For a while out there on a day of catch-up at the 84th Masters it seemed as if no one would be catching Dustin Johnson. The world No 1 strolled to 10-under after just four holes of his second round and with that languid stride of his looking more nonchalant than ever, the rest were struggling to keep him in their sights.
But this is Augusta National and despite the revered layout being more accommodating than ever over its opening stages, it reminded Johnson why he has found it thus so far elusive to secure a green jacket for his locker.
After closing out for a first round 65 in the morning after the storm delays of Thursday and then birdieing all three holes on Amen Corner in the second round, Johnson dropped shots on both the 14th and 15th (his fifth and sixth) and only recovered well enough to post a 70 for a nine-under total.
However, Johnson did hit a wonderful approach into his last hole (the ninth) to set up the closing birdie from six feet and, regardless of his profligacy, the 36-year-old remains the man to beat. “Before I teed off, I think I would have taken this but obviously I feel like I played a little bit better than my position right now,” he said. “But I’m still happy with the way I'm swinging it, how I'm controlling the ball and everything I'm doing.”
Alongside fellow American Justin Thomas (69), Mexican Abraham Ancer (67) and Australian Cameron Smith (68), Johnson holds the clubhouse lead - with half the field coming back on Saturday morning to complete their second rounds. But they are packing in behind. On eight-under is Patrick Cantlay and Korean Sungae Im, with Spain’s Jon Rahm and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama on the same mark on the course - with six and three holes left respectively - while on seven-under stands the English trio of Danny Willett, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose.
Fleetwood and Willett both racked up seven birdies to go with solitary bogeys in their 66s, while Rose birdied the last two for a 70 and with Paul Casey, the first-round pacesetter, on six-under after 11 holes of his second round, this is proving to be a rousing major for the St George contingent.
Willett was the last British winner - in 2016 - and at the very least the country can surely hope to have a representative in contention in Sunday’s denouement. And for the UK that could even be Rory McIlroy, who bounced back valiantly with a 65 to reach three-under, one behind Tiger Woods, who has eight holes remaining and two behind Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson, after they shot a 69 and 70.
No, McIlroy would not have planned on being six behind Johnson and Thomas at the halfway stage - and who knows, his deficit with the top of the leaderboard may be greater by the time he begins his third round - but he does have a chance to become just the sixth player in history to complete the career grand slam. And with Augusta set to get tougher, ground will be easier to make up. It will be a silent weekend, but it could also be thrilling as the greens get firmer and the National begins to bare its teeth.
Rory McIlroy at Augusta - GETTY IMAGES
As it was, the second round has already proven more difficult than the first. The sub-air systems under the greens dried out the putting surfaces and were assisted by the hot conditions. The greens were also “beat up” because of their softness and the six-footers became tricky. As the task becomes increasingly arduous, expect the first round to become like a mirage.
The stats show that Augusta National has never been easier. Out of a field of 92, there were 53 rounds under par in the first round, the most ever for any single Masters round. And with the players shooting an average of 71.41, this also set a new low for the opening round. So much for all those predictions that Augusta in November would provide a brutal test.
The truth is that if you put a soft course with soft greens in front of the modern professional then they will tear it to bits regardless of how long it happens to be. Actually, scrap that, because it was not just the modern professionals who laid siege to Alister MacKenzie’s masterpiece. Never before had two players aged 60 or over broken par in the same round of a major. Step forward 62-year-old Larry Mize and 63-year-old Bernhard Langer, who shot a 70 and a 68 respectively.
After finishing off his remaining holes in one-under to reach four-under, Langer shot a 73 featuring four birdies and five bogeys to fall back to three-under. However, he still claimed history as the oldest player ever to make the cut at The Masters, a fact of which he is understandably proud.
“There have been so many great players here before me, Jack Nicklaus to Gary Player and all the others who have competed here, so to be the oldest to make the cut is certainly an achievement,” he said. “Hopefully I get to play a few more years and enjoy this place.”
Bernhard Langer - AP
Indeed, many of his juniors would snap Langer’s anchored arm off for his place in the third round. Take Tyrrell Hatton, who as the world No 9, came in as the highest-ranked Englishman. The 29-year-old struggled to a 73-74 for a three-over total and a second missed cut in four Masters appearances.
It has been a truly strange season for Hatton in the majors. He has failed to make it past the second round in all three of them, despite what he calls “a special year for me” with wins at Wentworth and Bay Hill.
Hatton was quietly fancied, but did not have anything like the hype of Bryson DeChambeau. After losing a ball on the third, the US Open winner is one-over, one off the cutline, with a fight to survive with six holes remaining.
10:37 PM
A few players continue in the gloom
But this is how they stand as a few play final strokes and Matsuyama rolls in his birdie putt at 15.
Still no hooter. Charles Howell misses a chance at six to go to six-under but he misses the 8ft birdie putt.
There goes the hooter and most players mark their balls and head back in, ready to resume tomorrow morning.
10:19 PM
Casey falls down to six-under
After nine successive pars to start with in Faldo at Muirfield fashion, he makes bogey on 10 after bursting the green with his chip.
Dusk is rushing in.
Rahm birdies 12 to move up to eight-under alongside Cantlay and Im. They let him tee off at 13 but seeing it's going to be far too dark to finish that hole, wouldn't it have been better to call it a night?
