rory stays courtesy of a par at the fourth.

Back to the third and Spieth's birdie try is just short again and he makes another par. Mickelson has four feet for a double, which he makes. In 90 previous tries at the second hole, his worst score had been five.

1949: Mickelson comes up short again at the third. He's had three shots on a par-four which is almost driveable, and is still shy of the putting surface.

He'd bite your hand off for a bogey from here.

Mickelson reaches for putter now and this one does get there... but he'll have 15 feet for that bogey. Should he miss, all the work of holes one and two is undone.

1947: Spieth's approach to the second is better and he'll have another mid-range birdie putt.

If you've been with me all week, you may recall a few mentions of the great Ernie Els, who needed a top-12 finish to ensure a spot in next year's field.

Els is some way from the world's top 50 and hasn't threatened to win in quite some time, so his routes back to Augusta are limited these days.

Unfortunately, after a bright start to the tournament he now has only Mize behind him, having played the first six holes in six-over today.

1945: Both Rahm and Couples par the first despite setting up half-chances. They now head to the second, where Rose is in big trouble after a massive pull off the tee.

At the third, Mickelson comes up short in two and will need all of his short-game magic to get that up and down for his par. Can't help but think he should've hit driver.

1943: The par-three fourth is an extremely demanding hole, one where par is fine. Rory made par on Thursday and par on Friday, and he'd probably take another here - even after a tee-shot to 25 feet. Slippery one to come.

1941: Golf school. Day one. Lesson one. If you lay up, don't miss the fairway. But that's what Mickelson has done at the third.

Spieth reaches for driver and it's a good one, to maybe 50 yards short of the green.

1938: Pars for good friends Rose and Scott at the first, while at the second, Spieth's curling birdie try is a roll short. Low-key start.

Not so Mickelson, however, who has 14 feet for eagle... but misses low. Still, a 3-4 start is just fine and he's two shots back.

1936: Other movers include Westwood, back to +1 having made a couple of birdies, and both Schwartzel and Walker are also on that score.

Rory makes his birdie and is under-par for the tournament again.

1933: Only one player has birdied the first three holes this week, so if Rory makes a five-footer to play them in two-under, that has to go down as just about the perfect start.

1927: McIlroy's drive is ridiculous - about five paces shy of the green and in the best spot to miss - to the left. It's such an intricate green that nothing can be taken for granted but he will be disappointed if he makes more than three.

1926: One hand off the club for Spieth, whose drive at the second finds sand. Mickelson goes left but appears to be in a better spot.

Alert: Rory has driver in hand at the third. I'd say he can get this on the green with his best. He's bogeyed this hole both days so far.

1924: Rory now for eagle... misses left but that's the simplest of birdies and, for the first time this week, he's made a positive start. Level.

1922: Chappell birdies eight to follow up that eagle at the seventh and is level for the tournament, as Spieth's birdie putt misses low.

No mistake with the par putt, though.

1920: Mickelson. Birdie. Statement.

1919: From 280 yards, Rory says 'sit' - an indication of what he can do with a golf ball. His ball pitches 20 feet short and looks like going really close, only to feed down a level to 35 feet or thereabouts.

Still, very few players have been able to find this green in two shots and he has a genuine eagle opportunity coming.

1917: Spieth's approach to the first is very bold and to around 15 feet. He closed with a birdie yesterday, and another here would be some statement.

Mickelson, from 25 yards closer, is a similar distance away below the hole. Two great birdie chances for the star group in terms of who those Augusta patrons will be rooting for.

Meanwhile, Kjeldsen starts birdie-birdie and is under-par for the tournament.

1915: Just a three-wood for Rory at the second and he's not sure about it, but it's fine - middle of the fairway and with a good look down to the green.

A surprising club selection given that he ripped one nearly 400 yards on the same hole yesterday, but he still has it out there over 300 yards with 280 downhill to the pin.

Meanwhile, Day signs for a third-round 69. The first man out today quickly bags the day's first sub-70 but it won't be the only one.

Brandt Snedeker is on track for his own at three-under today through 13. He's +2 overall and not quite out of this with a strong finish.

1912: His birdie try is bang on-line but an inch or two short. It's a stress-free four and that's ok - even with the hole playing much easier today.

Back on the tee, Spieth, with less than driver, finds the fairway. He'll have 175 or so to the flag, I presume. Mickelson's drive just runs out of fairway but it's fine and  the best way to get to the flag is to pitch one at the front of the green and run it up.

1907: McIlroy's approach looks average as it stalls 30 or so feet short - but that's a sign of just how dangerous long is on this hole. Although he stated his intention to start with a birdie last night, he'll be satisfied if he walks to the par-five second having made par.

Spieth and Mickelson arrive on the tee. Round three is on.

1905: Rory's drive? 346 yards. Meanwhile in the group ahead, Kjeldsen continues his modern-day love affair with Augusta National as he makes birdie to get to level par and tied 10th.

1903: One thing you must not do at the first - and something Rory will have to remember - is go long. About five feet past this pin, which is back-right, is a steep run-off and it's from there that we get sixes, sevens, eights...

An ideal shot here would be 10-15 feet short of the hole to leave a makeable putt.

1901: Rory is ready at the first. Yesterday, he pulled it left and made five. On Thursday, he pushed it right and made five.

Today? Straight down for the tee peg. Miles down the middle.

1858: Wow! Kevin Chappell holes out for eagle at the seventh. In one swing he moves up to T13, five off the pace.

Day's run comes to an end, however, as he makes bogey at the 17th.

1855: "Somebody get the golf ball a medic" and "hashtag massive" are things which have just been said on the TV.

Surely, ejection from Augusta National is the only appropriate response to that.

1849: John Wade emails from southeast Asia...

"Couldn't agree more regarding the way certain journos/commentators behave when discussing the merits of non PGA tour players"

"As a golf punter living in SE Asia I'm familiar with all three Tours giving me a big edge when weighing up tournaments. 

"I will however give a big shout out to Rob Bolton who does the fantasy stuff on the PGA Tour site.

"He's about the only one who sees it as a global game and takes the trouble to check out the up and coming Euro/Asia guys  when previewing tournaments. 

"Long night ahead here!!! Keep up the good work."

Cheers John. I'll disagree on one point - Rob is far from the only one. He's among the best though and just loves the game.

I used to speak with Rob on the phone on a weekly basis and can confirm that as well as being just about the biggest golf nut on this planet, he's a lovely man, too.

I also suspect he sighs when he sees peers fail to do their homework, something he 's never guilty of. You can follow him on Twitter @RobBoltonGolf

1842: Evidence that the third remains very difficult despite just about being reachable: Haas pitches to 60 feet, Walker to 22. Both were within a throw of the green but it's so subtle, so nuanced, that getting the ball close remains a challenge even from there.

Gorgeous day at Augusta National. Less than 20 minutes until Rory tees off.

1840: Wow! Day's birdie putt from miles away on 16 misses by a whisker. It's lovely to see him playing with a broad grin.

1836: One of the key changes on this calmer day is that the third hole is just about driveable. Walker is way left of the green but not far short, while Haas - above average but by no means a long hitter - is only 30 yards short.

In other words, Rory is going to eagle it. Maybe.

1832: Day makes it four in a row with another at 15, his eagle putt always low. He's two-over. It's a birdie-birdie start for Walker meanwhile and he's +1.

1830: Some stats. Sergio has a 100% sand save rate - four from four. So do Leishman (3/3), Fowler (3/3), Oosthuizen (2/2), Haas (2/2) and Hoffman (1/1).

For greens hit, there were a bunch who managed 26 from 36 over the first two rounds: Thomas, Matsuyama, Scott, Kjeldsen, Rose.

Scott leads the par-four birdie charts alongside Couples - both have five, all of Scott's having come yesterday.

JB Holmes led the par-five birdie table with six in the first two rounds. Several players have five, including big-hitting Rahm and short-hitting Soren.

Hoffman unsurprisingly leads the par-three birdie table given that he made two at all four of them on Thursday, the first man in Masters history to do so.

1825: Wow - an astonishing second from Day to the par-five 15th and he has a 30-foot eagle putt to come. He was behind those trees to the left but whipped it through, up, over... just a sensational strike.

1819: Another for Day as he birdies 14. That's three in a row and he'll feel like maybe two more in the final four holes will keep him interested. Currently +3.

1813: The low man on the course is now Jason Day, at two-under for the round and four-over for the championship. Grace bogeys 11 and his prospects of a stunning finish to sneak into the mix are probably over.

We have another birdie at the first, a hole playing much easier today, and it's from Jimmy Walker. He's now two-over.

1802: Early birdie for Koepka and he's now two-over. There's another example - he's six places above Fitz in the world rankings but nobody in America would act like him leading a tournament is a huge shock and rightly so.

US Mid-Am winner Stewart Hagestad bogeys the first but his target for the week was surely achieved when he made the cut. Stunning effort from a genuinely part-time player.

1756: Luke, emailing from sunny Nuneaton this afternoon, has this to say.

"Gargantuan effort from you on the blog the past two days, one which all readers doubtless appreciates.

"Not sure if this is a question or statement, but don't you find some of the American punditry befuddling when it comes to someone like Thomas Pieters?

"I remember when a well respected journalist from the Golf Channel said at the Ryder Cup he looked overcome with nerves on the first tee, yet all I saw was an ice-cold Belgian who is riddled with talent.

"Basically, do you think at times journalists and pundits from the USA can have myopia by not properly analysing the European Tour? I saw on Thursday when Pieters got to 5-under a lot were quick to come out of the woodwork and exaggerate what they believed to be a miniature collapse. 

"Appreciate this may not be a direct question but interested to know your thoughts."

I'm 100% with you, Luke. When Matt Fitzpatrick hit the front on day one, a very well-known golf journalist from the US sent out a pithy tweet about how it would've been hard to predict Fitz and William McGirt out in front.

You see it all the time and it gets cheap retweets, but there are loads of issues.

Firstly, this is the Masters. To play in the field, you have to have either won it or achieved something very impressive - such as getting into the world's top 50, as Fitz did in no time, or winning on the PGA Tour, as McGirt did last summer when the likes of DJ were among those seen off on Sunday.

If Larry Mize or one of the amateurs leads, let's play the 'this is a major surprise' game, but when it's a bona fide top-class player who is here because of recent, rather than past exploits, let's afford them a little respect.

To an extent, the McGirt thing is understandable. He was recently voted the biggest over-achiever and is, in essence, a journeyman pro who has never looked top-class.

But Fitz is a US Amateur winner who was top of the world amateur rankings, has already won three times on the European Tour and made his Ryder Cup debut last September. He's 22 years old and close to the world's top 20.

As I pointed out to the journalist in question, he wouldn't have made the remark had Daniel Berger been leading. Berger is 24, a one-time PGA Tour winner, without a Ryder Cup cap, and he's just beneath Fitz in the rankings. In other words, on most measures he's not as good as Fitz.

As I said, unfortunately it happens all the time. It's insular and immensely frustrating. Seeing people paid to be experts act like golf does not exist beyond the United States is utterly puzzling and it serves nobody. Let's treat these players with some respect and recognise that this is an international sport.

If Berger leads the Open in summer, or McGirt, or someone like Charley Hoffman, Ryan Moore... I hope we'll see their achievements in even qualifying for the Open acknowledged over the sad temptation to mock them in what looks a harmless way, but is actually plain rude.

Rant.

1748: Tee-times in full can be accessed above but here are some of the headlines:

Rory tees off with Kuchar at 1900 BST. Then, in 10 minute bursts, it's Spieth and Phil; Rose and Scott; Rahm and Couples; McGirt and Moore; Pieters and Fowler and, finally, Hoffman and Sergio.

Yes, Sergio. Fascinating to see how he goes today.

1744: Grace turns in two-under and that's the best score so far. In fact, for the supposedly easier day (I remain convinced it will be when the form players go out) there are some big numbers being made.

There are 25 players on course. Three are under-par for the day.

1736: Mike emails to say: "Good work Ben.

"I'd prefer Augusta to revisit their rules on broadcasting and then for the broadcasters to show more swings n less flora BUT, I appreciate your efforts n have been following closely.

"Anyhoo given you are probably right next to the stiffs in suits ( mmmhh!) please have a word.

"Rory was super cool in his post round interview despite the golfing and pin gods aligning against him...he fancies it. Me too but I am talking thru me wallet!"

He's set for a big Saturday if he can just par the first, Mike, I truly believe that.

There's still time to back today's two-ball suggestion, which is covered in my day three preview.

1733: One For Arthur wins it for Scotland. That makes up for both Sandy Lyle and Russell Knox missing the cut. Promise to focus on the golf now - even though Louis Oosthuizen just made seven at the first.

1724: Ah, they both went at Bechers. Ha!

1722: They're off in the National. If The Young Master or Raz De Whatsit wins, it'll be a great start to the day.

