Par five, 575 yards

A downhill fairway curls to the left towards a green that is reachable in two, though bunkers await those who fall short. South African Louis Oosthuizen took an albratross two in 2012 on the way to a losing play-off against Bubba Watson.

2013 average: 4.71 Rank: 16

Image source, Getty Images

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Augusta National

Jack Nicklaus is asked to recount his Green Jacket story. "You want to hear that again?" "You got a plane to catch?" "No, I just don't want to bore you." He tells it anyway.

When he won in 1963 they didn't have a jacket his size (43 regular) so they gave him the jacket of member Tom Dewey, the former mayor of New York (which was a 46 long). "It was like an overcoat," says Nicklaus.

He wore that one every year and it was getting threadbare, so, too scared to ask Augusta officials, Nicklaus got one made but it wasn't quite right so he went back to Dewey's jacket.

Eventually, in 1998 he mentioned to someone at Augusta that he had never been given his own jacket, despite winning six times. There was soon a note in his locker, instructing him to go to the pro shop and be finally fitted for his own. "Didn't even have to pay for it," he added.

Image source, Getty Images

Paul Burrows:, external Money on Garcia, Kuchar & Mickelson and each way on Walker & Donaldson. Wife knows I am good for nothing for the next 4 days!

John Jack:, external I reckon Ryan Moore is a good e/w shout, has never missed a cut at Augusta and is in form. Gotta back Rory, Kuch and DJohnson too!

A par at the third means that Ian Woosnam keeps that early share of the lead with Stewart Cink, who has parred the fourth. They are the only two of the 14 men on the course to be in the red numbers. England's David Lynn, who tweeted a picture of himself with former US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice on Wednesday,, external has bogeyed the first.

Latest leaderboard, external and tee times.

The final hour is stacked with big names, providing plenty of action well into the night.

18:04: Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, and Henrik Stenson

18:15: Bubba Watson, Luke Donald, and Sergio Garcia

18:48: Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and Justin Rose

18:59: Harris English, Lee Westwood, and Russell Henley

So, as you know, the mainly threeball groups are emerging from the clubhouse and teeing off every 11 minutes between now and just before 19:00 BST tonight. Want some names to look out for? Here's a few:

14:13: Angel Cabrera, Gary Woodland, and Ian Poulter

14:35: Graeme McDowell, Rickie Fowler, and Jimmy Walker

15:41: Adam Scott, Jason Dufner, and Matthew Fitzpatrick

15:52: Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, and Rory McIlroy

Paul Ferris:, external Last four majors without Tiger have been won by an Irishman! G-mac and Rory all the way.

Tom Stenner-Evans:, external I have a few good horses in Dufner, Mahan and Zach J...but my meal ticket is Donaldson at 125-1. Come on Wales!

Jonny Christmas:, external I'm tipping Lee Westwood to go all the way. After so many years of last round slip-ups and with Tiger out now must be his time.

A little bit of Masters history is just been made. In beginning his Masters journey, 1982 champion Craig Stadler joins his son Kevin on the course to become the first father-son combination to play at the same Augusta event.

"This is a very cool thing," said Craig. "It's emotional in a very good way. I was hoping it would happen some day. It's going to be just a wonderful week. I hope he plays really well and I hope I don't embarrass myself."

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Augusta National

Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player are ushered into the media centre for a quick chat after their tee shots. Player, always talkative; Nicklaus, regal but tetchy; Palmer, quiet but with a glint in his eye.

Asked about the Eisenhower Tree, Palmer advocated replacing it with a similar one, Nicklaus said no, the hole "needs definition further up" - before adding "probably best I just keep my nose out of it until I am asked". "You are being asked," quipped Player. "No, I mean by the people that matter," says Nicklaus. Player is also against a replacement. "I don't like trees in fairways."

Hang on a second, Woosie has a share of the lead!

OK, so it's only after two holes and a lot of the field may not even be out of bed yet, but a birdie on the par-five second puts him to one under with Stewart Cink.

