Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Augusta National

Image source, Getty Images

Sandy Lyle is on course in his second round after shooting a 76 on Thursday, but earlier in the week I caught up with him for a chat about his famous Masters win in 1988 and THAT seven iron.

"Physically, I was getting very tired. I'd had a gruelling week the week before when I won a play-off in Greensboro, and then all the media attention at the Masters was quite hectic. Leading for two days and then losing the lead on the back nine before getting a share of it back again going to the very last hole, it was a real roller coaster. It was digging about as deep as you ever want to go, just trying to keep your momentum and enjoy the moment.

"On the 18th tee I felt I had to put myself in position where I could hit a second shot, even if it was 190 yards. Gambling and cutting a drive to put it further up the fairway was too risky. My plan was to hit it at the bunkers but keep it short. I was only a couple of yards away from being perfect. It was quite a struggle with my emotions. My first thought was, 'oh no, not another roller coaster'. I'd just birdied 16 and made a good par on 17 so I was on a high, within reason, and now I'm back in the doldrums again in the bunker.

"To my delight the ball was lying better than I thought it would be. To me it wasn't that hard a shot, but everyone else seemed to think it was unbelievable. I was comfortable picking it off the surface with a seven iron and tapped in a little 15fter for birdie. It was a dream come true."

Watch the moment again on the BBC Sport website.

The par-three 12th averaged 3.4227, with South African Branden Grace, two-time champion Ben Crenshaw and fellow American Jordan Niebrugge all carding treble-bogies.

However, the third part of Amen Corner, the par-five 13th, produced more birdies (41) than any other hole on the course.

In fact, the four par-fives were the easiest holes at Augusta yesterday, as they have been throughout the history of the tournament.

On the first day, Amen Corner certainly lived up to its fearsome reputation, with the 11th and 12th holes statistically the toughest on the course.

The 505-yard par 4 11th, averaged almost 4.50 and let just two birdies slip through its fingers, Dane Thomas Bjorn, who shot a 73 and par-three winner Ryan Moore (77) the lucky pair.

American Brandt Snedeker,, external who carded an opening 70 which included five birdies: Good start.. Now the fun starts... Tune in because the course is going to be beautiful and as fast as I have ever seen it!!

Spaniard Sergio Garcia,, external who bogeyed the 17th and 18th for a 74: Tough finish today but I'll fight hard tomorrow to move up in the leaderboard!

England's Ian Poulter,, external off the pace with a five-bogey 76: Can I start to slowly get myself back into this tournament? Absolutely. I only have to take one shot off the leader for each nine holes from here.

Scotland's Stephen Gallacher has parred the first to remain on one under. As he heads for the second, the first of the big names at the top of the leaderboard is emerging from the clubhouse. Former Open champion and 2012 Masters runner-up Louis Oosthuizen, one off the lead, is teeing it up alongside Matt Kuchar and Thongchai Jaidee.

Remember me mentioning those tricky pin positions? BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter, external has tweeted a picture of today's pin sheet. It looks like maths homework.

Image source, Masters

Now then Kevin Streelman, are you making the best of the early conditions? The world number 46 has picked up another shot at the par-three fourth to move to two under, two behind overnight leader Bill Haas.

Streelman, by the way, had two spare Masters tickets because his parents are ill, so gave them away on Twitter., external

Looking for a little titbit of info that might help you pick a winner? How's this for a doozie?

Of yesterday's five longest drivers - Dustin Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen, Jamie Donaldson, Bubba Watson and Adam Scott - three are within a shot of the lead.

Jordy: I had a bet on Branden Grace and Jason Dufner, both to win outright. I can safely say I wont be getting any return on that! However I fancy Bubba to go on and do the biz.

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

Those early arrivals at the Augusta National will have been in place to see American Kevin Streelman make the first significant move of the day. Out in the first pair, Streelman has birdied the second to move into the red on one under.