It has my attention for a few minutes, hold on...

1710: To the emails and first up is Scott.

He writes: "In your opinion how far back can the field win by, up to even par today or further down? 

"In 2016 Willett was 4 behind , '13 Scott 1 behind, '12 Bubba 1 behind, '11 Charl 6 behind.

"Looking at Garcia's in contention stats he is going to be around for the weekend isn't he? He is the only real player that can hurt me from a punting point of view. 

"Love Pieters what a star."

We have to go further down if only because Rory McIlroy is +1. I'm not ruling out Rory McIlroy when he's five back with 36 holes to play and I wouldn't be mad keen to draw a line through Hideki Matsuyama at +2, to be honest.

Loads in this. There's probably a 66 out there today - it'll take exceptional golf, but it's out there I suspect.

1700: Here we go then. Never mind the Grand National - this is the real quiz.

Strong evidence already that conditions are easier. 

A) Branden Grace is -2 through 7
2) Justin Thomas just birdied the first
D) The weather is better and the pins are generally more friendly

1600: Good afternoon and welcome to coverage of the third round of the Masters.

I just need another hour to recharge ahead of our schedule 1700 BST tee-time - but in the meantime please get your emails in to the above address.

Who do you fancy from here? Will we see another 65 in what are calmer conditions? Is Rory too far back? Is Sergio ready? Is Spieth poised to pounce?

Whatever happens tonight it's almost definitely going to be amazing. See you in one hour.

The Masters - Day two recap

Leaders:

-4 Hoffman, Garcia, Pieters, Fowler
-2 McGirt
-1 Moore, Rahm, Couples, Rose
E Scott, Spieth, Mickelson

0040: With that, it's good night again from me. That's 22 hours of blogging in the bag and raring to go for another 18 or so this weekend.

Saturday's blog (gosh, it's already Saturday...) will begin a little later, around 1600 BST as we focus in on those in the mix for the Masters.

'Moving day' promises to be a real treat. Make sure you're with us.

0036: Rose now, for par, from 10-12 feet... just misses. He will enter the weekend one-under and three off the lead.

That means the final pairings on Saturday, if I've worked it out correctly, will read:

Hoffman & Garcia
Pieters & Fowler
McGirt & Moore
Rahm & Couples
Rose & Scott
Spieth & Mickelson
Kuchar & McIlroy

Sounds alright, doesn't it?

0032: Rose has a bit of work to do for his par as the final group tackle the 18th. He found a bit of tree trouble off the tee - over-hanging branches in the way, at least - and his chip leaves meat on the bone.

0020: And par he will do after a delightful little pitch to around a foot. Not the finish he wanted, with two shots dropped after he got away with one at 15, but at level, Mickelson is right in this thing.

0018: A strong finish from Spieth and he's somehow within four at level par, having been 11 shots adrift midway through the morning when Hoffman reached eight-under. If Mickelson pars 18, I believe we're in for a Spieth/Phil two-ball.

0017: Rose escapes with a par at 17 despite a poor tee-shot, and Mickelson will hope to do the same at 18 having bogeyed 17. He's short of the green in two after a wild drive.

2353: I'll just be taking a break from blogging to get everything in place so you can read up on today's action, but I'll be back to let you know how Rose and Phil finished off at around 0030, before saying good night.

Look up if you want today's report, clubhouse scores and so on.

2351: Fowler's birdie try just falls low and that's another player at four-under. Four-way tie entering the weekend.

2350: Rose replaces Mickelson at two-under with a birdie at 15. Superbly done.

2349: Mickelson could also play with Rahm if things go wrong and that would be interesting - they've played a lot of golf together.

And as Lefty misses a par attempt at 16, that pairing becomes more likely.

2348: Rose rarely convinces me around the greens but the shot he's just played on 15 is up there with the best of the day and leaves him with a short birdie putt.

As things stand there's a good chance Jon Rahm and Fred Couples play together tomorrow, which is really cool.

2346: Couples signs off with birdie and will enter the weekend as one of 10 players under-par. Phenomenal. It really is impossible to do justice to what he achieves here virtually every year and having been forced to miss the event in 2016 due to injury, he's making up for lost time.

In the group behind, Fowler has 148 yards in and is a tad unlucky - his ball stops dead, eight feet away, whereas if it'd released it would've come back to the flag.

Still, he has that to go into the lead and if he misses he gets to stalk Hoffman and Sergio from the penultimate group.

Could be worse, couldn't it?

2344: Pieters as cool as ever speaking to Sky Sports as he tells Tim Barter that part of the reason he's played so well on his Augusta debut is that he doesn't over-think things, doesn't place extra pressure on himself because of the supposed magnitude of the event.

"It's just golf," he says, and it's that mentality which saw him star at the Ryder Cup on his first try, and now lead the Masters as we approach halfway.

2341: Big shot here for Rose, quite a way back at 15 and going for the green.

"Get down," he says, and he's right - it's long. Not as long as Fowler's and therefore dry, but a difficult up and down for that birdie four.

2338: Just your standard Mickelson par.

Oh and watch out - Spieth birdies 16 and is now +1.

2336: Oh, Freddie. Fifty-seven and hitting shots like that. He almost holes out for eagle at 18, will make birdie and is going to be one-under through 36 holes and, once again, inside the top 10.

2334: Rose bogeys 14 and heads now to the 15th, where Mickelson's fourth lacks the required pace and he's still got 15 feet down the hill for par.

Augusta is just biting back here, just as she looked to be there for the taking.

2332: Fowler's birdie try at 17 is back into the wind and slightly up the slope... and he leaves it short, in the jaws.

One more hole to go and it seems this simple: birdie and he'll play in the final group with Hoffman. Par and he'll play in the penultimate group with Pieters.

2330: Mickelson goes long on 15 and now faces a difficult up and down for his par - not that we should rule out the chip-in birdie. His scrambling has been as good as ever this year.

2328: It'll be bogey at best for Rose as his putt on 14 is always low. Frustrating to give back a shot but he has the par-five 15th to come.

At that very hole, Mickelson lays up having pulled his drive left. He'll be looking for some of that famous wedge magic and a birdie to get back within one.

2325: Rose comes up short at 14 and after a poor pitch still has a lengthy, fast, turning par putt to come.

Pieters has no trouble finishing off his four at 18 to post four-under and share the lead. We have two 20-somethings, a 30-something and a 40-year-old tied...

Fowler, 28 and probably the man to beat right now, has a chance to leave that group from 15 feet at 17.

2323: Pieters plays an excellent third at 18 and has a good chance to salvage par and guarantee a place in the penultimate group, possibly alongside Fowler who has ripped one down 17.

2317: Pieters can't quite carve his ball onto 18 and will face a difficult chip back towards the flag, while Mickelson gets a nasty lip-out at 14 and drops to two-under.

2315: Mickelson borrows too much but he'll have only four feet for par and back up the slope.

At 16, Fowler shows how far he's come with a birdie after the disappointment of the 15th hole. He's tied for the lead.

Scott's birdie try at the last goes in, which he deserves, and he's level.

2313: Phil can't quite find the slope he's looking for at 14 and now faces a lightning birdie putt from 45 feet.

Increasingly, it looks like four-under will hold as Pieters hits his tee-shot on 18 into trees on the right.

2312: Scott will have 10 feet for birdie at the last as Rose misses an eagle chance at 13.

Scott needs his to get within four at level, while Rose is within two at two-under. Good friends these two and both have demonstrated the value of patience when it comes to searching for that first major.

Sergio, take note. It can be done.

2310: As good as it gets from Day, greenside at 13. He will get a shot back which is badly needed if he's to mount a challenge this weekend.

Ahead at 15, Branden Grace gets a sighting and that's because his third shot spins back into the hole for an eagle, which gets him well inside the cut mark at +4.

2308: Pieters misses at 17 so the lead remains four-under and Rose has a chance to close within one having set-up an eagle opportunity with a trademark long-iron at 13.

Rose lands it 12 feet away and it stays 12 feet away. Superb.

2306: How about this - no player has been in the top 10 at halfway more than Fred Couples here... since 2010.

So, since he was 52.

He's about to extend the run to six if he can play the last two holes to level par or so.

2305: It's a bogey for Couples and also a bogey for Fowler, who will be annoyed but is a tad unlucky to pay a heavy price for just a slight pull. Probably between clubs and these things happen.

He now heads to the closing three holes and the mission here must be no worse than 3-4-4.

2302: Pieters plays another sumptuous approach to around 10 feet and this one, up the hill, is a chance you'd expect him to take.

At 15, Matsuyama is first to putt and shows Fowler that it doesn't break as hard towards water as you'd expect. Fowler next but first, Phil birdies 13 and is one back.

2300: Among the least convincing strokes you'll see from Scott as he misses another putt at the 17th and he's back to one-over.

Couples is in trouble at 16 and looks like making bogey unless he can hole from 15 or so feet.

Back at 15, Fowler takes his drop and plays a stunning pitch, bouncing up the bank and coming to rest eight or so feet away. Could be a huge save coming up.

2256: Matsuyama has four birdies and a double on his card today - and could be about to add an eagle into the equation after a sublime approach on 15.

Should he make that, the Japanese would close to within four of the lead as Pieters lashes another drive miles down the 17th.

2254: Rose bogeys 12 but at least he now heads to the scoring stretch, with 13, 14 and 15 all representing good birdie chances.

Mickelson is up at 13 and will have five feet for birdie after a classic Phil pitch which short-game wizard Padraig Harrington calls 'unbelievable'.

2253: Fowler, in position A, goes long and left at 15 and that sees his ball go all the way through the back and into water. Painful.

From there, it'll be a difficult up and down for par - it's a likely bogey and to be honest I think I'd take that now.

2250: Kaymer birdies 13 to get back to two-over and he's joined there by Spieth, whose eagle try is uncharacteristically short having been characteristically on-line.

Couples ahead at 15 can't get his downhill birdie putt to drop so the four in front retain their two-shot break on the field.

At 12, Rose will need another 15-foot putt if he's to save par.

2246: Pieters again burns the edge with a birdie try having fired straight over the top of the flag at 16.

2242: Rose makes the par save and it looks like a par for Fowler, whose short-game is probably the best in the world right now. He'll head to 15 tied for the lead.

Day, however, drops two shots at 11 and is now four-over.

2235: Day's fourth shot is long and right and it looks like a double.

Ahead at 14, Fowler's approach is downwind and from rough which means no control, and he goes long. It's not a bad miss, though.

Back to 11 and Rose's chipping woes show themselves again. He has 20 or so feet for par.

2232: Pieters misses and looks disappointed with par, but the bigger picture is he's leading the Masters on his debut.

Looks like a par for Scott on 16 although until the ball is in the hole let's take nothing for granted, whereas compatriot Day will be giving at least one back having found water at 11.

2229: Really solid from sand by Pieters and he'll have eight or so feet, largely uphill, for birdie and the lead.

Mickelson drops a shot at the 11th with three putts from 55 feet and Rose is also in a bit of trouble having come up short in two.

Lefty heads to 12, where he's not convinced he's judged the wind correctly but the end result is good - he's inside 20 feet.

2226: Fowler. Birdie. Tied for the lead.

2225: Scott gets one to drop and is back to level thanks to a birdie at 15. In the group behind Pieters slings one around the trees and into the greenside bunker in two - up and down to get to five-under.

2222: Fowler lays up on 13 but pitches to five feet - he'll have that to share the lead as things really begin to hot up.

Fowler and Pieters, plus Mickelson in fact, could take a lot of players out of this event. All those at +6, including the likes of Larry Mize and amateur Curtis Luck, will be hoping the lead doesn't get to five-under.

2218: Superb from amateur Stewart Hagestad, who almost holes out for eagle at 18 and makes the cut in +3.

Per @PGATOURSMartin, he's the first reigning US Mid-Am champion to do so. Hagestad is an amateur in the truest sense - he has a day job and will be returning to it next week.

2212: Pieters makes it. 3-3 across 13 and 14 and we have a three-way tie.

2211: We're about to welcome a new co-leader as Pieters hits it tight on 14. He's playing superbly and it says much about the youngster that, having played this nine so poorly yesterday, he's put it all behind him and is getting his shots back.

Pieters was five-under at one stage in round one and with the par-five 15th coming up, he could soon be on that score again.

2204: Fowler's approach putt at 12 is shy and he has another testing five-foot putt to come. So does Scott as he too looks for a par at the 14th while Rose is well short at the 10th, with 55 feet for birdie coming up.

Back to 12 and Matsuyama makes a good par save from 15 feet. He's two-over.

2200: Mickelson lashes a drive over 350 yards down 10 and takes advantage with a wedge inside 15 feet and putt dead centre. He's three-under as they begin to surround Hoffman and Garcia at the top of the board.

