Andrew Cotter, BBC golf commentator:

Winner: Rory McIlroy. Not a bold choice but he is justifiably the favourite. It's a course which is made for his game, and all aspects of that game are coming together nicely. Most importantly, he seems happy with his equipment and things off the course. If the putts drop, he gets his third major.

Image source, Reuters

Big week: Graham Delaet. Not to win, but perhaps to feature. Even though it's the Canadian's first Masters there are plenty who have fared well on their debut without winning (think Luke Donald's third in 2005), and he's had a very impressive season. He hits the ball a mile, which always stands you in good stead here. A streaky putter might be his weakness, but he does have an impressive beard.

Read more predictions from the experts.

Just thinking about the those ceremonial tee shots of Nicklaus, Player and Palmer - who gets to keep the balls that they hit?

Also, how long do they leave them on the first fairway before they are removed? I mean, as a humble course attendant, you don't want to risk the ire of a golfing great by moving his ball too quickly.

Sweden's Jonas Blixt becomes the first man to have a red "2" next to his name at the 2014 Masters. A birdie at the par-three sixth takes him a shot clear of a five-man group on one under for the outright lead. Ian Poulter has parred the first.

Iain Carter
BBC golf correspondent

"Ian Woosnam has just parred the sixth - he dropped shots at the fourth and fifth. No one is really tearing up the course in the early stages."

Rory McIlroy said the absence of the injured Tiger Woods would be felt right from the start.

"Having Tiger in a tournament definitely creates more buzz, more of an atmosphere," said two-time major winner McIlroy. "You know where he is on the course just by the crowd and the gallery that follows him.

"I think people will miss him at the start but by the end, when it comes down to who is going to win, there's going to be a worthy winner and it will produce a lot of excitement."

Tiger Woods's long-time rival Phil Mickelson said it would feel strange not having Tiger to gun for.

"It's a weird feeling not having him here, isn't it?" said three-time Masters winner Mickelson. "He's been such a mainstay in professional golf and in the majors. It's awkward to not have him here. As much as I want to win and I know how great he is and tough to beat, it also makes it special when he's in the field and you're able to win."

Tiger Woods had played in every Masters since his first appearance as US Amateur champion as a 19-year-old in 1995. Reigning champion Adam Scott said Woods would be sorely missed.

"It's a big loss for the tournament any time a world number one is not going to play. It's a huge loss," said Scott. "But, as every year here, this event produces something special no matter what. It's not going to involve Tiger this year, but it will involve someone else and it will be a memorable event anyway."

World number one Tiger Woods is missing the Masters for the first time in 20 years, but the 38-year-old American still commands attention at Augusta National.

The four-time Masters winner, stuck on 14 majors for the last six years in his quest to surpass the record 18 won by Jack Nicklaus, is sidelined after undergoing surgery for a pinched nerve in his back.

"We miss Tiger, as does the entire golf world," Augusta National chairman Billy Payne said in his State of the Masters news conference on Wednesday. "He is always a threat to make a run and do well and win here at Augusta National."

Image source, Getty Images

Ace Thomas:, external Rory won't win. I'm going for Victor Dubuisson - as I play on his home course at Golf Old Course Cannes - Mandelieu. Nice quiet chap, apparently.

More changes at the top of the leaderboard. Stewart Cink remains omnipresent, along with Martin Kaymer and now Kevin Stadler. All three are one under. Jonas Blixt has bogeyed the par-three fourth to go back to level par.

Ken Brown, BBC golf commentator:

Winner: Sergio Garcia. He has served his time and played in a lot of majors and in the past three seasons he has putted really well - this could be his year. He seems very content and settled at the moment.

Big week: Dustin Johnson. He has come very close in majors already. He is a massive, long hitter and the course is playing reasonably long this week. He has the perfect game for Augusta and could do extremely well this week.

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Joe Ellis:, external Schwartzel, Els, Fowler and Kaymer. Any of those to win and I'm happy.

Adam Sturgeon:, external I don't think Woods will be missed at the Masters with big players like McIlroy, Mickelson, Rose etc. ready to shine.

Tom Stenner-Evans:, external Kuchar's a bottler. He folds when leading minor tournaments, never mind majors. Cue heartbreak for those who've backed him!

Par four, 350 yards

Short, but treacherous. Bunkers on the left of the fairway lead to most players using an iron off the tee. The small, sloping green is not entirely visible from the approach.

2013 average: 4.01 Rank: 14

Image source, Getty Images

Former world number one Martin Kaymer has birdied the second and moves to one under alongside American duo Kevin Stadler and Stewart Cink at the top of the leaderboard. Freddie Couples is about to start his round - he's playing the Masters for the 30th time and is the 20th player in history to reach 30 appearances. Kaymer is heading to the third...

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Image source, AP

We asked the experts who they think will win this wide-open Masters.

BBC commentator Peter Alliss:

Winner: It's like having a bet on the Grand National trying to predict the winner - there is no clear favourite. It is the most open event it has been for a long time. If I had to pick one player it would be Angel Cabrera.

Big week: Rory McIlroy. He will be in contention this week, especially with the experience that he now has. Is it also perhaps time Martin Kaymer came good in a major again?

Read more predictions from the experts.

Tom Drew:, external Essay due in tomorrow but the best sporting event kicks off today after 361 days of waiting. Sorry degree, this is important.

Tom Taylor:, external Cabrera loves Augusta! D. Johnson & Kucher my shouts...four days of pure golfing perfection...what more could you ask for!

Karl Cantrill:, external I can see a big outsider winning this year and I hope Jimenez can do it

South Africa's Tim Clark has made an awful start. With a double bogey at the par-three sixth, he goes to five over, already a full six shots behind leader and playing partner Stewart Cink.

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Bad news for Woosie fans. Ian Woosnam has dropped a shot at the par-three fourth, sliding back to level par.

That leaves just Jonas Blixt and Stewart Cink on one under, but it's such early days that the noise from the big bang has not yet subsided.

Dhiraj Sharma:, external And the Masters has begun...any one of Stenson, Dustin Johnson, Furyk, Snedeker, Mahan and Stricker for the green jacket please!

Simon Crabtree:, external My money has to be on Kucher & Mickelson but also as a good outside have to go each way on the impressive Harris English.

Sweden's Jonas Blixt becomes the third man on the happy side of par with a birdie at the par-four third. Blixt is one of five European Tour members making their Masters debut in 2014 - the others are Brendon de Jonge, Victor Dubuisson, Stephen Gallacher and Joost Luiten. Overall, there are a record number of rookies (24) in the field for 2014, all trying to become the first player since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 to win the event at the first attempt.

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