Summary

  • Spieth falters late on but leads by one on -3

  • American led by four at one stage

  • Kaufman -2; Langer, Matsuyama -1

  • D Johnson, Willett, Day all level

  • McIlroy on +2 after a 77

  • Windy and tough pins on day three

  1. Postpublished at 16:20 British Summer Time 9 April 2016

    Poulter (16:40 BST)

    Ian Poulter has already had a stressful morning watching his beloved Arsenal lose a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at West Ham. So will he have anything left to launch an assault on the leaderboard?

    Poults is teeing off at 16:40 BST and starts at three over par. Things looked good for him until a 78 yesterday. He just couldn't find enough greens, hitting only 50% in regulation.

  2. A waste Scotty...published at 16:20 British Summer Time 9 April 2016

    Scott (+4 after 2)

    If the first is going to hurt the players the second gives you a hell of a birdie chance. One of the easiest on the course this week and a reachable par five.

    Adam Scott reaches the putting surface in two and lags up to leave six feet for birdie. He's all in black and studies it cautiously...nope. It slides past and that's a waste.

    Scott lashed a 350-yard drive there and got nothing for it.

  3. Risk-reward, no guts no glory...published at 16:17 British Summer Time 9 April 2016

    The setup here is typically testing today if we explore the hole locations.

    Just look at that seventh hole, five big bunkers and the flag cut tight to the edge. Go on lads, I dare you to go for it.

    Hole locations at AugustaImage source, The Masters
  4. Birdie for Kisnerpublished at 16:14 British Summer Time 9 April 2016

    Kisner (+3 after 6)

    Scoring is supposed to be tough today if you believe the weather forecasters out there but Kevin Kisner is laughing in the face of such negativity.

    He began the day five over but has made up two shots, the latest coming on six where his tee shot landed in the heart of the green allowing him to drain a 20 footer.

  5. A treat for you...published at 16:08 British Summer Time 9 April 2016

    Watch players on the range

    Range at AugustaImage source, BBC Sport

    If you click on 'live coverage' on the top of this page you can tune in to the Augusta driving range and see which players are working on their game ahead of teeing off.

    It often makes for great viewing and leaves you a little jealous of just how far these guys hit it.

  6. Bogey for Hoffman...published at 16:06 British Summer Time 9 April 2016

    Scott (+4 after 1), Hoffman (+5 after 1)

    Adam Scott is through the first in par, that should make him a shot on many today as the wind makes that hole really ugly. Charley Hoffman cannot sink a 15ft putt to save his par and he follows it up with a tee shot into the bunker on the second. Not a good start Charley.

  7. A crescendo...published at 16:04 British Summer Time 9 April 2016

    OrchestraImage source, Getty Images

    I'll warn you now, today we will see a crescendo not even the Philharmonic Orchestra could live up to.

    We have a dozen or so on the course now but the excitement builds, the pressure builds, the expectation builds. Our final groupings will walk out and deliver what we hope will be utter chaos tonight.

    19:00 Shane Lowry (Ire), Bryson De Chambeau (a)

    19:10 Daniel Willett (Eng), Sergio Garcia (Spa)

    19:20 Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha)

    19:30 Brandt Snedeker, Soren Kjeldsen (Den)

    19:40 Danny Lee (NZ), Scott Piercy

    19:50 Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy (NI)

  8. When is Jordan out?published at 16:00 British Summer Time 9 April 2016

    Spieth (-4)

    Jordan Spieth made history yesterday, joining Arnold Palmer as the only man to have led the Masters for six-straight rounds.

    Spieth of course dominated last year to win but has company in Rory McIlroy at the top of the leaderboard. It won't be the procession we saw in 2015.

    Jordan SpiethImage source, .

    The pair are on the tee from 19:50 BST, the final grouping. I'll bring you some other key times next.

  9. Get Involvedpublished at 15:54 British Summer Time 9 April 2016

    Tweet us on #bbcgolf

    Just look at this place...

    Augusta NationalImage source, Getty Images

    What would you give to be there now? Tweet us on #bbcgolf.

    AugustaImage source, Getty Images
  10. Latest on the course...published at 15:53 British Summer Time 9 April 2016

    I can tell you that right now Kevin Kisner and Patrick Reed have picked up early birdies to move to four over, while Louis Oosthuizen goes par-par and stays five over.

    We have 11 men on the course in all.

    Here comes Adam Scott on the first tee... oh that's a boomer. This will be a hard hole today, into the wind, it's waiting to slap these hopefuls hard across the chops.