2156: Eagle! And it comes from Pieters at 13. The Belgian is up to T3 alongside Fowler, who safely finds the green at 12.

Conditions now as good as they've been all week at Augusta.

2152: Some round in the making from Brian Stuard, who is three-under with two to play. Just a reminder: there have been two sub-70 rounds so far today. Stuard needs two pars for the third.

2148: One of the best fightbacks taking place is from Kaymer and perhaps we shouldn't be surprised given what he's already achieved in his career.

The German, who has never excelled at Augusta, rolls in a lengthy birdie putt at the 10th and is three-over, having started today at six-over.

Spieth is also three-over and can't quite get anything going. There's time yet.

2146: Sorry for the short outage there but I return to tell you that Kjeldsen is one-under with Pieters, Rose and Couples, while Mickelson saves par at the ninth to turn in two-under.

Another short miss from Scott means just a par at the 13th and he's level and it's Fowler, at three-under and with five feet for par at 11, who is going best of those on the course.

2125: Superb birdie from Scott at the 12th and, as certain as the sun rising tomorrow, Paul McGinley is on hand to talk about how the Americans call it 'bouncebackability'.

I'm quite sure they don't but nobody dare tell him.

2124: Mickelson's birdie putt just skims past the hole at the eighth - two chances gone at six and eight but he's in his customary prominent position at Augusta.

At the 10th, Fowler's birdie putt is bang on-line and he's going to make a straightforward par.

2121: Fowler saves par at the ninth to turn one off the lead and he's safely found the dancefloor at 10, albeit some 50 feet from the hole.

Scott responds to a double with a sublime approach into 12 where we may see a rare birdie, while at the eighth, Mickelson has around five feet to join Fowler.

2115: Bubba bogeys three of his final five holes to miss the cut, probably by two shots. Serves him right for playing novelty golf balls, doesn't it?

2113: Ah - Scott misses from three feet for bogey, so it's a double and so much of his good work undone. He's +1 with Rory.

2111: Scott is about to drop his first shot of the day, but if you're going to give one back, 11 is as good a place as any. Devilishly hard hole and you're not losing ground on the field.

For the second day running, Matsuyama doubles the innocuous-looking seventh but he still turns in one-under for the day, which means +3 overall and that's alongside Spieth after the 2015 champion birdies eight.

2108: We have a birdie at the 12th at last and it's from Oosthuizen, who is clinging on in there at +4 alongside Kaymer and Fleetwood, both of whom are also fighting back.

As far as my outright tips go, we've got Rory at +1, Rickie at -3, Oosthuizen +4 and both Haas and Leishman finished for the day at +3.

Right now, all five will make the weekend and who knows what may happen from there? With eight places in the bag for all of them, let's not tear up any virtual betslips.

2105: It's a bad second from Fowler, who comes up short of the green on nine and faces a difficult up and down if he wants to stay within one.

Three off the lead are Pieters, Scott, Couples, Rose, Rahm and Moore, while Mickelson is back within two after a brilliant approach leads to birdie at the seventh.

2103: My grandma would've described Rickie Fowler as something like 'nine stone wet through', but boy does he get it out there off the tee and a drive of over 400 yards on nine leaves him a good angle to the green.

"The shot at the last was going to be a tap-in birdie and I make five," says Rory, who then blames the wind for missing his par putt - which is a bit much.

"I feel I can put a 31 or a 32 together a couple of times over the weekend," he adds, and I agree. Certainly, easier conditions will help and he's likely to be around 10th-12th entering the weekend. Big player still.

2054: That stings. Rory pulls his five-foot putt for par and actually does well to make the return from four feet. It's a bogey which he didn't deserve following two perfect shots, but then again that was an extremely poor par attempt.

Ultimately it's a 73 for +1, and he's currently five back.

2050: To his immense credit, Rory plays a delicate pitch to five or so feet. His short game has kept him in this and if he makes that, he'll likely be four back entering the weekend.

Unless someone like Fowler goes lower - he's just made birdie at the fifth and is three-under.

2048: Mickelson misses a short birdie try at six and remains one-under alongside Rose, who does convert that birdie chance at five.

At the 18th, Rahm finds the correct tier, can Rory do the same from 140?

Wow. Talk about a bad break. He loves it and hits the flag, flush. Had it not hit the flag, it'd likely be stiff what with the ridge behind it to stop it.

Instead, it cannons right and he now faces a very tricky pitch.

2042: "I felt like I played great," says Garcia. "I felt like I hit the ball better than I did yesterday.

"A couple of stupid mistakes, but it can happen the way the course is playing.

"I stayed positive, which is good."

He's never been happier, never better equipped for what lies ahead this weekend. Gone is the surly, often petulant youngster who was wearied by expectation; in his place is a golfer who says what will be, will be.

2040: Rory pipes one down the 18th and will have a short-iron into an accessible pin, but there's still danger lurking if the distance control isn't spot-on. And so the beauty and the brilliance of Augusta is revealed.

2035: Birdie. Fist pump. He's not been anywhere near his best and is four off the lead. He knows.

2034: Mickelson walks off the fifth with bogey but in the group behind, Rose will surely make birdie after a brilliant, towering approach.

On 17, Rahm's birdie try slides past and next to go will be Rory, whose wedge ran past the hole to 15 feet. I keep saying it but it's putts like these which can define a round.

2031: Garcia misses his chance to take the solo lead but a closing par puts the seal on a productive two days.

Somehow, this flawed genius finally winning a major at the course where he said he wasn't good enough, on Seve's birthday... it makes some kind of curious sense.

2024: A brilliant outward nine of 32 for Scott as he birdies the ninth to get under par for the tournament.

Mickelson is in trouble on five with 20 feet for his par while ahead at the 18th, Garcia's approach is sumptuous and he'll have five feet down the hill for a closing bogey and the clubhouse lead.

2019: McIlroy makes his par at 16 after a good pitch. One birdie Rory, just one birdie - let's have you within four.

Garcia finds the 18th fairway.

2014: Hoffman's par at 18 may condemn the defending champion to a missed cut. Willett is 11 shots off the lead and finished, while he's tied 64th. He needs to be within 10 of the lead or inside the top 10 to advance.

2013: Hoffman does make his par and posts the clubhouse lead at four-under. On 16, Rory comes up way short, not even making the greenside bunker which he will now need to chip over.

2010: Sergio! As Hoffman stands over a five-foot par putt to post four-under, Garcia is about to join him there after his approach to 17 lands three feet from the hole. Sublime.

2008: Pars for Rory (+1) and Rahm (-1) at the 15th, plus Scott (E) at the eighth. The latter is joined on that score by Couples following a double at hole six, while Matt Fitzpatrick is also back at level following an early bogey.

2003: It's a very poor wedge from Rory and he'll have 40 feet for birdie at 15. All the life has been sucked out of his round here; two days toiling in the wind and there is no spring in his step.

It's disappointing as at one-under early on today, I expected him to really grab this event by the horns and get into those final few groups tomorrow. To do so now will require serious fireworks but mentally, he really needs to get back to level. 72-72 would keep him in this.

1959: Birdies for Mickelson and Day at the third and they're two-under and level respectively. So many Augusta big-guns right in there; virtually all of the standout course lovers bar Spieth, who isn't out of it yet at +3.

1957: Another bogey from Westwood and he's leaving himself work to do on Saturday if he's to get back into contention.

Fowler pars five thanks to a tidy two-putt and remains tied for third, while up at 16 it's an excellent up and down from Garcia to stay solo second at three-under.

1954: The biggest moves are from Couples, Fowler and Scott as the latter gets back to level with a birdie at the difficult seventh.

These breezy, difficult conditions play into the hands of such a wonderful ball-striker, who should've won at least one Open Championship but is playing his way into a position where he could land a second Masters.

Par for Hoffman at 17. One more and he'll be playing in the final group tomorrow.

1952: McIlroy misses the fairway right on 15, having missed it left yesterday. His ball does run and run down a little spectator path and it'll be interesting to see what he's left with from in among the trees.

Birdie at the fifth for Couples and he's now T3. He's 57 years old.

1950: Frustration for Rory as he can only par 14 despite hitting his approach to eight feet.

Garcia misses the 16th green high and right which leaves a delicate chip, and the same sort of shot is coming up for Hoffman who goes through the back of the 17th.

1945: Back-to-back bogeys see Westwood fall to one-over but an easy birdie for Garcia, whose eagle putt came up just short, sees him close the gap to just one shot.

Mickelson meanwhile is three back after a birdie at the second and the same goes for Rose, while we should also keep an eye on Jason Day at +1.

1940: Garcia made a mess of the 13th but two mighty blows set up an eagle chance from 30 feet at the par-five 15th. That would see him join Hoffman on four-under after the Californian pars 16.

Still no birdies at 12 today, by the way.

1936: Made it. Still a rubbish hole.

1935: The fourth is the worst hole at Augusta, no debate, and I'll dislike it even more if Rickie three-putts. That's a possibility after his birdie try trundles seven feet long.

1932: Since getting to one-under and right in the mix, nothing has really happened from Rory and he misses his birdie try at the 13th. He really shouldn't have left that bunker shot above the hole.

McIlroy is now five back having failed to birdie the easiest hole on the course. He'll know one or two late birdies could still salvage a frustrating round but one or two mistakes and he'll be up against it.

1927: Rory plays a nice third but he'll need to focus on the birdie putt as, while it's only five feet or so, there's plenty in it.

First, Rahm taps in for birdie to get back to one-under having hit the green in two.

1923: And now the leaderboard has Garcia at two-under as he looks set to par the 14th. Good news and he's right in the mix behind Hoffman, who also has three feet for his par at the 15th.

1921: According to @Golfweek, unconfirmed reports suggest Garcua did make bogey at the 10th and the confusion comes from his having played a provisional ball.

At 13, Rory goes left of the green in two from the pine straw but will still have a good chance to get up and down for birdie.

1919: Fowler the latest player to make birdie at the third and he's now two behind Hoffman's lead.

It's always at this point I wish players I'd backed were allowed to walk over to the 13th tee and continue from there.

1915: Just like yesterday, we're seeing a fightback from Westwood and birdies at nine and 13 have him bang in the mix at one-under.

Still just one under-par round posted so far today, though.

1912: Bogey for Mickelson at the first and Sullivan at the fourth - both are level par and there are a heck of a lot of players around that score.

At +1 is Brooks Koepka after an early birdie, plus Thomas Pieters, Kjeldsen and Scott.

1910: No real change in conditions here as Casey birdies the second and third to get under-par, alongside Couples who birdies the same two holes in another defiant, brilliant Augusta display.

1908: Rory's chip on 12 is at best tentative and he'll have 12 feet for par as Rahm misses a birdie putt from that sort of range.

Can McIlroy make another momentum putt? Not this time and he's back to one-over.

1905: It's a good par save from Hoffman at 14 after coming up short in two. He's managed to cling on having endured a torrid run during the middle part of this round.

Garcia bogeys and he's either two-under or level, depending on whether he did receive a penalty at the 10th. More as we get it. So, Augusta being somewhat archaic, that'll be about two hours from now.

1902: Spieth is under way with a par, as is England's Matt Fitzpatrick alongside him.

Ahead at the 13th, Garcia's approach goes long and it takes him two chips to find the green. The second of them is heavy-handed and he has 25 feet for par.

One hole behind, Rahm finds the 12th green right of the flag, a bold line from a fearless young player, before Rory goes over the flag and through the green - it'll be a quick chip or putt back towards the flag.

1858: Rahm makes birdie at the 11th and Rory saves his par. Some bounce back from Rahm after a double at the 10th.

Meanwhile, back at the second it's a hole-out eagle for Fowler from the sand. He's up there with the best in the world from bunkers and leaps to one-under, quickly getting back the shots he lost at the 18th yesterday.

1855: Rory threatens with his birdie try but he'll have five feet past. It was at holes 10, 11 and 12 yesterday that he scrambled the pars which provided the platform his his late burst - he needs to do the same here.

Meanwhile there's talk of a 'possible penalty' for Garcia at the 10th. Here we go again.

1851: Rahm plays a gorgeous approach to 11 and we could have our first birdie of the day there. Rory is a good deal more conservative and will face a challenging putt from in the region of 40 feet.

1848: Garcia back to three-under on the leaderboard. Compatriot Rahm, meanwhile, doubles the 10th and is +1 for the tournament. He's three-under for the front nine, which he's now played twice, but four-over for the 10 back-nine holes he's tackled so far.

1843: As McIlroy - who is level despite missing fairway after fairway this week - unleashes one of his better drives, it seems nobody knows what score Garcia is on.

1841: Good move from Scott, who is +1 following birdies at one and three, while Rickie Fowler saves par from distance at the first and remains on the same score.

Hoffman chips to tap-in range and will soon return to four-under as Moore signs for his 69 and is one-under.