Further down the leaderboard - way down, in fact - back-marker Branden Grace, 12 over yesterday, has parred the first.

Next to the first tee will be American Nick Watney, former Open champion Darren Clarke and Scotland's Stephen Gallacher, who shot an opening-round 71.

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Augusta National

And they're off….! This morning's speed-walking race is a real cracker, some top-quality contenders on show.

The front row are straining at the gates, like horses in the stalls, as the clock ticks down to 0730. Slightly galling must be the sight of members and member guests already marching off to all parts with green chairs slung over their shoulders. They're allowed out early.

But at exactly 0730, the gate swings open and the race is on. Taking the early lead are a very earnest-looking thin couple, serious of face, strong of technique. They look like they have done this before and point their chins towards Amen Corner, determined to get their chairs down and mark that corner of Georgia as their own for the day.

Others cross the first fairway, and turn left heading for 18. Some take an immediate left and head for the first tee. If the Olympic walking officials were watching, half the field would be thrown out for illegalities. For laughs, this is one spectator sport that is hard to beat.

As my man Paolo points out, today could be all about the pins. Of the 18 flags, 14 are positioned between three and seven paces from the fringe. Erm, good luck, fells.

Paolo Brand:, external Brutal pin positions, hard and bouncy greens... looks like Masters is turning into the US Open.

Blair Christie:, external We think Kuchar and Oosthuizen will have the best rounds of the day today - early start makes such a difference.

Ian Bradley:, external Think Watson and Oosthuizen could separate from pack on right side of draw today, Scott and especially McIlroy fight to hang on.

And, as always, we want you to get involved. What did you make of the first round? Was it as difficult as some of the players made out, or was there a 65 or 66 out there for someone? Who impressed you and who disappointed? Who should we be keeping an eye on today? Text 81111, tweet using the hashtag #bbcgolf,, external or head over to the BBC Sport Facebook , externalpage.

As well as this live text (which spanned more than 12 hours yesterday!), you can watch first-round highlights right now at the top of the page and again on BBC Two at 18:30 BST tonight.

Radio 5 live has commentary from Augusta at 21:00, while BBC TV will have our most comprehensive weekend coverage ever, which will include up to seven live streams here on the BBC sport website.

McIlroy is in the final group of the day, which heads out at 18:59 BST. Just before that, defending champion Scott continues his quest to become only the fourth man to successfully defend the Green Jacket.

Haas goes at 18:15, while other names to look out for are Phil Mickelson at 15:30, Bubba Watson at 14:57 and Louis Oosthuizen 13:51.

We'll have plenty more on all the second-round tee times, including the British players to keep an eye on, throughout the day.

Full list of second-round tee times

Two-time major winner McIlroy led the UK charge with an opening round 71 to sit three behind Haas and would have been a shot better off had he not missed a four-footer at the last.

Still, the Northern Irishman was happy with his efforts on what he called a "very difficult" course.

"When I saw the pin positions I thought they didn't want people to get too many under par," said the world number nine.

"The greens are drying out quickly, anything under par is good. By Sunday they are going to be pretty dicey."

Image source, AP

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Augusta National

A big orange sun peers over the horizon to welcome day two at the Masters. Cloudless, chilly and set for a scorcher. Highs to nudge to 80F later. The breeze may get up to about 10mph. That is more than enough to play havoc down at Amen Corner where the wind swirls unpredictably among the pines.

The 11th and 12th were the two hardest holes on Thursday, registering only two and six birdies respectively. Six double bogeys came on the 12th, including one from defending champion Adam Scott.

So maybe the first round of the 2014 Masters wasn't exactly like that, but the 97-strong field certainly found out that the beauty of the Augusta National was only skin deep.

On a baking hot Georgia day, a swirling wind, rapid greens and tricky pins saw only 19 men get on the happy side of par.

Of them, American Bill Haas leads the way, alone on four under. Defending champion Adam Scott, Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen are a shot back, while Rory McIlroy lurks on one under.