Where's Rory here? Heart in mouth as he crosses the water at 15, but on the green albeit with a monster for eagle. Jason Day's horror back nine is over with par on the last. He ends the day level, but was five under after 14. Extraordinary.

Shane Lowry misses a birdie chance at 15, but Sergio Garcia does not pass up the chance for a two at 16. That's four birdies in a row for Sergio, who is up to three under.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Only 22 of the 89-man field are in the red today. While Jordan Spieth leads the select band who have tamed Augusta, spare a thought for 16-year-old debutant Paul Chaplet.

The Costa Rican amateur is propping up the rest after an 11-over 83. Not going to shove Paulo Wanchope out the way as his nation's greatest sportsman just yet...

Oh my word. Angel Cabrera has gone into the water at 15. Twice. The second time, from the drop zone, he got more turf than ball. I think he's on the green in seven. Incidentally, Cabrera is younger than Kylie Minogue. Just think about that.

Image source, AFP/GETTY

We're starting to get a feel for what the leaderboard will look like at the end of the day. Only two of the top seven - Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy - are still on the course. Sergio Garcia might yet crash the list. He birdies 15 to go two under.

Iain Carter
BBC golf correspondent at Augusta National

"I think we are seeing a changing of the guard already. Poulter and Westwood are under pressure and Luke Donald seems to have gone. That generation, which has been at heart of so much European success, is going to be replaced this year by rookies.

"The American team will also change but the players dropping out have been perennial losers in recent years."

Watching Jason Day over the past half an hour or so has been like watching an England batting collapse. You can see the slide, you don't want to watch, but it's oddly compelling. On the 18th tee, he flirts with bunkers to the left of the fairway, but somehow remains on the green stuff.

Image source, Getty Images

Adam Scott headed back to Augusta as one of the pre-tournament faves. Leading the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup rankings, back-to-back titles last month, swinging well. Oh...and he's already been here, done it and got the Green Jacket.

But the Aussie world number seven had the jitters on the way back to the champions' locker room today. Three bogeys in the final seven holes leaves him well adrift of the leading pack.

Ooohhh, very close from McIlroy, who sees his birdie putt slip away to the left side of the hole at 14. He stands with his hands on his hips, befuddled as to why that didn't drop.

Nice from McIlroy. He's got his second in decent distance to the 14th hole. Left, downhill, but passable. Should be no worse than par.

John Murray
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator at Augusta National

"Jason Day is looking rattled. He has got his head down, he may well be giving himself a bit of a talking to."

Jason Day, after that iffy tee shot on the 17th, has dropped yet another shot. That's five shots in three holes. It's almost damage on an Ernie Els scale. Is the world number drifting out of contention on an horrific first back nine?

Jay Townsend
Former American professional golfer on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Ian Poulter has that talent that all golfers want to have, the ability of turning three shots into two. He’s a real grinder's grinder. A good opening round for Poulter."

Bubba Watson finally sinks one on the 18th, a birdie, but he's still gone home in 41. Three over for the day. Ian Poulter does indeed do the bizo from about three feet. A 69, three under, three behind Spieth. Three Englishmen will sleep in that position.

-6: Spieth (18)

-4:  Lowry (13), Lee (18)

-3: Casey (18), Rose (18), Poulter (17) McIlroy (13)

Selected others: -2: Willett (14), -1: Day (16)Westwood (18), Fitzpatrick (18) McDowell (15) Garcia (14) Par: Mickelson(18),Stenson (18), +7: Els (16)

Follow these links for tee-off times and a full leaderboard.

Long old birdie putt for Lowry on 14, does well to get it close enough for a tap-in par. No gimmes, though. Just ask Ernie Els. Up at 18, Ian Poulter plays a delicious chip from the back of the green and should finish up with a 69.

Jason Day is going to pot. Left off the tee at 17, lucky he's still got a decent lie. He's got to be very careful over his next six or seven swings of the club, because he could end up too far back.

England's Paul Casey, who carded a three-under 69, was full of praise for Jordan Spieth's round of 66.

"That was a flawless round of golf," said Casey. "When he got into trouble he bailed out in the right place and what could have been an error, he turned into a wonderful par save. It was absolutely flawless.

"It was one of the toughest days I've ever seen around Augusta National. I played a wonderful round of golf, but it was great to have a front row seat to watch that."

Danny Lee, by the way, has pulled off something remarkable at the 18th. After messing about in the trees, he's got a four-footer for par and a 68. In she goes. Second in the clubhouse. McIlroy is long off the tee at 14. Things are happening.

Jay Townsend
Former American professional golfer on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"That is a big boost for Rory McIlroy."