TV now showing Garcia at one-under - it seems he may have incurred a penalty. On 12, his bunker shot lips out and he's laughing - nice to see that.

1840: We'll try to clear that one up - Sergio did tee off before Lowry on 11, and Lowry made six on 10, so there's evidence to suggest the leaderboard is wrong and Garcia made bogey at 10 rather than triple. 

On 13, Hoffman's second comes up short of the creek and he'll have a good chance to make birdie.

1836: Some confusion as while Sergio pars 11, the leaderboard has changed his score on the 10th from bogey to triple. Hmm.

At the 12th, he comes up short... but appears to have found the bunker.

1832: Moore has 17 feet for birdie at the last to match McGirt's two-under total as Garcia's birdie try on 11 slides by, leaving two feet for par.

At 10, McIlroy finds a better drive - it was a push on nine which cost him a shot there - and will have 30 feet for birdie on a difficult hole.

Rahm, on the other hand, is in a spot Rory knows well - down to the left of the green, where his Masters hopes ended in 2011.

1829: An excellent second from Garcia and he'll have 30 feet for birdie at the 11th. Hoffman fails to capitalise on his good tee-shot at 12 so it's as you were at the top as some of the big names prepare to tee-off back at the first.

1823: Moore pars from 24 feet at the 17th after a drive which went into trees and less than 200 yards. He's one more par away from matching McGirt's day-one 69; nobody has yet registered a score of 72 or better today.

1820: Bogey Garcia and the lead, which was eight-under an hour ago, is now three-under. 

1818: Rory bogeys the ninth, which means he turns in level. Frustrating, but he's three better than yesterday and if he can again come home in three-under, he'll be right in this.

At 12, Hoffman is looking to stop the rot and does so with a great shot to 12 feet.

1815: Bother for Sergio at 10 and he'll need all of that Spanish magic to get up and down for par. Hoffman bogeys, so the lead could soon be three-under. For now, it's four-under and it belongs to one man: Sergio Garcia.

1811: Evidence of that spinning head can be seen in Hoffman's shot selection at 11, as he tries a spinning high one where surely a chip and run would've been better.

I know, who am I to tell a PGA Tour player etc, but whatever the merits of the choice he has 12 feet for par.

1807: From trees to the right of the fairway, Hoffman misses the 11th green - but he'll be relieved to see his ball stop short of the water.

You'd think from there he might make par and stop the rot, but his head must be spinning.

1804: Another Green Jacket, Adam Scott, becomes the second player today to birdie the first and he's on the fringes of contention at +2.

Adam Hadwin is alongside Scott on the same score, the newly-married Canadian faring well on his Augusta debut, while amateur Hagestad picks up a shot and is +1.

1802: The first eagle of the day at 13 and it comes from former winner Vijay Singh.

He's now +8, so that was needed.

1758: It's a par for Rory at eight after a poor drive - far from his first of the day - but alongside him, Rahm makes birdie to move into that share of fourth at one-under.

At 10, Hoffman makes a good bogey putt from seven feet but that means he enters Amen Corner having made four consecutive bogeys, which have seen his lead disappear.

1752: Garcia makes it. 

1751: More bother for Hoffman, who pulls his drive into trees to the left of the 10th fairway and is still 138 yards away in two.

Sergio, on the other hand, has seven feet for birdie at nine. We could have a tie soon.

1740: Par at the eighth for Sergio, at the ninth for Hoffman, and at the seventh for McIlroy, who now heads to the par-five eighth - where he made bogey on day one.

I'm not sure even Rory can get there in two blows today but we shall find out shortly.

1736: Speaking of past champions, Bubba Watso starts bogey, bogey, bogey, bogey... he's +6 and very much in danger of missing the cut.

Faring better is Soren Kjeldsen, now one-under early on in his second round as he seeks to add to last year's top 10 - or even better it.

1731: The history of this tournament shows many, many repeat winners, and Charl Schwartzel is keeping his hopes alive with some lovely golf.

The South African, winner of this event in 2011, was +4 for the first nine holes of the event but is -3 since and now +1 overall, having just made back-to-back birdies at eight and nine.

1726: Three bogeys in a row for Hoffman, the latest after a four-foot miss at the eighth. Trouble.

1723: Big par save from Sergio at the seventh, as Hoffman finds the eighth fairway. Feels like things are beginning to hot up here at Augusta and that applies to the weather - still cool, but warmer than this time yesterday.

Certainly, the greens are beginning to speed up, just in time for the wind dying down tomorrow.

1721: Birdie McIlroy - this time as he chips in at the sixth. He had 10 feet for birdie on three and made bogey. Since then, he's made two birdies when looking like he might bogey. 

The bottom line? He's one-under and within five.

1718: It's a closing bogey for McGirt after three putts from 60 feet and he's the clubhouse leader at two-under.

Moore, meanwhile, adds a birdie at 13 having missed a chance at 12 and he's under par.

1716: An important point to remember with the Masters: everyone within 10 of the lead gets into the weekend.

So, there will be a fair few players quietly hoping Hoffman drops a few more.

1705: Strange game, this one. Rory bombed a drive nearly 400 yards at the second, made birdie. On the fifth, it's 270 yards, at a right-angle into trees.

Two shots later, he signs for another birdie. Back to level and that's six back as Hoffman makes bogey at the seventh.

1702: Ernie Els makes a lengthy par save at the 11th to remain +1 and right on the fringes of contention, as Westwood drops a shot to fall to level par.

Hoffman leads by four, then, but just three players are better than one-under.

If the leader comes back to them, we could have a situation where every player who makes the cut will feel like they're in this thing.

1658: Curtis Luck was odds-on to be top amateur and he's showing why, battling back from an opening 78 at one-under through 10 today - and bogey-free.

He's still three behind Stewart Hagestad in the amateurs' battle, but Hagestad is still to head out for his second round.

Back at seven, Hoffman is again in a bit of trouble and will be looking to scramble par.

1655: Wiesberger's hard work undone in one swing at the 11th, as he finds water. That was an extremely poor shot and from +3, he's likely to drop at least two.

Shane Lowry is off to a nightmare start at +3 through five, and once again the course is playing really tough. I wonder if, as with last night, the breeze will ease off a little over the final couple of hours to help the late groups.

1651: Ah. Ollie bogeys 11 and finds water at 12. That may be that.

1648: One man who would love to be around on Sunday, given that it would've been Seve's birthday, is Jose Maria Olazabal - and he's getting the job done at present, a birdie at the 10th taking him to +4 and T46.

It's the top 50 and ties who advance and I would say if he can play the next holes in level, that'll do it.

1645: A bogey-birdie start is quite common and Henley has just produced the latest to ultimately remain one-under, tied fourth.

Hoffman has work to do for par at the sixth and his lead could be back to four shortly, with McGirt and Garcia remaining three-under and in turn two clear of the rest.

1637: Ryan Moore, who fared well here as an amateur over a decade ago and tends to play nicely at Augusta, is two-under for the day and back to level for the tournament.

1631: Marc Leishman is back to level par after a birdie at the second but Rory makes a mess of things at the third, taking three putts from nowhere for a clumsy dropped shot.

As has so often been the case previously, he's simply making too many mistakes.

1628: Garcia makes his first bogey of the tournament and Hoffman's lead is now five shots. The leader pars the fifth hole.

Back at the third, Rory will have 11 feet for birdie to get within... seven. Hoff really does have them strung out all over Augusta National.

1617: From the middle of the 14th fairway, McGirt makes his third bogey of the week and falls to three-under. Garcia now alone in second.

1615: Hoffman misses a good birdie chance at the fourth but it's still been a lovely start and he remains four clear.

McIlroy meanwhile hits hit approach to 24 feet but misses the eagle putt - he's back to level, and he's joined there by Jon Rahm after a birdie of his own.

1607: Birdie. Birdie. Birdie. Sergio Garcia is T2.

1605: Think Rory might be a bit annoyed to have started with a bogey. He's just hit his drive 393 yards down the second. That might be the longest drive in Masters history.

It leaves him 174 yards - about a seven-iron - for his second. He'll expect to set up an eagle chance.

1557: It is a bogey for Rory for the second day in succession. Yesterday, he started 5-5-5 - the mission now is to make it 5-4... 3?

McGirt lays up at the par-five 13th hole and is over the green in three, but his fourth, with the putter, is again neat and tidy and he will make par.

Hoffman also scrambles his par at the third having misjudged his second. As you were.

1551: McIlroy will have 12 feet for par at the first, so it looks like he's avoided disaster after an awful tee-shot - but how valuable a nice par save could be, especially with the second playing much easier today.

Up ahead at the second, birdies for Garcia and Westwood see them creep closer.

1542: It's a birdie for Hoffman and I believe that's nine in his last 17 holes. Crazy stuff. Par for McGirt.

1540: McGirt's bunker shot is very good at 12, aided by being into the wind, and he should save par again from around three, maybe four feet.

As Garcia finds the fairway in the group behind, Rory starts the day with a pull left and intro trees at the first. He's 220 yards from the green, on the wrong side... it's just about the worst spot.

1537: Bit of a technical issue means Scott's email, which I had answered, has disappeared.

He asked what I thought of Rory's price (skinny enough) and what Spieth needs to keep in the tournament (to get back to level par). There you go...

1535: McGirt makes his par despite a so-so chip at the 11th. He remains three back of Hoffman for now, but has found sand at the back of the 12th green while Hoffman has 22 feet for eagle at the second.

Meanwhile, a rare birdie at the first, this one for Sergio Garcia as he makes a precious three to get to two-under. Lee Westwood bogeys and is back at one-under.

Reminder: Seve would've been 60 this Sunday. Garcia still hasn't made a bogey.

1528: It's the classic bail out for McGirt on 11 - he misses the green right but will be chipping across it with plenty of space to work with. He should get it inside 10 feet at least.

Hoffman meanwhile has thrashed a drive down the par-five second. He'll have 238 yards in for his approach to an accessible pin. An early eagle would put him five clear...

1525: Back to the emails (address above if you'd like to join in) and Michael writes:

"I'm a Irishman and I am on Lowry amongst others ew at 150s. He drove wonderfully yesterday.

"Quick question do you think he suffers from a mental block always seems to have a sloppy shot/putt around the corner when he is playing well? For me he has a lot of talent."

I'd actually have the mental side of things as one of Lowry's strengths, Michael. I know he disappointed in the US Open last year but many a man has done that before and it was his first time in the mix in a major.

His performance in winning at Firestone a year earlier was absolutely first class and while he does have a big miss in the locker, he's got wonderful hands and is a joy to watch around the greens.

I wouldn't be certain he'll be a major winner one day but he'll put himself in with chances. Were he to win here it'd be another new dad taking the Masters...

1521: Wiesberger is the low man on the course at two-under through four and three-over for the tournament but Willett faces a battle to make the cut - he's now six-over having played the first four holes today in +5.

1519: It's a good par save for McGirt at the 10th and Hoffman will be equally pleased to get through the first safely with a valuable par.

The overnight leader found the green in two and while his approach putt left work to do, he holed out from seven feet. A fine start.

Ahead to 11, and McGirt's tee-shot is ideal - straight down the middle.

1515: And I am back - I thank my colleague, chairman of the Billy McGirt fan club, for stepping in briefly.

We'll pick up the McGirt story soon but first: the third eagle of the tournament has just happened, and it's at the second where Stenson goes from +7 to +5.

1500: It's a par for big Bill at the ninth so the lead remains at three. By my reckoning, he's one of only three players currently under-par for their round. Let's hope Ben's car journey went as smoothly as McGirt's front nine.

1450: Plenty of emails coming through for which I am thankful - I'll cover all of them shortly after 3pm. For now I have to move location... from where I am now to, erm, the media centre at Augusta, which is definitely where I am, rather than, oh, I don't know, Leeds city centre. I'm in Georgia. If I keep saying it, it will be true.

Stay tuned in the meantime for an update on McGirt and then I'll be back in the saddle at 1510 BST to follow Hoffman, Rory and everything else today.

1440: It's taken 20 holes, but Bernd Wiesberger has his first birdie via a four at the par-five second. The Austrian is four-over and still faces a fight to make the weekend. (Please don't ask for a cut prediction...)

Els also makes four at the second to return to level par. Could be one of the sub-stories of the week, his battle to finish 12th or better and earn a place in the field for next year.

1437: A good question from, who asks: "Do you think Hoff is on the winning score now?

"Can't see double figures myself as wind will be replaced by fast drying greens..."

My best guess is yes, Kevin, he is. I went with six-under yesterday, one better than Willett's score from a year ago, and I'll stick with it as a competitive total.

I've wondered recently if there's scope in a new (presumably European Tour) style of event where players can bank their score at any point. I'd be certain Hoffman would take up the offer.

