Summary

  • Leader: -4 B Haas

  • -3 Scott, Oosthuizen, B Watson

  • -2 K Stadler, Blixt, Woodland, Walker, Choi, Snedeker

  • Selected: -1 Jimenez, McIlroy, Gallacher; E McDowell

  • +1 Donaldson, Westwood; +3 Clarke; +4 Rose, Mickelson +7 Donald

  1. Augusta course guidepublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    Par three, 180 yards

    From an elevated tee that is one of the highest points on the course, players hit over spectators to a two-tiered green. Pin position here is very important - in 1970, 17 successive players three-putted on this hole.

    2013 average: 3.11 Rank: T10

    Augusta 6th holeImage source, Getty Images
  2. Birdiepublished at 15:44 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    A birdie for American Rickie Fowler at the fourth sees him move to two under on his own, one behind Webb Simpson and Jonas Blixt. Simpson finally cards something other than a birdie by parring the fourth. Ian Poulter has parred the fifth and is heading to the sixth.

  3. Postpublished at 15:41 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    Scott will be playing with American Jason Dufner and English amateur Matt Fitzpatrick, who makes his Masters debut after winning the US Amateur Championship last year.

    Fitzpatrick, though, is without regular caddie Lorne Duncan, who has been excluded for wanting to wear sandals on the course.

    Duncan cannot wear shoes because of a foot condition but Masters rules dictate no sandals and Fitzpatrick, 19, was forced to find a new caddie for the week.

    Duncan wrote on Twitter: "Apparently aesthetics are more important than people. I told TD [tournament director] he was pathetic. I hate the place."

  4. Latest leaderboardpublished at 15:38 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    -3 Blixt (Swe) through 9, Simpson (US) through 4; -1 Cink (US) through 12, Stadler (US) through 10, Fowler (US) through 4. Selected others: E Poulter (Eng) through 5, McDowell (NI) through 3; +1 Cabrera (Arg) 5, Z. Johnson (US) through two.

    Latest leaderboard in full, external and tee times

  5. Adam Scott begins his title defencepublished at 15:35 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding for your defending champion, who is about to take the course.

    Australian world number two Adam Scott is bidding to become only the fourth man to defend the Masters and, in the process, become the new world number one.

    The last player to win successive Masters was Tiger Woods in 2002, while Nick Faldo (1989 and 1990) and Jack Nicklaus (1965 and 1966) have also achieved the feat.

    "I'd like to add my name to that list this week," said Scott. "Over the last couple of years, I could definitely say I've been quietly confident coming to the majors."

  6. Ask Jay Townsendpublished at 15:32 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    BBC Radio 5 live

    BBC Radio 5 Live's coverage of the Masters begins at 21:00 BST this evening and pundit Jay Townsend will be answering your questions on the BBC Sport Facebook page, external at 16.30 BST. Whatever your question on the Masters, Jay will do his best to answer it.

  7. Postpublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    Lots happening at the top of the leaderboard, as Jonas Blixt picks up a stroke at the par-four ninth to join Webb Simpson on three under. The joint-leaders are two shots ahead of a four-man group on one under. Of the Brits, Graeme McDowell, Ian Woosnam and Ian Poulter are all level par.

    Latest leaderboard, external and tee times

    Jonas BlixtImage source, Getty Images
  8. The best of the webpublished at 15:26 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    Our researchers have been hard at work looking for a good Masters story. Here's a selection of the best tales from around the world:

    ESPN takes a look back at the 10 most memorable moments in Masters history., external

    The Wall Street Journal looks at the geographic breakdown of the competitors at Augusta, external and the chances of South Korea's golfers at the tournament.

    The Daily Telegraph, based on statistical trends, looks at why Jason Day is the player to watch this week., external

    The Augusta Chronicle looks at the history of the double eagle,, external which has only happened four times in Masters history.

    CBS Sports takes a look at what you could buy for $20 at Augusta,, external where you can buy a salad for an amazing value of US $1.50 (89p)!

  9. Get involved - Getting hit by a famous player's ballpublished at 15:23 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    Alan O'Sullivan:, external I received Goosen's glove outside the clubhouse at the Irish Open at Ballybunion in 2000. Wins US Open twice in the next couple of years!

    Tom Chapman:, external I got hit on the bum by a Thomas Levet drive at Turnberry in 2009! He found it hilarious.

    Chris Davies:, external Got Harrington's ball at the 2001 Matchplay Championship. He made me give it to a small boy though.

  10. Predictionspublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    Kevin Garside, Independent:, external

    Winner: Sergio Garcia. He led at Houston impressively, and though he fell away towards the end that's been characteristic of the season. Rory did it at the Honda, Adam Scott at Bay Hill. But he's clearly in form and if he can get that putter hot Sergio can get that first major. It's perfect for him.

    Big week: Keegan Bradley. He hits it a mile and you're not punished if you go left and right. I like his mentality, and he showed that when he held off Jason Dufner to win the US PGA a couple of years ago. He needs to get the putter to work as it's all about the putting here, but he's my dark horse.

