-6: Spieth (18)

-5: Lowry (8)

-4: Day (9)

-3: Casey (18), Rose (18), Lee (12)

Selected others: -1: B Watson (10) Westwood (18), Fitzpatrick (14), Willet (8), McIlroy (7) Par: Mickelson(18),Stenson (18), Poulter (11) +1: McDowell (9) +6: Els (10) +8: Fowler (18).

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Justin Rose yelps to himself in frustration as he leaves the birdie chance on 18 go, it's a 69 for Rose and three under. Right in contention, perhaps as you'd expect. Rose rarely falters, he's like one of those dogs which just hangs around.

Shane Lowry with his designer beard, he's eyeing five under at the turn here. This par-five eighth is there to be attacked and with a wedge in his hand he flops one to within a few feet of the yellow flag. That was artistic, almost arrogant.

In contrast Scott Piercy's position at three under will slide shortly as he scoops shot number four from the bunker on 10. Back to Lowry on eight, a slight break to navigate, job done.

Justin Rose punches one up the 18th from 177 yards back to leave 10ft, a birdie would be timely now, one to take to bed with him and sleep easily perhaps?

The chase of Jordan Spieth is faltering slightly as Bubba Watson hits sand on the par-three 12th. He has no shot from there, too much meat on this sand play and the water lurks behind the green.

Ian Poulter can't wait to make a sand castle either on the same hole. For both players to be kidded by this drag perhaps points to the elements.

Anyone missing Tiger? Just click play below for a fix.

So Jordan Spieth is in the clubhouse and it seems he's doing a little wind dance. The gusts are picking up and maybe that's the reason Bubba Watson just missed a three footer on 11. Bogey time for Bubba.

Spieth's mark looks tough to beat from here. Danny Lee is eyeing birdie on 13 and he sinks one from off the green. Straight, packed with pace, it either dropped or raced six feet past. Danny's prayers were answered.

Now to Jason Day on 10 with this horror putt I mentioned. He's about 60ft away from the pin but he's aiming towards Canada such is the break on this green. It's as nasty as it gets with a downhill to inject even more fear. 

Day comes up short, leaving 15ft for par, could we see the first wobble? We do. Again the break beats him and it's bogey for the favourite.

Steady away for Lefty. Big Phil has had more ups and downs than the Big Dipper today. Four birdies, four bogeys. Mickelson 1, Augusta 1. A score draw.

Hole seven - named 'Pampas' - Rory to go into red numbers? Yes Mr McIlroy, 7ft conquered.

Bubba Watson drifts waaaaay the right on the 11th - so far right he even missed the trees. Perhaps he fancied having a spectators-eye view of this monster 505-yard par five. Somehow he manages to find the front edge of the dancefloor, shortly followed to the party by wingman Ian Poulter. They're going in for the kill.

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Martin Kaymer ends a long conversation with his caddie on seven and pumps his second over the green, that's a tough up and down. Phil Mickelson on the move... from two over to one under with a solid putt on 17. Scott Piercy can reach four under on nine... dribbles a downhill putt wide. There's action everywhere, Jason Day has a horrific putt for birdie to come. Downhill, left to right, long, it's laced with evil.

That's more like it! Rory McIlroy has that ball on a string. The Northern Irishman pulls his tee shot on the par-four seventh into the semi-rough. No problem. Superb control from the world number three with his second, a touch of draw landing him with a seven-foot birdie chance.

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So how are you enjoying day one? Let me guess, you've been into the garage and dusted off the clubs, you're ringing mates for a game on Saturday and even contemplating finishing work early tomorrow to squeeze nine in.

Deep down you know you won't hit it like Spieth, Day or Bubba, but you can dream. Don't forget your donkey, they make a great caddie.

Let me know how you're taking the action in on #bbcgolf.

Time for a quick round up of our British and Irish hopefuls. Young Yorkshireman Matt Fitzpatrick sticks a 10th straight par on his card on 13, Scotland's Russell Knox tames the wind on 11 for an outside birdie chance, Irishman Shane Lowry grunts as his ball lands at the back of seven.

Is that a grunt of pleasure? Or a grunt of pain? The latter. His ball is grabbed by a dastardly downhill dip, leaving Lowry with a monster of a birdie putt.

The 16th green is receptive today with a flag position at the bottom of the slope which naturally takes the ball down, bringing hole in one into play.

Justin Rose though is struggling for par here as he faces 9ft to make a three... nope.

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Now if we wipe out the main three - Day, Spieth and McIlroy - many a tipster would have rattled out the names of Louis Oosthuizen and Dustin Johnson this week.

But as Day and Spieth set a relentless pace, the pair have been found wanting somewhat.

Johnson reached two under at one point but a +3 back nine halted him. Oosthuizen, who finished second in 2012, see-sawed between level and one under all day.

Unfortunately you don't get gimmes at Augusta. Fortunately Jason Day doesn't need one. Easy tap in for the birdie, the Aussie's third - plus an eagle - before the turn.

He's gone out in 31 - his best front nine at Augusta. It has been 14 years since the world number one stuck his mitts on the Green Jacket. Just saying...

Ooooh! Aaaah! The galleries go wild - and Jason Day is lapping up the applause. Wedge, one bounce, screw back, less than cigarette length from the hole. Beautiful. I'd be expecting a gimme on my local municipal in north Manchester.

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Shane Lowry's four-hole birdie blitz is over but there's a positive to be had as his work to save par is stellar.

He clubbed a little short on the par three and left himself an up and down which would jangle many a nerve. A solid chip, 4ft putt and he remains two off the pace. Super golf.