1435: Steve asks: "So Duf double bogeys 1 - seems l like everyone is over par on that hole - why is it so difficult?  Trying to get some insight into 2nd round 3-ball betting flying starts...."

Historically it's not been that demanding, Steve, but this week's prevailing wind has made it among the most challenging par-fours on the course. 

Today's pin position is tight and the real problem, as with most holes here, is when you get up to the green. Willett has 21 yards away in two and needed six more...

1432: Erm, Danny Willett has started round two with an eight. Two shots worse than yesterday's six.

The first hole is a sneaky test. It's left-to-right, which is atypical for Augusta, and there's so little space off the tee - bunker right, trees left. The green is raised, dramatic, and surrounded by run-offs.

Tough start.

1430: More serene progress from McGirt with pars at six and seven. He's made just two bogeys in 25 holes of this, his Masters debut. Clearly those members he says he knows have let him in on a few course secrets.

Easy to underestimate a player like McGirt but having low expectations and having been through mini-tours to get here may give him a better perspective that some who place demands on themselves.

We shall see but it's so far, so good.

1425: A double-bogey to open with for former PGA champion Jason Dufner and a bogey for Ernie Els - the first is playing really tough.

Ryan Moore has started 4-4 though to get back to +1 alongside that pair. A 4-4 start is the dream ticket in these conditions.

1422: We welcome Rob along for the afternoon and he's in a nice position after day one.

"Afternoon Ben, looking forward to the afternoon coverage before 5 when the weekend begins for most of us! 

"This easily qualifies as my favourite sporting weekend of the year, as an avid golf fan, it truly is the pinnacle. Me and my boss were in a discussion as to where the Masters lies and I'd go as far as saying I'd prefer a Masters than a US Open and US PGA such is the prestige.

"Wanted to get your thoughts on the betting, I went a bit above my normal stakes ended up backing 14 golfers after Jamie vardy and leiciester 3-1 scorecast last month hit the jackpot for me (280/1 with free 5er from skybet for the record) and after day 1 I can’t complain.

"I’m on Rory win only (he s a home golfer for me hav to back him), Rose at 28/1 e/w and Hoffman e/w at 125/1. Also have Casey in there with Haas and Koepka. Disappointed with Oosthuizen really liked his chance but think the wind ruined it for him!

"Whilst plenty of my colleagues showed surprise at him topping the leaderboard, I wasn’t - he's a classy ball striker on his day and like your stats showed he starts fast and has had his moments at Augusta before.

"My question is can he stay there?! I’m on with Sky Bet so eight places, anything under par is great for him today but let's hope the wheels don’t come off - he's spoken of his lack of self belief at start of the season but I for one would not complain if he makes this a one-man show and the rest are playing for runners up!"

Thanks Rob and how Hoffman goes today really is the burning question. I suspect you and about a dozen others hope he powers 10 clear - most will want him to shoot over par (including me - how fickle) because we're one man away from one of the most open renewals in memory.

One thing is for sure - it'll be an exciting weekend. The Masters always delivers; even if Hoff went 10 clear, every shot would be under intense focus and we saw last year what can happen.

1414: James is first to email once more - good afternoon sir and thanks for joining me.

He writes: "Hi Ben. Well I just had to be first again. Thoughts for the day ahead?  

"Personally I cannot see Hoffman replicating his great form from yesterday and from what I have seen it still is anyone’s championship.

"Great to see Westy up there, but I can’t help but feel that the whole leaderboard will have a very different complexion to it come midnight."

I would tend to agree, James, although Hoffman need only shoot par to keep his nose in front. I make it sound so easy, don't I?

He played wonderfully yesterday and it wasn't just a hot putting round - his approaches to 16, 17 and 18 in particular were first class.

And he stuck around here a couple of years ago, before fading on Sunday, so given his obvious talent it wouldn't shock me if he extended the lead.

However, just a week ago there was a six-shot halfway leader in Houston who lost by three shots in the end. Hoffman has a heck of a long way to go and I suspect he won't be the one donning green on Sunday.

1410: McGirt is, however, the only player on course he is under par for the day. Conditions are once again set to be tough before they relent into the weekend.

Will Hoffman extend his lead? Can Rory limit the mistakes and get himself into one of the final groups? Or will it be Phil Mickelson, out tonight, who launches the strongest challenge?

1408: When William McGirt shot 69 yesterday, it looked like it might be enough for the lead - only for Charley Hoffman to better it by four.

Already today, McGirt has reduced the deficit and that's despite making bogey at the first. He made birdies at two and four and is three back.

1406: Above you'll find yesterday's report and tee-times for today. Here, in BST, are some big names to watch out for:

Hoffman (1501), Garcia (1512), Westwood (1512), McIlroy (1534), Rahm (1534).

1400: Good afternoon and welcome to coverage of day two at Augusta National. Brace yourselves for what promises to be another engrossing day which we'll bring you live right through until the final shots at just after midnight.

As ever, you can email me (Ben) via the address above. Let's go.

The Masters - Day One recap

Refresh for updates

-7 Hoffman
-3 McGirt
-2 Westwood

0015: That's all from me then, folks. I thank you all for your company but we're not even close to halfway yet and I will be here for all four days - please do join me tomorrow when the blog will begin at around 1400 BST.

For now, the links above should provide everything you need - Thursday's scores, a report of the action and Friday's tee-times. Good night.

0012: And it's par for Rory - a round of 72 and the very best he could've hoped for when standing over a difficult par putt at the 10th, when three-over.

McIlroy will hope for a calm morning and to go out and break 70. That has to be the aim.

0010: It's a closing bogey for Rahm, who just frittered away some shots there at the end with a pair of fives to finish and a short miss at the 16th.

He'll end the day at one-over thanks to an opening 73. It's a decent start but he will be disappointed.

0007: The boy has an underrated short-game and a lovely chip will leave around four feet for par.

0005: McIlroy will have work to do for par at the last having just pulled his approach slightly to the left from what didn't look the best of lies.

It's only one shot between bogey and par, but having fought back to level, Rory's entire day and how he feels about it may depend on the next two - or three - shots.

2351: Rory thought he had it - but the ball just won't turn and he makes par. Still, at level he's in a much better position than appeared likely and the task now is to par 18.

Rahm makes bogey and falls to level.

2350: Westwood closes with a sand-save par and that's a fine 70, two-under, having struggled early. Patience pays off.

Garcia meanwhile shoots 71 thanks to another par - his 17th in a bogey-free round, which in itself is remarkable on such a difficult day.

Back at the 17th, Rory has another birdie chance - this time around 12 feet. Rahm is working to save his par.

2340: It's 65 for Hoffman - it would've been 64 if he'd hit his birdie putt a little harder on the last.

He won't mind and that seals a 100/1 winner for us and, more importantly, an incredible number for Hoffman who will lead by fully four strokes after round one.

Not many left on the course now but stay with us for the remaning action as we see if Rory can get under par having looked like he might drop right out of this at one stage earlier.

2334: Rory birdies 16 after Rahm misses his chance. McIlroy was three-over at the turn, just like Westwood, and is now level.

Westwood, playing 18, is two-under and still wins comeback of the day. His drive on the last is ideal.

2332: When it's your day... Hoffman gets a lovely kick off the greenside bunker at 18 and has another good birdie chance. If it goes in, that's 65 on a day where the next best score is 69 - and there's only one of those.

Truly, one of the great opening rounds in major championship golf.

2327: McIlroy is on his knees at 16 - after his tee-shot nearly goes in on the full. Another beautiful shot as he recovers to a strong position and he'll have five feet for birdie.

Rahm has around six feet as he took launches a strong day-one challenge, while Westwood's sensational run continues with another birdie at 17 and he's alone in third at two-under. That's five-under since the turn.

2323: Hoffman has managed not to drive it out of bounds at 18 and with that we've won. Anyone with me? I hope so, I really do.

Westwood meanwhile has another chance on 17 after a good approach and Rory is back in the game as he cans the birdie putt on 15. So does Rahm - he's one-under, Rory is one-over.

2318: Hoffman for birdie at 17... makes it. This truly is up there with the great opening rounds at Augusta National - he's six clear of third and, surely, weighed in for the 100/1 tip. Hooray.

2316: Westwood is looking for his fourth birdie in a row and a fine drive at 17 boosts his prospects.

Rory, at 15, lays up to 99 yards and a solid wedge leaves him 12 feet or so, down the slope, for birdie.

Alongside him, Rahm's is from a better angle and it's perfect, to six feet under the hole.

2311: Garcia can't make the birdie and his run of pars continues.

Ahead at 17, Hoffman hits it to five feet. What a sensational round of golf.

2307: Garcia will also have a good birdie chance at 16 - that to get to two-under, which would be solo third at this point.

Currently, as above it's Hoffman by three and he's down the middle on 17. Then McGirt after his fine debut round, followed by a huge tie for third including Sullivan, Rose, Mickelson and a few more.

2304: Lee John Westwood! He's inside five feet at the 16th. Some comeback. Rory meanwhile hooks his drive at 15 to a part of the course I'm not sure I've seen before. It's ok but it's a lay-up and not an easy one at that. 

2301: Another birdie for Westwood - that's three in succession and he's level par once more having been three-over at the turn.

Rory pars 14 after a good drive but disappointing approach and he'll now head to the 15th, where he might just about be able to reach in two with his best.

2300: It's a bogey for Lowry after three putts at the 16th.

In other words, it's now Hoffman versus the clubhouse for the lead. Here he is for birdie at 16... and makes it. Go on Charley.

2258: What else is happening? Erm, three birdies and no bogeys in the final six holes see Matt Kuchar carve out an unlikely 72.

Kuchar was +3 through three holes but has been blemish-free since then and that's in part the product of a slight drop in the wind.

Still exceptional play, whichever way you dress it and he's currently tied for 12th.

2251: Hoffman is inside three feet at 16 now - that for six-under. If it goes in, he can finish bogey-bogey, par-double, and he'll still likely hold the lead.

Sorry to harp on about it like.

2245: Big break for Rory, as his approach to 13 actually stuck on the bank and from there he's able to get up-and-down for his first birdie of the tournament.

It's been a long time coming, but at +2 he's clinging on in there. He'll want one more. No, he'll want two more.

BIRDIE HOFFMAN! I'm going to watch The Hills Have Eyes followed by Baywatch to celebrate if he sees this through. Two-shot lead.

2242: Heart-in-mouth stuff as he barely carries it onto the green and, oh thank you sweet golfing gods, it doesn't zip back. He's a good way short of the pin, 40 or so feet, but that's fine. If he two-putts.

2241: Strange goings on at 13, where it seems everyone who goes for the green in two comes up short. Given that water is short and long is ok, that's an odd thing to keep happening.

The latest pair to do so are Rory and Rahm, both of whom will now be looking to scramble pars.

At 14, meanwhile, Lee Westwood makes birdie to claw back to +1. Not much has happened for him today yet he's in there, as ever, at Augusta.

Hoff-watch: He has 86 yards in to the 15th. Normally, it's birdie time. But today's pin, wind into... just anywhere on the green please.

2237: Like just about everyone, it seems, Dufner bogeys the last - that's yet another 71, one-under, and a good day's work.

2229: HOFFMAN! It's a birdie at 14. He leads on his own. Oh, what I would give for four pars.

Next up is the 15th. You know, that ordinarily easy par-five on which Spieth took nine earlier.

At 13, Rory's drive just broke Trackman/Shottracker, whatever we're calling it today.

2224: Second wind for me here. It was the fourth can. Lowry, after two fantastic shots into 13, is annoyed to walk off with birdie but he's two-under now.

At 11, Justin Thomas makes his first appearance of the day with an extremely rare birdie to get back to level. It's a matter of time before he contends for a major and so far, so good here at Augusta.

2222: Those Spanish hands of Sergio come to the rescue after he finds water in the same spot as Hoffman at 13. He'll save par after a delightful chip as both Els and Dufner are right off the tee at the last.

To 12 and Rahm... misses. He'll make his first bogey of the tournament and fall back to level par. The test for him this week will be how he copes with the inevitable blips when they do come; so few of his age manage it but he's a bit special.

At the par-four 14th, Hoffman has a nasty, part-pine, part-grass lie and 174 yards to travel with his second but plays a gorgeous shot which is really unluckly to go from eight feet away to around 30. Still, a good result.

And back to 12 - another big save for Rory. Now it's time to make an actual birdie. A novel suggestion, but there's some mileage in it I reckon.

2218: Another birdie for Ernie! Utterly ridiculous - he's putting like Spieth and is now under par, tied for fourth.

McIlroy and Rahm both a little heavy-handed with their chips at the par-three 12th and have work to do for par - McIlroy from eight feet, Rahm from 10.

2213: Hoffman saves par as Dufner does likewise at 17. Back at 11, Rahm remains bogey-free with a lovely up-and-down and Rory's is even better, as he chips to around three feet from a really nasty spot.