  11. Get Involvedpublished at 15:49 British Summer Time 9 April 2016

    Tweet us on #bbcgolf

    Billy HorschelImage source, Getty Images

    So how are you guys on this Saturday afternoon? Got the Grand National boxed off?

    It's a treat of a weekend sporting wise if ever there was one. BBC Sport has live texts on football, rugby, horse racing, golf and boxing later on, not that I'm trying to tempt you to go elsewhere.

    What I'd really like is a chat, so why not tweet me on #bbcgolf and give me your thoughts on the Masters or golf generally. Pictures of dodgy golf attire welcomed.

  12. Watch the action alreadypublished at 15:48 British Summer Time 9 April 2016

    Scott (+4), Hoffman (+4)

    Adam ScottImage source, Getty Images

    You can watch Adam Scott and Charley Hoffman live by clicking 'live coverage' at the top of this page or on your connected TV set.

    The two men are four over and need to fire something in the mid sixties you'd think.

  13. Bubba has company...published at 15:45 British Summer Time 9 April 2016

    Watson (+8 after 4)

    That's right eagle-eyed readers, Bubba is down to play solo as he was the last man to just sneak inside the cut line for the weekend. 

    But that's not allowed, someone has to mark his card. Step into the limelight Jeff Knox...

    Rory McIlroy and Jeff KnoxImage source, Getty Images

    The man pictured right here - a member at Augusta National and an Augusta resident - has played as a marker in a couple of Masters events and actually out scored none other than Rory McIlroy in 2014.

    Knox had to accompany Steve Stricker last year and Stricks, a mean putter if ever there was one, didn't suffer the same embarrassment as Rory.

    Bubba is currently eight over and has already dropped two today. Struggling.

  14. The early starters...published at 15:44 British Summer Time 9 April 2016

    These guys need to go low...

    Bubba WatsonImage source, Getty Images

    So who is out there trying to tame this beast already? Well this lot got going a short while ago and I'll update you on their progress imminently. Before that though, what do you notice about the 14:50 pairing?

    14:50 Bubba Watson

    15:00 Justin Thomas, Kevin Kisner

    15:10 Louis Oosthuizen (SA), Patrick Reed

    15:20 Victor Dubuisson (Fra), Webb Simpson

    15:30 Bill Haas, Larry Mize

  15. Will the weather halt challenges?published at 15:41 British Summer Time 9 April 2016

    But will the conditions allow someone to make a move?

    We've heard players underline how difficult this expensive piece of real estate has been playing and it seems this will not change today.

    Ron Sirak at Golf Digest has been kind enough to snap the weather sheet and the gusts continue, hitting 25mph through the day. Somehow, I doubt we'll see the first ever 62 in a major today.

  16. Today is moving day...published at 15:39 British Summer Time 9 April 2016

    Welcome to day three at the Masters

    WARNING!

    Today is known as 'moving day'.

    Snedeker and Dustin JohnsonImage source, Getty Images

    It's the day where men lower down the field make a move on the leaders, push for a shot at the Green Jacket and generally try to just make a nuisance of themselves.

    Brandt Snedeker, Dustin Johnson, Danny Willett, Hideki Matsuyama, Sergio Garcia, it's you guys I'm thinking about. Have you got the bottle to make a tile at a first major?

  17. The big two go at it...published at 15:38 British Summer Time 9 April 2016

    Welcome to day three at the Masters

    Tournament organisers, broadcasters, hardcore fans, fair-weather fans, they all would have bitten a hand off for this scenario come Masters Saturday.

    Masters leaderboardImage source, Masters

    Have zero doubt, this could be one of those tournaments people still talk about in 20-30 years - the one where Rory and Jordan pushed one another to the limit.

    But beware before you bunker down for a weekend of sharp shooting between this pair, let me warn you of something...

  18. I dreamed a dreampublished at 15:30

    Welcome to day three at the Masters

    A cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal.

     A person or thing perceived as wonderful or perfect.  

    These are just two possible definitions for the term 'dream'. 

    Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroyImage source, Getty Images

    Whether you're a golf fan or not, the prospect of two men right at the pinnacle of any sport going toe to toe is an exhilarating one.

    Novak-Federer springs to mind in recent years but now we have golf's two poster boys placed first and second for the most illustrious major of them all.

    If that's not enough, they're even in the same pairing.

    Pinch yourself, you aren't dreaming.