Matthew Fitzpatrick catches it sweetly off the tee at 18 and has given himself every chance of the birdie he needs at the last.

Rory McIlroy, on the hole, behind thumps a superb second shot right up onto the top deck where the pin is.

Adam Scott strays out well left with his tee-shot on the last and turns his nose up at his own effort like it is something the cat dragged in.

Up on the green Jim Furyk is putting for a birdie, shooting off at right angles to his intended target and ending within a few inches.

Adam Scott, a man who looks fit enough to crush a golf ball in a clenched fist, is still cruising through the back nine. He lands another par on 17 to stay in a very useful three under.

Gutsy hold from Matthew Fitzpatrick on 17 as he measures his putt to perfection. The Sheffield 19-year-old needs a birdie on the last to make the weekend.

Image source, Getty Images

American Jordan Spieth is up and around the contenders after an eagle on 15 moved him to three under.

Jamie Donaldson taps in to finish on one under as Rory McIlroy confirms his par on 16.

Rory McIlroy's birdie attempt at 16 is not quite up to scratch, dribbling wide. Nothing has looked like dropping for him today.

Jamie Donaldson has been far sharper. A 40-foot meandering putt for a birdie at the last is within a whisker.

Rory McIlroy steadies the ship with a solid tee shot up onto the 16th green.

Jim Furyk meanwhile has been Mr Consistency and is looking as dependable as ever. The 2003 US Open champion is two under as he rolls in his par putt on 17.

Image source, Reuters

Rory McIlroy has been getting closer to nature than he will wanted.

Rory McIlroy's birdie putt stays above ground at 15 and he has to be content with a par five. The Northern Irishman is teetering right on the brink on four over. If he ships another shot he can pack up his cleats for the weekend.

Jamie Donaldson comes away from 17 with a bogey and is back out to one under.

Rory McIlroy into the greenside bunker in two on 15. It really has not been pretty for him today.

English amateur Matthew Fitzpatrick is in need of a birdie in the next three holes. It doesn't look like it is going to come at the par-three 16 as his tee shot goes through the back, leaving him a tricky downhiller to the cup to negotiate and a sprinkler head to avoid. He is five over and the wrong side of the cut as it stands.

Image source, Reuters

No time for that. Fix up, look sharp. There are scores being made.

Adam Scott's birdie putt slips down the gurgler via that broomhandle stick and the Australian is putting together something of a run. He is now three under and in a purple patch with three birdies in the last four.

Here's a word from Freddie Couples, a man who has not finished outside the top 15 since turning 50 in 2009: "I played really well, made a couple of bogeys but hit the ball pretty solid.

"I have a good feel for this golf course and as you get older it's not a hindrance because you get to know how to play this course. I feel very comfortable playing it.

"My goal is to hit a good drive on one [on Saturday] and go from there. The last couple of years [during the final two rounds] I've had a couple of bad holes and panicked but you can't do that round here."

The man in possession of the title, Adam Scott, is putting down the hill looking for an eagle on the par five 15th. He has not mustered the nerve for that one, leaving it six feet shot and he will have to be a little bit more bold with his birdie attempt.

He is two under as it stands after hauling back strokes on 12 and 13.

Rory McIlroy would probably have more joy reading War and Peace in the original Russian than these greens today. His long-range birdie putt at 14 does not look like dropping for a moment, heading off on an unexpected course amid the mountains and valleys.

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Augusta National

Here's more from Bubba on enjoying being out of the limelight: "So media attention is on the defending champion. You know, you're asked all these questions, can you defend? How are you going to play? You have to give up the Green Jacket.

"I didn't know how to handle it the best way, and so I didn't play my best golf last year. But you know, this year I come in here with no media attention, just out there practising. I changed my routine a little bit, played nine holes a day starting on Monday and just tried to save energy as much as I can."

Wales' Jamie Donaldson does the necessary on the 16th, nudging in from within a hula-hoop's diameter to take his birdie and move back to two under. A razor-sharp tee shot set that one up for him.

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Augusta National

Bubba Watson says he is relishing playing Augusta with the pressure off compared to last year when he was defending champion.

The left-hander finished tied 50th 12 months ago and reckons the burden is much less this time.

"Champions Dinner was not about me," he said. "I could enjoy it this time and listen to some of the stories.

"I was in awe when it was my dinner. You know you're sitting there amongst the great champions, and this year I got to be just a bystander, one of the guys, and it was Adam's night."

Ben Hook, external: I see Rory McIlroy is yet again not living up to (ridiculous, dumb-founded) expectation at The Masters. Don't rate him at all.

Alan O'Sullivan, external: Last time Rory wore that colour outfit, he had that collapse on the back 9 three years ago at The Masters