Now to 12 and he's not pleased - it's long and left, almost side-by-side with Rahm, and both need more magic to save par before having a crack at 13, where I suspect a frustrated Rory might hit it on an utterly daft line.

2205: That's a bad minute or so as Leishman and Haas both bogey 10 and Hoffman, from 227 yards, finds Rae's Creek with his attempt to go for the 13th green.

Two yards left, he has an eagle putt. Now after a drop and a short pitch he has 10 feet for par. Could do with that one going in please, Charles.

2200: We have our first Sergio fist pump - 12 holes into the event. That's one of the thousand reasons we/I love him. What a hero. Par on 12 and he's two back.

2158: Splendid stuff from Ernie, for whom this may well prove to be an Augusta farewell - he's not a past champion and needs to seriously improve his world ranking to get back here next year.

The alternative is to bag a top-12 finish and, after back-to-back birdies, he's level par and right in there. Alongside him, Dufner makes par to remain two-under with two to play but Bernd Wiesberger is +5.

Whoever put these three together is somewhat cruel. Three of the worst putters in the event even if we're not seeing that from Els right now.

2153: Another vital par save from McIlroy at 10, a curling left-to-right putt which just clings to its line and finds the cup.

He's +3 and six back and has not played well, but there are a couple of Rory holes to come and he'll have eyes on 73 or so to keep in this thing.

McGirt meanwhile speaks to Sky Sports and reveals that conditions today are very similar to his few practice rounds here, which has been a big help.

He seems like a good egg and played wonderfully today.

2148: Hoffman makes it. He's tied for the lead.

2145: Dufner does as he's told and bogeys 15, despite being in perfect position after his lay-up. That hole, usually the easiest at Augusta, has been evil today.

Hoffman meanwhile (and yes, I am firmly on first-round leader watch) has a chance at the 12th having hit it pin-high to around 12 feet. If that goes in, and then he birdies the par-five 13th, we can start to get excited.

Fast and loose with the word 'we' there, I appreciate. 

2140: I'm not a complete idiot, quite, so I know that Sergio's ball staying up when it was wet for all money on 11 does not mean that his name is on the trophy.

But... what if I'm wrong?

2137: "I didn't miss a shot those first 12 holes, that's the best I've played all year," says Rose.

Meanwhile, an excellent up-and-down from McGirt sees him shoot 69, a sensational round in the conditions.

2131: It's a two-over 74 for Day, who didn't have his best stuff but, as ever, kept chipping away at it.

Rory pars nine to turn in three-over as Fitzpatrick speaks to Sky Sports' Tim Barter, telling him he played 'really nice, hit a lot of greens'.

Fitzpatrick loves Augusta, he's absolutely convinced it plays to his strengths, and whatever happens tomorrow he'll be competing for Green Jackets for many years. 

Huge talent, the most promising in Europe along with Rahm, who saves par at the ninth to turn one-under on his Augusta debut. He's bogey-free.

2127: McGirt finds the fairway at 18 where up ahead, it is a closing birdie for Rose. He's the man to beat here in my opinion. Conditions to suit and he will just love this grind, while when things get easier at the weekend, he's got history of making plenty of birdies and better here.

2121: What a finish from Rose, who just about stiffs it at 18 and will join this -1 club if making the putt.

Meanwhile I have The Fear. Dufner has just joined the lead at three-under. Sorry, Duf, but I really hope you stick one in the water some time soon.

2118: You may remember that Willett, defending his title, started 6-6 - the worst start of any defending champion in more than 30 years.

Well, to his immense credit, he's just eagled the 13th hole to get back to level par for the championship. From +3 through three and given his struggles since last year, that's as impressive as anything I've seen today.

2115: As Rory bogeys the eighth after a poor chip and a missed putt from around seven feet, McGirt finds the 17th green and will have a good birdie chance.

Rose made bogey on that hole moments ago but a good drive sets him up nicely at 18, where up ahead Mickelson makes a good par to join the growing clubhouse lead.

2112: "In what should prove to be a match, Dufner has to be the call and it’s only the fact that he tees off when the wind is expected to be at its strongest which prevents me from firing one more first-round leader dart."

Safe to say that while happy Duf is comfortably winning his three-ball, I would probably rather he didn't lead. Please, please don't lead. He's -2 through 13.

Some good news for Spanish fans as Jon Rahm joins Sergio Garcia at one-under.

2110: It's a closing double for Fitzpatrick and we are still waiting for a score of 70. McGirt will break 70 if he pars the final two holes and is in the fairway at 17.

Spieth meanwhile makes a good par save to shoot 75 and that's the fourth round in succession he's been over-par at Augusta - a surprising stat, perhaps.

Still, +3 is not a disaster today as Day drops a shot at 17 to fall to +2.

2100: McGirt converts the birdie chance - he's made just one bogey today and that's sensational, to be honest.

Groans from Rory at eighth as a drive goes astray while ahead at nine, Hoffman makes birdie to turn in two-under.

If he can break par on the back-nine he'll grab us either a 100/1 winner or full place, which would be a lovely start to the Masters.

That said, this back-nine is brutally difficult right now.

2052: McGirt comes within a whisker of an ace at 16 and will have around six feet for birdie, as Fitzpatrick snap-hooks his drive at the last.

Fitz needs par for the first sub-70 of the day. Should he fail, McGirt will be next to try.

Meanwhile at the seventh, Rory makes a 15-feet par putt. Could be huge for momentum as he heads to the par-five eighth, which he can almost get to in two.

2050: A significant move from Day, who birdies 15 and 16 to get back the two shots he dropped at 11, and is now +2.

After Johnson's withdrawal, Day is faring best of the big names - Rory (+2 early), Spieth (+3), Matsuyama (+4), Stenson (+3).

Rose however bogeys the same hole - he's made bogey at both par-threes on the back-nine - and falls out of a tie for second.

2047: For those unfamiliar with Fitzpatrick (which appears to be most of America, somehow...), he's a dynamite putter among many other things (dead straight, tough as they come, wise beyond his years...) and he shows as much with a par save at 17.

McGirt also saves par while a fancy flop shot from Rose gives him a chance to do so after a poor approach to the 16th green.

2045: Oof, Fowler's approach putt on 18 is a huge misread and he'll have 10 feet for par. Hopefully, Pieters will be standing by to tell him it breaks right.

Here we go... straight in please, Richard... No. A disappointing double for 73. Like Pieters he'll be very disappointed but this back-nine is playing especially tough - to around two-over - so three-over for the loop isn't a disaster and neither is +1.

2043: Selections update: Haas and Leishman going nicely at one-under early. Fowler, who was two-under through 10, is looking likely to sign for a level-par 72 after a poor drive at 18.

Rory is struggling a little but at +2 has time to turn this around - anything 74 or better would be fine, really - and the less said about Louis (+5), the better.

Meanwhile, although Vegas let us down badly in the first-round leader market, we do have Charley Hoffman and he's one-under through eight holes, tied for fourth currently.

He's also in a three-ball double with Jason Dufner, also under-par, and it's so far, so good with that one.

2037: Rose showing all of his experience at 15. This is a hole where players are usually chasing eagles, but today is not the day to mess around and rather than attack a dangerous flag, he's out to the right, pin-high, and will likely take his two putts for par.

Meanwhile, it's worth noting there's been only one round of 80 or higher today - this is a compacted leaderboard. Last year, nine players failed to shoot 79 or better on day one and we could yet see something similar, but because of unusually soft greens and high winds we're seeing a very narrow gap between best and worst.

In other words: very few players will be out of this after round one and surely not Mickelson, who is now one-under.

2030: McGirt ticking over nicely here at two-under as Spieth does get one back at 16. He'll know that one more, two-over, and he's still bang in this thing.

Mickelson is definitely in it at level and he'll have no more than three feet for a birdie of his own at the same par-three 16th hole, where today's pin position is very friendly.

2021: Not to kick Spieth while he's down, but that's two quadruple-bogeys in his last 22 holes at Augusta National.

The other 20 holes? One-under, nothing worse than a bogey and not many of them.

But this is how good he is mentally: inside five feet at the 16th.

2018: A real shame on 18 as Pieters three-putts from eight or nine feet for a double-bogey. From five-under through 10, he shoots level. It'll still see him right there after 18 holes but he'll be livid.

2017: Spieth could be about to make a nine here but even that won't be as bad as Kaymer's back-nine.

The German, a two-time major winner lest we forget, has gone 6-5-4-6-5 - that's dropping six shots in five holes - and is +7.

His Ryder Cup team-mate Fitzpatrick has no such issues, taking the lead with a birdie at the 15th, as Spieth does indeed make a nine. NINE. Wow.

2014: Wow. Spieth's fifth is very poor - long and almost long enough to be wet - and his sixth is almost as bad, coming close to a return to the pond he found with his third.

Still with me? He has two putts for an eight, from about 50 feet.

2007: In my pre-tournament player profiles I wrote that William McGirt is an unlikely contender but might go well for long enough to have pundits reaching for their media guides...

He's now tied for the lead after a birdie at the 13th.

Spieth meanwhile has found trouble at 15, his third spinning back into water as so many before him have. He'll need a very good recovery to make seven.

On four, McIlroy makes a very good, very important par save to remain +2.

2000: A first mention for Shane Lowry, who is without a par but won't mind - he's gone bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie-birdie to sit one-under.

Spieth sloppily gave one back at 14 and is level, while Pieters missed a good chance to birdie 17 and remains two-under.

He needs to birdie the last to break 70 which so far nobody has come close to doing.

1952: Not the start McIlroy wanted as he makes bogey at the first, just a par at the second despite a huge drive, and now a bogey at the third following a three-putt from 25 feet.

With the fourth and fifth playing very tough, it's going to be important for Rory to steady the ship before he can think about holes eight, 13 and 15, the par-fives he may yet be able to attack if the wind dies down a little.

At the 14th, Fitzpatrick makes birdie to join Ryder Cup team-make Pieters at the top of the leaderboard.

1950: You'd think an Open winner would be fine in these conditions but Stenson is +4 early as his struggles at Augusta continue.

Also going backwards is Patrick Reed at +3 through just three holes, former winner Charl Schwartzel at +3 through five, and amateur Toto Gana, who is +6 through seven.

1946: Birdie for Mickelson at 13 to return to level par which, while one off the lead, is currently a tie for 16th! That's right - we have 14 players one-under and they now include Alex Noren, Marc Leishman and Bill Haas, all early on.

1943: Huge credit to Pieters, who made double at the 12th but, on his next par-three, hole 16, makes a birdie two to return to the top of the leaderboard.

1934: It's been a quiet but very good day's work for Spieth so far. This was never a day for the fireworks he's produced in this event previously, but a birdie at the 13th has him under par and one off the lead.

Rose meanwhile three-putts the 12th and makes bogey, a sloppy mistake which will annoy him, so we may not be far from Spieth sharing the lead.

In fact, there we are - Fowler misses, and we have a huge tie for the lead at one-under.

1929: Bogey for Pieters at the par-five 15th, which is causing all kinds of problems - Oosthuizen and Hurley III both made eights there earlier.

That leaves Fowler and Rose tied for the lead but Fowler is struggling for his par at the 14th.

1918: While all this was happening, Fowler did make his birdie at the 13th to tie the lead while Casey has made two in a row to get under par.

He's joined there by Sullivan after a bogey at 15 and another Englishman in the shape of Chris Wood - there are 11 of them in the Masters, more than ever before, and several are going well.

None more so than Rose, who just misses a birdie try at 11 but will make par to remain at two-under, tied with Pieters and Fowler.

McIlroy meanwhile begins with a bogey at the first.

1910: Confirmed: Dustin Johnson has withdraw from the event.

1906: @BEerillPGATOUR reports that Johnson is walking off and will withdraw from the Masters.

1905: As good a bunker shot as you'll see there at the 13th from Fowler, and he'll have five or six feet for a birdie to tie the lead.

1902: Like the class act he is, Spieth finds the green at the 12th hole - his first competitive swing there since last year's meltdown.

1857: Earlier this week, one bookmaker, known for talking twaddle, said that people now think Dustin Johnson is going to be as dominant as Tiger Woods (literally nobody thinks that, but hey...).

Nine years ago, Tiger won the US Open with a broken leg. Perhaps if DJ wins the Masters we can talk about comparing them properly.

1850: Dustin Johnson is really struggling on the range and held a lengthy discussion with officials.

It seems he's going to give it a go, but he's clearly in some discomfort and it remains to be seen how long his Masters bid lasts.

1848: A 6-6-3-3 start for Willett and he's joined on +2 by Stenson, who has gone off the boil at just the wrong time.

Fitzpatrick meanwhile looks set to drop one at the 11th which will surely play the toughest hole on the course today while at 10, Rose is in a bit of bother, too.

It's as tough as it gets out there.

