Iain Carter
BBC golf correspondent

"People have asked how interesting is golf when Tiger Woods is missing? It has been utterly fascinating today."

"Even from early on (first tee) I was a little too pumped up. It was about controlling the nerves and staying as patient as possible," said Jordan Spieth, 20, hoping to beat Tiger Woods' 1997 record as the youngest winner at Augusta.

"Today was the best kind of mental game I've ever had. I'll need it again tomorrow.

"Maybe it's a little easier for me because I haven't seen balls roll off the greens as much. It's a great position to be in and I feel very comfortable on the greens."

John Senden meanwhile has had to get a map out and let his neighbours know he will be gone for some time before setting out in pursuit of his tee shot. It is out on the edge of the 10th fairway.

Bubba Watson has got a lucky break, or a friendly foot, on the last. His drive looked like it was deep in the pines on the left hand edge of the 18th fairway. But somehow his ball ricocheted out onto the middle of the fairway and the joint leader accepts his good fortune with a shrug.

Fred Couples, 1992 champion, carded a 73 to be one-under overall: "I have to tell myself I'm in an ok spot. I played some good shots and some poor shots. The poor shots you can't make pars.

"The position I'm in is a good one, I still feel I hit the ball well but one good round tomorrow and maybe I can scare them."

Thomas Bjorn finishes his round with a par and is two under for his campaign.

Whatever happens with the final pair, there will be 14 players within five shots of the leader. If you had even the vaguest alternative Sunday evening plans, consider them canned.

Jonas Blixt with a two-tiered monster putt for birdie on the last and he has given it a fair flick. Close, close, close, but not quite. He nudges in the leftovers and is sticking about at the top on four under.

Par four, 465 yards

An uphill, dogleg right with two bunkers to be avoided on the left elbow of the fairway and woods on the opposite side. Two bunkers protect a sloping, double-tiered green on one the most famous finishing holes in golf.

2013 average: 4.18 Rank: 9

Image source, Getty Images

Bubba Watson is taking a long, long look, before finally strolling up to address the ball. Absolute clutch putting. His stroke looked jittery, but the result is the perfect. Straight down the throat and he remains at five under with one to play.

Bubba Watson is getting flaky as the shadows get long. He leaves ten feet between him and par on 17. Jordan Spieth could be leading alone tonight...

But two groups left out on the course then. Jonas Blixt and Thomas Bjorn just ahead of Bubba Watson and John Senden.

Andrew Magee
BBC Radio 5 live summariser

"It's an amazing effort from the youngster. There is no telling what the future holds for him. He Just seems to play well all the time."

Image source, AP

Adam Scott finishes four over for the day, dropping out to one over for the tournament.

He has been outshone by his playing partner today though and young Jordan Spieth is going to be a name that is in the business end of Majors to come. The baby-faced American is the clubhouse leader on five under.

Jamie Carter:, external Pitching on the green. Never seen that and was always led to believe you could only use a putter. More light needs shedding please

American Jimmy Walker closed out his round by chipping from the very front of the 18th green. The greenkeepers will deal with him later...

Jordan Spieth with a real tester of a putt on the last - if he makes it it is a birdie, but if he gets it close he has done well. He has got it very close in the end and looks like his five-under is locked up safe for the night.

Iain Carter
BBC golf correspondent

"Lee Westwood, Steady Eddie, has plodded away and put himself in with a shout."

CBS Sports, external point out that Matt Kuchar's last two finishes at Augusta - 3rd and 8th - almost mirror what Adam Scott did in his two starts before last year's win (Scott was actually tied second in 2011 with Jason Day). Could it be his day tomorrow?

Bubba Watson, still walloping power off the tee, booms one down the middle on 17.

Jonas Blixt has plenty to do up on the green - 20 feet for par - but he has not quite got the length of that right. He drops back into second.

Par four, 440 yards

Former United States president Dwight Eisenhower used to hit into a loblolly pine placed on the left of the fairway so often that he unsuccessfully campaigned to have it cut down. It was eventually removed earlier this year after an ice storm caused major damage. An uphill hole, with a challenging green that slopes off in all directions.

2013 average: 4.22 Rank: 6

Image source, Getty Images

-5 Spieth (US) 17, B Watson after 16, Blixt (Swe) 16; -4 Kuchar (US); -3 Jimenez (Spa), Fowler (US), Bjorn (Den) 16.

Selected others: -1 Rose (Eng); E Poulter (Eng); +1 Scott (Aus) 17; +3 McIlroy (NI), Donaldson (Wal); +5 Clarke (NI); +8 Lyle (Sco), Gallacher (Sco) 16.