There's your British challenge, right there.

Woosnam, by the way, is one of 19 former champions competing this week at Augusta. Between them, those 19 men have won a total of 25 Green Jackets.

How's this for a stellar cast of former champs (and Mike Weir)?

Angel Cabrera, Fred Couples, Ben Crenshaw, Trevor Immelman, Zach Johnson, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle, Phil Mickleson, Larry Mize, Mark O'Meara, Jose Maria Olazabal, Charl Schwartzel, Adam Scott, Vijay Singh, Craig Stadler, Bubba Watson, Tom Watson, Mike Weir and Ian Woosnam.

Par four, 445 yards

The first shot of the round will require players to hit more than 300 yards on a slight right dogleg if they are to clear a deep fairway bunker. The undulating green is crowned and difficult to hold.

2013 average: 4.29 Rank: 2nd

Image source, Getty Images

As for early matters on the course, three groups have already completed Tea Olive, including 1991 champion Ian Woosnam, who took a par four. Pars on one and two for Stewart Cink, but his opening pair partner Tim Clark has bogeyed his opening two holes.

James Martimore:, external I've got my money on Bradley, Rose, Kuchar, Zach and Dustin Johnson, any of those and I'm happy.

Kev Thomson:, external Masters fever has hit. Goodbye any productive work being completed or any meaningful conversation as I get glued to the coverage!

Mark Grinter:, external Masters under way. Hoping G-Mac veers away from previous years and gives himself chance to get the flat stick going.

Image source, Getty Images

But, really, at this stage, it's all about the predictions, right?

Over the next four evenings, you'll be sitting with your phone/tablet/laptop, following the golf and probably having a cheeky bet. Am I right?

Good luck picking the winner. BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter says there are as many as 70 contenders for the Green Jacket donned by Adam Scott a year ago.

Excited? Appetite sufficiently whetted? Let's see if we can crank it a little further.

Our man in Augusta Rob Hodgetts has been looking at 18 reasons why we love the Masters, while Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (off at 14:35 alongside Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker) has used his column to give us a behind-the-scenes look at "unique and perfect" Augusta.

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Augusta National

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Arnold Palmer's fourth and final Masters title and seventh and final major in all. On Tuesday, the 84-year-old, sharp and sparkling, recounted his first visit to Augusta.

"I came here first in 1955. I parked a trailer with my wife on the other side of Daniel Field just off the railroad tracks - are those railroad tracks still there? Does anyone know? (silence in the room). This is a great group (laughter). I'll give them a history book so they can read up (laughter).

"I parked a trailer there and I drove over to the club and the feeling was so overwhelming that I felt like I had died and gone to heaven, and I mean that. It was so wonderful to drive to Augusta and to the club and the Masters in 1955.

"I played the winter tour and the courses were not that good, so I felt like I was walking on a cloud. It was so beautiful. It was something that I had dreamt about all my life and here I was for my first Masters."

Simon O'Connor:, external The Masters are under way and I got Kuchar and Lee Westwood to get a result!! Just finish top 5 boys and I will be happy!

And, with the players on the course and you, dear reader, fully informed of your life-ruling Masters schedule, all that is left for me to do is to tell you how to get involved.

Two simple ways - text 81111 or tweet using the hashtag #bbcgolf., external

So, so much to talk about over the next four days, but let's start with a few simple ones. Who's going to win, and why? How much of a miss is the injured Tiger Woods? And where is the British challenge going to come from?

So, how can you follow this 97-way tussle for the Green Jacket on the BBC? Allow me to tell you.

As well as this informative and entertaining live text, BBC Radio 5 live will hit the airwaves with live commentary from 21:00 BST.

There will be highlights of the first round on the Red Button on Friday at 09:00 and 13:00 and again on BBC Two at 18:30.

Then, on Saturday and Sunday, BBC TV brings you more weekend live coverage than ever before. As well as live coverage from 19:30 on Saturday and 18:30 on Sunday, there will be up to seven live streams on the BBC Sport website.