1844: Nothing much has happened for Kjeldsen today but with a hole to play, he's level - and that will do nicely the way things are going.

Former US Open champion Webb Simpson is under-par early and so is Angel Cabrera, a former winner of both this event and the US Open. He comes alive at Augusta every year.

Meanwhile at the 11th, Spieth's approach from miles away barely clings onto the green - under normal conditions, that'd have been wet but things are at least sticking following a rainy week in Georgia.

1835: Three in a row for Fitz and he's -2, as is Rose as he adds a three at nine to the four he made at eight.

Suddenly, from Pieters being three clear, we have a five-way tie for the lead.

1822: Birdie for Chappell at 16 and we could be about to see a new clubhouse lead posted.

Pieters meanwhile finds trees off the tee at the 13th and is deep in the pine straw. He'll have to lay-up but it's no issue really and he should still set up a birdie chance.

The lead is two-under - Sullivan did not, as previously advertised, birdie 13. He's still playing it. Fowler meanwhile has missed the 11th green, you guessed it, to the right.

1817: It's a double-bogey for Pieters, who now shares the lead with Fowler, currently playing the 11th, and Sullivan, who made birdie at the very hole which is currently ruining Pieters' card.

1815: Rose is quietly going about his business as he seeks to extend his incredible run of cuts made at Augusta - although, clearly, he'll have his sights set higher than simply making the weekend.

Anyway, the former US Open champ has just birdied the eighth to get under par.

1811: Bogeys at the first for Tyrrell Hatton, Henrik Stenson and Emiliano Grillo.

Safe to say those on the range - including Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy - will hope this wind dies down in the next hour.

1808: Wow. Pieters' lead is about to disappear, I suspect, as his tee-shot at the 12th comes up way, way short. As in not even close to covering the hazard.

The wind is as strong as it has been all day here as Willett starts 6-6.

1805: Matt Fitzpatrick produced a brilliant final round for a top-10 here last year and birdies at holes eight and nine see him get under-par.

The 22-year-old is right up there with Pieters in terms of the most promising young European talent and it's so far, so good for both.

Meanwhile it's a par for Fowler and he's two-under, leading the chasing pack.

1803: Mickelson remains one-under after a par at the eighth while Spieth makes his par at nine to turn in level.

Pieters does drop a shot at the 11th meanwhile, his pitch leaving 12 feet with plenty of break which he can't make.

It remains to be seen whether the size of his lead is affected as Fowler has six feet for par at the 10th.

1755: No doubt Pieters took the safest of safe options on 11 and that's a sign of how much he's learned so quickly.

Instead of take on the hero shot, he comes up well short and right of the green, probably around 40 yards shy of the green but, crucially, a long way from the water.

It's a probable bogey from here but he should've removed the big number as the wind really whips up.

1753: A birdie at nine sees Koepka turn in one-under and Jason Dufner is also on that score after a birdie of his own at the second.

Speaking of Willett (as I did in the previous update), his title defence begins with a double-bogey. Ouch.

1749: Earlier this week, Pieters played a practice round with Danny Willett, the defending champion. Wise move.

At the 11th, he's going to face a tricky approach shot from around 215 yards and will need to fade it - which isn't a problem, in fact it's his preferred shot shape.

The trouble is, if he doesn't fade it there is water lurking left. Perhaps we'll see him make sure and bail out in that familiar spot right of the green.

1743: Disaster for Hurley III at the par-five 15th as he makes an eight and that means Pieters, about to tee off at the 11th, is four clear.

Wow.

And now it's back to three as Fowler birdies the ninth from eight feet.

1738: Made it. Five-under, bogey-free, through 10 holes. There have been few more sensational Augusta debuts to this point.

1734: Pieters has four feet for birdie at the 10th. It's downhill, so we can't chalk it up as a birdie just yet, but what a start this has been for the fearless youngster.

We know by now that one bad shot can see things spiral out of control at Augusta, but Pieters has two par-fives to come and is halfway towards the first-round lead.

1733: Ever in doubt as to how brilliant a hole Augusta's famous 12th is?

Today, it's a wedge, maybe a nine-iron, and whatever club Oosthuizen selects he's out by 20 yards, his shot flying high into the bank and, fortunately, rolling down it into sand.

The best par-threes are short but demanding and there's no finer example.

1730: Courtesy of ESPN's @BobHarig: "Dustin Johnson has arrived. #Masters"

1727: Pieters now turns at Augusta and before Amen Corner (11-13), he faces the 10th - historically the hardest hole on the course.

It's made somewhat easier when you drive it 306 down the middle, as he has done.

Meanwhile it's back-to-back bogeys for Mickelson, who drops to -1 and three off the lead. That's a big group now and includes the likes of Sullivan, Chappell, Holmes and Fowler, although the latter is struggling for par at eight.

1720: As Pieters pars nine to turn in four-under, Henley signs for a 71 - the clubhouse lead. It's a solid start for the man who won his third PGA Tour title last Sunday, which earned him the last Augusta invite.

At six, Mickelson has found sand as the wind really starts to pick up while ahead on the back-nine, a friendly pin position at 14 yields another birdie, this time to Hurley III, and he's two-under.

1711: Pieters now leads by two as Mickelson fails to get up and down from the front of the fifth green.

It's also a dropped shot for Spieth at the sixth so after some early fireworks, the big three on the course - Spieth, Fowler and Phil - have all given shots back as a European who starred at last year's Ryder Cup shows them the way.

Meanwhile, Matsuyama - who in the early months of the year looked like he could be the man to beat here at Augusta - is +2 and struggling at present.

1708: Scott bogeys the ninth to turn in +1 while Spieth two-putts from distance at the tricky fifth to remain -1.

Hahn is the first man in the field to start birdie-birdie as he joins Fowler, who has 45 feet for birdie at the seventh, on -2.

Ah - Fowler three-putts and is back in the group at -1.

1701: Pieters was the first man to -3 and he's the first man to -4 after a regulation birdie at the par-five eighth.

This huge-hitting Belgian showed how much of an advantage power can be at Augusta by getting close to the front of the green in two, pitching to four feet and making the putt to continue this fine start to his first Masters visit.

1659: The third is proving trickier than expected today as Rose (E), Snedeker (E) and Day (+1) all make bogeys.

The year Schwartzel won (2011), this hole averaged just 3.88 - a figure clearly affected by Schwartzel's final-day eagle. Today it's playing over-par as players can't drive up close to the green and it's hard to get the distance right from 150.

1650: Lip-out for Fowler and he remains -2, one back of Pieters who has thrashed one 300-odd yards down the eighth fairway.

I gather a few have backed Henley for the first-round lead and he's -2 playing the 17th. I would say how things have gone so far, he might need to pick up one more for a place, two more to potentially share the lead.

All guesswork and I could be a million miles away as Mickelson birdies the fourth to share the lead.

1646: We have a birdie at the first! It comes courtesy of James Hahn, whose PGA Tour career is basically a list of against-the-odds achievements (twice won at ridiculous prices, once beating DJ and Casey in a play-off).

Others under-par early include William McGirt and Rod Pampling, while former Navy man Billy Hurley III birdies the tough 11th to also reach one-under.

1642: Fowler into six feet at the sixth. No doubt he'll miss this one because golf.

We now have 13 players under-par and conditions are fair. Demanding, of course, and the wind continues to blow, but the greens are soft and there are birdies out there.

1637: Birdies for Rose and Brandt Snedeker at the fifth. The latter has gone close here a couple of times while Rose has played 11 renewals and made every cut, which in itself is quite something.

Day meanwhile has a near-flawless record of his own so we shouldn't be surprised if this turns out to be today's low-scoring group.

1635: Fowler looks set to give one back at the difficult fifth having never quite been in position... but then makes a 25-foot putt. That's three putts outside of 10 feet already for the beautiful 28-year-old.

1622: Mickelson has 40ft for eagle and a roar has just gone up. 2+2?

Yep, made it. Add another moment of magic at Augusta to Lefty's CV.

1620: Justin Rose and Jason Day are both off and way with pars at the first - where we await a birdie. It's quite possible there just isn't one today.

Further ahead, Henley birdies 14 to get to two-under, alongside Fowler who pars the fourth, while Chappell birdies nine to make the turn at -1.

Spieth did two-putt for his birdie at the second but needs a recovery shot at the third having found trees off the tee.

1611: As Pieters birdies the difficult fifth to take the sole lead on his Masters debut, Martin Kaymer pitches in at the second for eagle to get to -1.

Alongside him, Spieth is 66ft away in two and will expect to make his birdie as Phil Mickelson begins his bid for a fourth Masters with a par.

1606: Fowler birdies the third from 20ft to tie the lead. Ideal start. Now, pars all the way to 13, where we'll take, ooh, a birdie, then an eagle at 15... -5. Yep, -5.

1605: The latest on Dustin Johnson from his fitness coach:

"We got him to the point where he got mobility.

"He was up and moving around and definitely going in the right direction. He was very much in an under control point going to bed last night.

"He was walking around, a lot more mobility, took a couple of practice swings slowly without a club."

Doesn't sound great, does it?

1600: Spieth was the last man to play the 12th at Augusta in competition, and famously made a seven which cost him the title.

This year's first group have both made twos, which seems a little mean. Summerhays nearly made a hole-in-one, in fact, and is +1 to Henley's level.

1555: It's early, and a bogey at the first is very much common, but the six-foot par save Spieth has just made could be a little more significant than most.

A wayward approach had him short-sided and needing to scramble, which he did as you may have expected. Already in three visits, he's figured this place out.

Meanwhile, Pie is the solution to the Masters riddle: Pieters and Piercy lead, the former having just made a two at the fourth hole.

1547: It is a birdie for Fowler, despite leaving his bunker shot 13ft short. There have been few better around the greens this year - in fact, he's number one in sand saves, ahead of Luke Donald who is genuinely all-time material from the bunkers.

Matsuyama, who is less convincing greenside, fails to get up and down from the left-hand trap, missing from seven feet, but Knox does manage it.

1545: Some high-profile strugglers early include Oosthuizen, who is about to birdie the sixth... to get back to +3.

Jim Furyk is also on that score, while Branden Grace started with a double and he's joined on +2 by Francesco Molinari, who has been nursing a slight shoulder injury I gather.

Jeunghun Wang, making his debut in the event, also made six at the par-four first where still we await a birdie.

1540: Spieth gets under way with a fairway found at the difficult first as fellow former Masters champ Couples birdies the second.

Fowler has just found greenside sand at two, which is a pretty good place to miss. I'd be hopeful with his short-game that a birdie awaits.

Currently 35 players on course - seven of them are under-par. That's 20% (I think).

1532: Pars for the Fowler group at the first and just two minutes now until Jordan Spieth begins his bid for redemption. 

1524: As Pieters birdies two to get under par and Henley bogeys 10 to fall back to level, there's little doubt that big-hitters are faring best.

Piercy and Holmes lead. Chappell and Pieters share third. What Sandy Lyle is playing at I've no idea.

Meanwhile at the second, Scott misses a short birdie putt. Fancy I'll be copying and pasting part of that sentence quite a bit.

1520: As JB Holmes takes the lead, confirmation that with upwards of 30 players on the course, we're still awaiting our first birdie at the first.

Its latest victims are Paul Casey and Kevin Na, both of whom open the event with bogeys, but alongside them the coolest cat in Georgia - Fred Couples - makes par.

Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama and Russell Knox are now on the course.

1513: Hadwin birdies three and four to get back to level - an impressive fightback for the newly-married Canuck on his first Augusta start.

Oosthuizen on the other hand appears cooked already. Another bogey is coming here and dreams of the quint-cast are all but over.

A bogey for Chappell gives us a six-way tie for the lead.

1509: Some European news for you: Thomas Pieters starts with a par, Fleetwood is back there thanks to a birdie at the second, while Sullivan is one-under having also made four at the par-five.

Conditions now seem quite calm and very much scoreable.

1508: Luke writes: "Joining you from the stunning and luxurious resort of Stoke-on-Trent.

"Enjoying the blog while bored out my brains at work so thought I'd throw one in there. Question: what's your own perspective on place terms and the circumstances which offer the best value?

"By that I mean how do you view, for example, 6 places 1/5 odds against 5 places 1/4 the odds? I know it may depend on the win price, but given the outrageous place terms on offer this week regular readers might want some insight."

Luke showing a reckless confidence that his boss isn't following the block. Maybe Luke is his own boss? I've left out the surname just in case. You are welcome.

So, place terms and modern bookmaking. We could be here all day.

But in the interests of simplification and also prolonging my own career, we'll avoid a tirade about the good old days of see price, take price, bet, win/lose, get MONEY in return...

As far as place terms go, in a nutshell the fraction is key. Clearly, 1/4 1-8 is better than 1/4 1-5 or 1/5 1-8. You knew that.

