Rickie Fowler is standing on the 16th tee. Can the world number eight nab that dropped shot back straight away? Erm, he's got a chance. A nice draw looks to be hitting the jackpot, only for the ball to lack the legs.

All is not lost, though. Fowler is on the fringe, half a chance of a birdie.

Branden Grace from the 15th fairway.... 91 yards to the pin... slam dunk. He's wearing a body warmer but heat is running through him. 

Corker of a shot, back spin, the lot. He is now well inside the cut line.

Hit it! Co-leader Thomas Pieters lags his birdie putt on 17, missing the chance to go solo. One more opportunity for the Belgian before he calls it a night though. On to the last...

And then there were three. Rickie Fowler pays the price for being too aggressive on his approach to 15.

The American whistles his par putt past the right lip, walking after the ball as soon as he hit it. He knew, he just knew.

Phil Mickelson shakes his head as his tap-in birdie almost lips out. It's underground though so he is one back. Fred Couples takes three putts on 16 from range and that's a shot wiped off. He looks as peaceful as a monk in prayer - no sign of anger.

Thomas Pieters is purring like a cat curled up on a snug rug in front of a warm fire. 

A beautiful approach on 17 dinks on to the front of the green, running up to within 10 feet.

Chance for birdie. Chance for the outright lead.

Image source, Getty Images

Even our man on the course is impressed by Fowler's chip on 15...

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Has Rickie Fowler just played a get out of jail card? That's probably a bit of a stretch. Nevertheless he's played a damn good golf shot. 

The co-leader uses that wedge like a wand, bumping his chip - after dropping in front of the pond remember - into the ridge and down to within a few feet.

Iain Carter
BBC Radio 5 live at Augusta

There are 53 players who are within 10 of the lead and also in the top 50.  Tied for 45th is six over par and that number is dwindling all the time.

There is a posibility that those at seven over par could sneak in for the weekend including Danny Willett, who at the moment looks like having the weekend off.

The defending champion has made it through to the weekend every year since Mike Weir in 2004 and Willett will be hoping something happens.

Rickie Fowler is in the drink on 15. He absolutely nails his second shot on the 530-yard par five - which is historically the easiest hole at Augusta National.

The problem is Fowler has hit it too well. He's splashed into the pond behind the green. Don't see many people swimming in there.

Fowler flashes a quizzical look at his caddie.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil Mickelson with rascal short game - I say RASCAL short game.

He's so good that his wedge from 60 yards or so over water actually sees his caddie take the flag out. Steady on lads. It's not quite in the bucket but it's within a bin lid. A birdie you would think...

Ting! That's the sound of Thomas Pieters' driver hitting the sweet spot on the 17th tee. A beauty of a drive sails through the warm Georgian air, dusting the carpet-like fairway before settling close to the 300-yard mark.

Perfect. As is this news from the 15th... (for Pieters) 

-4 Charley Hoffman (18), Sergio Garcia (18), Thomas Pieters (16), Rickie Fowler (14)

-2 William McGirt (18), Phil Mickelson (12), Fred Couples (15), 

Selected others: -1 Justin Rose (12), +1 Rory McIlroy (18)

Take a look at the  full leaderboard here, external , or find out more about the  BBC's coverage here.

Image source, Reuters

David Leadbetter
Leading golf coach on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"The 12th hole is such a tricky hole, if you walk off with three you feel really satisfied but Justin paid the price there."

Rose cannot make a 15 footer to save par, he leaves it six inches short.

Sumptuous putt across the green from Paul Casey on 15. Lovely line and weight, never looked like staying up.

Fred Couples has half the distance and it's also for birdie... downhill... nope. Good chance gone.

A sniff of a birdie for Thomas Pieters on 15. Steady, steady...

His seven-foot putt is wriggling more than a handful of maggots. It slips past a few feet, but the 25-year-old casts again and nets with his par putt.

No up and down is guaranteed at Augusta. But Rickie Fowler makes light work of his par saver on 14. His toes tap quickly before he buries his putt.

Jordan Spieth is in dialogue with an official. His ball moves during his back swing. Spieth is getting wound up and is stressing to the official that the ball didn't move position but only moved on the spot. The official wanders off and says they will take a look on the cameras. It could be costly but we think he'll be OK.

Thomas Pieters looks cooler than a cucumber which has been left in your fridge for 10 days. 

The Augusta debutant does not look fazed at all. Certainly not after nailing his tee-shot on the par-three 16th. Another birdie chance.

Meanwhile, a hole back... Rickie Fowler - another man not lacking confidence - drops his ball onto the 14th green from the back, his ball arcing round from left to right before it settles up a few inches short.

Shaun Micheel
2003 US PGA Championship winner, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Rose has said he feels so comfortable here and he'd be comfortable even playing without a practice round.

Listen to Shaun and the team at Augusta by clicking 'live coverage' now.