    Read more predictions from the experts.

  11. Postpublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    What has Webb Simpson had for breakfast? He's birdied his opening three holes to again lead outright from Jonas Blixt, who had briefly joined him on two under. At the exact opposite end of the leaderboard, both Tim Clark and Ben Crenshaw are five over. 1984 and 1995 champion Crenshaw is making his 43rd straight start at the Masters, more than anybody playing in this week's tournament. Only Arnold Palmer (50), Doug Ford (46) and Raymond Floyd (45) have had more consecutive starts

  12. Postpublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    I'm interested in the different psyche of cricket and golf fans when it comes to balls being struck into the crowd.

    At cricket, drunken fools often try to catch the red leather wellied over the boundary. On the other hand, golf spectators are required to dash out of the way (that is, if they even it coming), before gathering round at a reverential distance to gaze in awe at the white dimples.

    I was a spectator at the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and was almost struck by a stray Padraig Harrington drive. When Harrington came to take his shot, his caddie shouted at me for standing too close.

  13. Get involvedpublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    Michael from Bristol: Whilst at the PGA at Wentworth a few years go I was almost hit by a duck hooked fairway wood on the 7th hole by Marcel Seim. I later settled by the par 3 11th green and his errant tee shot flew towards me and landed in a rucksack at my feet. He got a free drop and made par. I decided to stay clear of him from then on!

    Rob Jones: I have a signed glove given to me by Darren Clarke when he won the open now there is a man who loves his Guinness!!

    Mark from Glasgow: From my days carrying scoreboards at Loch Lomond I have signed golf balls from Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ernie Els, oh and from the legendary Notah Begay III...‏

  14. Postpublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    Graeme McDowellImage source, Getty Images

    BBC Sport columnist Graeme McDowell has parred the first hole. He's playing his seventh Masters and in his last column reflected on the unique experience that is Augusta:

    "One of my first Augusta memories was getting in trouble with the locker room attendant. The changing room in that historic clubhouse is a sacred place. Effectively you use a member's locker. You are a guest, and I'd left mine in a mess. I'm always in the same one and it is Mr Palmer's locker - Arnold Palmer.

    "I felt like a naughty schoolboy when the attendant came up to me and said: 'Your locker was a bit of a mess there and I tidied it up for you.' As in: 'Don't do it again.'

    That was me getting a rap on the wrists. It was almost blasphemous of me to keep it like that."

  15. Postpublished at 15:08 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    Now then, we have a new leader. 2012 US Open winner Webb Simpson has birdied both of his opening two holes to go to two under, one shot clear of the pack. Simpson, the world number 25, last won on the PGA Tour in October, his only success since that maiden major triumph at the Olympic Club.

    Latest leaderboard, external and tee times

  16. Get involvedpublished at 15:03 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    AJ:, external I got Paul Casey's glove after he won the Jonny Walker at Gleneagles. Hunted him down when the Open was at Carnoustie to sign it.

    Matthew Gourley:, external Got a golf ball from Justin Rose at the 2010 British Open!

  17. Augusta course guidepublished at 15:02 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    Par four, 455 yards

    Accuracy or a carry of 315 yards off the tee is needed to avoid two bunkers left of the fairway. Undulations make it difficult to get the second shot close to the pin on a green that is guarded by mounds at the front. Jack Nicklaus holed out from the fairway here for eagles in the first and third rounds in 1995.

    2013 average: 4.23 Rank: 5

    Augusta 5th holeImage source, Getty Images
  18. Postpublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    Jonas Blixt held the outright lead for all of one hole, a bogey at the par-four seventh sending him back to one under and a group of seven (yes, seven) men. Amongst the names is England's Ian Poulter, who birdied the second, and 64-year-old Tom Watson, the oldest man in the field. The US Ryder Cup captain is making his 41st Masters appearance and is about to head down the fifth.

    Latest leaderboard, external and tee times

  19. Postpublished at 14:56 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    It's just been suggested to me that those ceremonial balls may get thrown into the crowd. This leads me to a couple of questions. Have you ever received a golfing souvenir from a top name? Or, have you ever been hit by a stray ball? Maybe your picnic blanket/chair/umbrella has provided a landing place? Text, tweet and BBC Sport Facebook are the ways to get in touch.

  20. Postpublished at 14:50 British Summer Time 10 April 2014

    Rob Hodgetts
    BBC Sport at Augusta National

    Breakfasting in the clubhouse on the very next table to Arnold Palmer. Very hard not to stare (for me, I mean. Him, probably not so much). At one point, the TV in the corner shows Miguel Angel Jimenez going through his eccentric twisting and stretching routine. The great man watches, with a distinct expression of bemusement on his face.

    PS: Note to all the snotty golf clubs out there. Shorts and golf shoes are perfectly acceptable attire in the Augusta library dining room. And they're not even knee-length socks.