But the fraction is worth more to the bookmaker than the extra place they give. So, if standard terms are 1/4 1-5, a firm going 1/5 1-6 are offering a slightly worse deal - if worse to you is a literal measure of percentages.

Clearly, we're talking fractions so for small-staking or purely recreational punters, often the lure of an extra place is difficult to resist and I absolutely understand.

To sum up, week-to-week the best you'll get is 1/4 1-6 or 1/5 1-7. But if you can't get either, go with the better fraction as a very general rule. I would want to extra places to make up for a one-place fraction move, if that makes sense.

Sadly, such are the times that for most of us, it's a case of where can we get what we want on and that very much dictates where I go. This isn't to say I'm a brilliant punter by the way - I am not. And I have one account which will rightly let me have on pretty much what I want for I am yet to trouble them with a winner.

Sigh.

1502: "COME ON SANDY!!!!!" - Rob, Galapagos Islands.

Disappointed we've not had anyone from Tuvalu yet, not least because it strongly suggests that neither Richard Osman nor Zander are with us. 

1458: Cue Card a gallant, coming-again second. Shame. Still, a high profile win for...

Sorry, Masters. No change. Four men under par. Louis making a mess of the third and now two-over heading to the fourth.

1452: Just taking five to watch Cue Card at Aintree. You don't mind, do you?

1448: Chappell is the first man to two-under thanks to a birdie at the third.

It's a dropped shot for Louis at the second - he must've taken a penalty drop as he almost definitely hit the ball five times - and dropped shots too for Scott and Kisner at the first.

Back to the third and Sandy Lyle is under-par thanks to a birdie. Well I never. He was 8/1 to be the top Scotsman. There is one other Scotsman.

1445: Jamie from, erm, Santiago, Chile, says: "Please can we give Tim from Peru top marks for the Rainbow Rhythms reference.

"I managed to laugh out loud in a very quiet office and spent a good 5 minutes associating different golfers with the various spectrums.

"Patrick Reed fully embracing red? John Daly off the top of my head is incredibly rainbow rhythms.

"On to the golf, do you think a DJ withdrawal makes the next four days more or less exciting? Had a lengthy discussion earlier with both sides refusing to agree, feel free to be the tiebreaker."

Oh to have lengthy discussions about golf. I manage them from time to time but they're more often than not with myself. Fancy a drink? No? Me neither.

I think the best golfer on planet earth* withdrawing would have to be seen as a bad thing but that the Masters can and does overcome such blows. It's the same with Tiger - when he withdrew it was a disaster, a few days later IT'S THE MASTERS!!!!!11

I do, however, expect that DJ will be teeing off tonight. No insight, just reading between the lines. And the idea that if you can stand, you can swing; if you can swing, you don't withdraw from the Masters.

1440: Antoine writes: "Hi Ben, There is a golfer in this field that you will be happy to see win (maybe Sergio) but will also leave you with that bitter regret "Oh you win now,you bast....Why the hell didn't I back him? Who is it?"

When you've been doing this game for as long as I have (he says, battered and bruised by it at... 31), basically any player I have not backed. But the obvious one would be Lee Westwood.

I was on Westy last year, as I always am, but I've given up. I can't say exactly why - maybe I've become slightly more responsible as a parent and can no longer give a score every other month to the 'Westwood will win one and I will be right' fund.

Of course, in this day and age there's plenty of time for me to back him and I daresay it'd take something as innocuous as a par at the first to convince me it's his time. He's off this evening, 1819 BST. 

1432: Adam Scott is under way for his 16th Masters appearance. He's wearing two different shades of beige. I suppose when you're Adam Scott, you wear what you like.

Oh no. He's found sand. In that outfit it's quite possible we're about to see an approach shot from the invisible man.

Alongside Scott is Kisner, who to me represents everything that is excellent about a south-eastern American. He splits the fairway. Finally, Andy Sullivan also finds the fairway.

Elsewhere, Scott Piercy birdies the fourth hole to join a growing group at -1.

1430: Henley has been joined atop the leaderboard by Kevin Chappell, who followes a par at the first with a birdie at the second.

Chappell is an ace golfer but he's still seeking his first top-level win and 2017 has been largely atrocious. He's definitely got the game for Augusta, though.

Meanwhile, Zach Johnson does well to bogey the first, as does Hadwin, while Oosthuizen makes a regulation par... before pulling one left off the second tee.

1422: The first email to make me laugh (although see if you can do that at about 9pm) comes from friend of the show Tim.

Timbo writes: "Hi Ben, Tim from Lima in Peru here (I might be lying)...

"Great copy this week. I have two questions: a) Who was the last name off your shortlist? b) Will Adam Scott ever be one of the world's top three golfers again?

"I get the feeling the green jacket completed him, in the Jerry Maguire sense, and now he's pretty rainbow rhythms about the rest of his career. All the best this week."

Both good questions. To the first, the answer is Jimmy Walker - although now he's got some strange illness I'm rather glad not to be on. (We wish him well...). I had a weak moment late last night when I hovered around Jason Day's price but came to the conclusion I was being a sentimental idiot.

As for Scott, I tend to agree - he peaked in 2013 and Rory should feel deeply ashamed for denying him the Aussie Slam at the end of that remarkable year.

With all these fearless, brilliant youngsters coming through and Scott now a father of two who plays a light enough schedule anyway, he's unlikely to get back to the top three and while his tee-to-green brilliance could get him a major, perhaps the Open he so deserves, on balance the best days are gone - golf-wise, at least.

Definitely watching Peep Show when I get home at 1am.

1417: Ah, another seven at the first and this time for amateur Scott Gregory, who won the Amateur Championship last summer and beat Curtis Luck in the Georgia Cup last week.

Luck is a rock-solid top amateur play this week, even at odds-on. He turns pro after this and simply looks ready, whereas the others here are perhaps not.

1415: Henley remains the only man under-par and he's now through six holes. Typically the seventh, eighth and ninth offer birdie chances, but today pars are fine.

Stewart Hagestad, one of five amateurs in this field, has registered his first Masters birdie to return to level par and he's part of a big group there, which includes Sandy Lyle after a par to begin.

To his credit, Stuard responds to a triple at the first with a birdie at the second. But with the greatest of respect, if Brian Stuard wins the Masters having started with a triple, I give up.

1413: Courtesy of @JustinRayGC, Golf Channel's stats man and seemingly all-round good guy:

"1st round scoring average of previous 10 #TheMasters champions: 68.4"

It's unlikely we'll see many, if any sub-68 rounds today, but what we do know is that whatever the weather, a good start relative to the field has been crucial in recent years. 

1407: Soren Kjeldsen, who finished inside the top 10 here last year, begins with a bogey as we approach some of the big groupings.

Some to look out for coming up:

1406: Z Johnson, Oosthuizen, Hadwin
1417: Fleetwood, Woodland, Holmes
1428: Kisner, Sullivan, Scott
1512: Fowler, Knox, Matsuyama
1538: Spieth, Kaymer, Fitzpatrick

Click here for full tee-times

1356: We have our first big number as Brian Stuard takes seven at the first hole of his Masters debut. Yuck. Serves him right for beating Jamie Lovemark last year.

1351: Alex is my new favourite emailer (sorry, James) because he's in Bogota, Colombia. Which is just excellent.

"Hey Ben. Watching from Bogota, Colombia. What do you predict the winning score to be at? Looking forward to following your coverage."

Always a popular and extremely difficult question to answer on day one but I'll have a go with six-under.

Danny Willett shot five-under last year when the course was firmer. This year the soft nature of the course will help big-hitters, but the wind will be a massive challenge for the first two days.

Come the weekend and the calming of the wind, the greens should be really quick. Six-under will do.

Meanwhile good news for my old friend James as Henley birdies the impossibly difficult fourth hole and returns to one-under.

1346: Adam Scott has just been speaking about how difficult this is going to be. He sounded like a man ready for the fight, but one who would take 72 (par) right now and put his feet up. 

The Aussie, winner here in 2013, said that he's not sure what the value of this week's practice would be as conditions now are so much tougher than they have been.

The wind really is whopping at around 12-15mph and set to rise and while the sun is shining, it's cool - around 13 degrees in our money.

1343: James Lewis is the first man to email, something for which I shall be eternally grateful. See above if you'd like to get in touch.

"Emailing you here from sunny Plymouth and thoroughly enjoying your rolling coverage," writes Jimbo.

"Have a few pennies on the early starters (Summerhays, Henley, Steele, Vegas) in the FRL market given the speed they will be through the course. Here’s hoping!"

I wish you the very best, James, especially with Vegas who I'm on at 125/1. He's now tied for the lead at level after both Summerhays and Henley bogey the third, supposedly one of Augusta's easier par-fours...

Strap yourselves in. This could be brutal.

1338: Zach Johnson is on the range in the patented Zach Johnson bobble hat. You get the feeling he grew up playing in miserable conditions up there in Cedar Rapids and he's put the experience to use, winning in the worst conditions imaginable here 10 years ago before adding a weather-hit Open to the collection.

Got to admire Zach Johnson and while a soft, long Augusta isn't ideal for him, if this is as touch as it's expected to be over the first few days, there aren't many better equipped to tough it out. He's off with my man Louis and Canada's Adam Hadwin.

1331: We have our first birdies of the Masters and they both come at the par-five second, one from Henley and the other from his playing partner, Daniel Summerhays. We also have our first bogey - from former champ Trevor Immelman at the first.

Once the first group reach the turn, I'll put a snapshot of the top of the leaderboard above.

1330: As for which, if any of them wins this week, my vote goes to Rory. It feels like things could just be falling into place for him.

That said, there are any number of candidates and I'm equally sweet on Rickie Fowler, who has been at the top of his game in preparation for this and the Masters feels like the best fit for him, that or The Open.

Also on my list are Bill Haas, whose great-uncle won this event, frequent major contender Marc Leishman, and Louis Oosthuizen. I warn you: I will be tracking their progress closely in this blog. Up until the point at which I just don't want to talk about them any more.

1325: Just added a picture of Jack saluting the sky and his old friend and rival, Arnie. A lovely moment.

How lucky has golf been down the years? To have Arnie, and then Jack come and take him on along with Gary Player, to then be followed by a wave of brilliant Europeans and the adored Tom Watson, before a certain Tiger Woods came along and changed everything once again.

Tiger's absence will be felt this week, there's no doubt about that, but as he star fades there can be little doubt that golf has again got lucky: the world's top-five are from five different nations and aged 25 to 41 (Henrik Stenson turned 41 yesterday).

1315: Two pars for the opening two-ball.

From Twitter and the stalwart @RonSirak: Billy Payne on Arnold Palmer: "He was more than the king; He was my friend, he was your friend. He always had time for all of us."

1313: DJ update: He is "progressing through early stages of rehab" according to Golf Channel's Tim Rosaforte. Let's face it, DJ will be teeing off and that's good news even if, like me, you've not backed him.

Last night's bombshell did incredible things to the exchanges. At first, they brazenly ignored it, then decided that DJ's fall meant he couldn't possibly win, his odds doubling in a matter of minutes, before they settled at around the 9/1 mark - which put him behind Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy. Pure guesswork.

If you're wondering what happens to your money if you're on DJ and he withdraws, chances are you'll get it back providing he hasn't hit a shot. A couple of firms have already mapped theirs out with one refunding if he doesn't complete 18 holes and our friends at Sky Bet if he doesn't complete nine.

And on a similar but no less interesting note: just one firm is betting on his three-ball according to Oddschecker.

1308: It's going to take quite a while for the leaderboard to take on any kind of shape, so for now we can run through some of the potential storylines and so on. 

First, the weather. Come the end of the day, I'm saying that anyone break 70 is either first or second - it's cold, it's going to be windy, the course will play long. I'll vote 68 for the lead.

Above, you'll see a variety of previews, most from me but also from the immaculately-dressed David John, who has offered his take on the specials. My three-ball tips are still to tee-off

1305: Emotions already running high on a cold, soon-to-be-breezy day at Augusta, as Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player hit the ceremonial tee-shots without their old friend and sparring partner, the late Arnold Palmer. And now, thanks to the last man in the field, Russell Henley, the tournament proper is ON.

1301: I meanwhile have backed my first loser of the week having failed to secure a spot in the best-value car park. Fifteen pounds it's costing me to steer you people through the action today. Donations/comments/questions/tips are welcome on benjamin.coley@sportinglife.com.

1300: So, where to begin? For starters, there's no news yet on Dustin Johnson, whose participation remains in doubt after he fell down a flight of stairs yesterday. So far no evidence as to which of his rivals pushed him. Let's hope he gets the all clear to tee-off and time is on his side - he's in the final group out at 1903 BST.

1255 (BST): Hello and welcome along to live coverage of the Masters with me, Ben Coley. The first tee-shots are about to be hit so one of the best sporting week's of the year will soon be officially under way.