10:04 PM
There's about half an hour left of daylight
At Augusta. Here's how they stand:
-9 Ancer, Smith, Thomas, D Johnson -8 Cantlay, Im -7 Willett, Fleetwood, Rose, Pan (13), Rahm (10), Oosthuizen (10)Casey (9) -6 Munoz (F), Frittelli (F), Matsuyama (12), Reed (9)
09:54 PM
Rahm salvage job
Superb par-saving chip by Rahm on 10 after a mud-ball ruins his approach to the 10th. He moves on at seven-under. DeChambeau is not so deft with his recovery stroke and bursts the green, dropping another stroke and falling further under the projected cut on +2. Pan saves his par on the fourth (his 13th) also to remain on seven-under with Rahm, the four Englishmen and Luis Oosthuizen.
"If you were told in 1993 that you would still be competing at the Masters now would you have believed it?" 🤔
"I might have said you'd had too much to drink!" 🍷🍺🍹
CT Pan from Taiwan, which rhymes, has made an eagle and three birdies in his last six holes as he moves on to the fourth hole. He is now on seven-under, alongside the Englishmen Willett, Fleetwood, Rose and Casey.
Tiger Woods has dropped a stroke at the seventh to fall back to three-under, six off the lead. And Casey cannot get a birdie putt to drop. He's still racking up the pars, though, to remain on -7 through eight where he's now been joined by Luis Oosthuizen and Jon Rahm after their birdies on 9.
Patrick Reed, the 2018 champion, has recovered from his opening bogey to make three birdies and move up to six-under at the turn.
09:27 PM
Jon Rahm birdies the 8th
He's three-under for the day and six-under for the tournament. His tee shot at the ninth made the most gorgeous sound.
Sandy Lyle's braces are breaking Twitter. Britain's breakthrough champion is on level par for the round, six-over for the tournament.
Sandy Lyle of Scotland reacts on the second green - Patrick Smith/Getty Images
I might be the first in line to buy golf shirts with suspenders printed on them. Just to make people mad.
At the 16th to drop back to three-under, one behind Tiger Woods who has nailed his fourth successive par. The greens are starting to be affected by some moisture as the world turns and the sun goes down.
DeChambeau continues to struggle. A bogey at seven is followed by a tremendous iron shot at eight to within 4ft yet he misses his eagle putt and has to salvage a birdie. He's on one-over, still a shot above the projected cut line.
09:04 PM
Im Sung-jae closes out for 70
Birdies at six and nine, his 15th and 18th, leave him on eight-under, one stroke off the lead, tied for fifth with Patrick Cantlay. Casey continues to rack up the pars, six in succession so far to hold on at seven-under, tied there with Fleetwood, Willett and Justin Rose who birdied three of the final four holes of the front nine.
-9 Ancer, Smith, Thomas, D Johnson -8 Cantlay, Im -7 Willett, Fleetwood, Rose, Casey (6)
08:47 PM
DeChambeau's round scripted by WS Gilbert
So far he's gone par, birdie, triple bogey, bogey, bogey, birdie to stand on one-over after six, one stroke the wrong side of the projected cut.
08:35 PM
Paul Casey begins
With four successive pars to stay two behind the nine below zero quartet. Jon Rahm has started with habitual panache with two birdies in his first four holes to move to -4, tied, among others, with Tiger Woods who has begun with par, birdie, bogey.
Bernhard Langer will be the oldest player to make the cut at the Masters when he begins his third round on three-under tomorrow.
08:21 PM
McIlroy, Johnson and Cantlay group head for the scorer's hut
Rory finishes with 66 to swing from +3 to -3. DJ drains his birdie putt to sign for a 70 which takes him to a quarter-share of the lead at nine-under and Patrick Cantlay finishes with par to score 66 and begin tomorrow at eight-under.
-9 Ancer, Smith, Thomas, D Johnson -8 Cantlay -7 Willett, Fleetwood, Im (16), Casey (3)
Completed second round unless stated
08:12 PM
Triple bogey seven for US Open champion
Bryson DeChambeau, having lost his ball off the tee at the fourth then sails his fourth over the green, chips back far too far then two putts. Poor show/lad. He's left himself on level par in one fell swoop.
08:05 PM
A new joint leader
Justin Thomas joins Abraham Ancer and Cameron Smith on nine-under after four successive birdies to finish his round and sign for a 69. A Janus-faced effort if ever there was one: seven birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.
08:03 PM
Bernhard Langer
The 63-year-old finishes with birdie, par, birdie, bogey to sign for three-under after 36. He has only missed two cuts in 36 visits and will almost certainly be around for the duration now.
07:59 PM
No spectator handicap
Bryson DeChambeau appears to have lost his ball somewhere in the first cut to the left of the trees at the third. They have a party looking for it before giving up.
07:57 PM
Bryson DeChambeau birdies the second
And moves up to three-under after lagging up following a superb iron shot. Meanwhile at the top, completed rounds unless stated:
-9 Ancer, Smith -8 Thomas (17), Johnson (16) -7 Willett, Fleetwood, Cantlay (16), Im (15), Casey (2)
07:49 PM
Danny Willett speaks
We've been doing some nice work and I've felt pretty good coming into the week. The driver cracked on 17 this morning so Iplayed the second round with a three-wood which I might stick with. Very good iron play [was the reason he did so well] but the weather is really good and there will be low scores. It's four years since I've seen my name on the leader board [having missed four cuts]. We were laughing.
07:45 PM
Clubhouse leaders
Abraham Ancer is the clubhouse leader after making par at the ninth (his 18th) and is nine-under after 36 holes.
The University of Oklahoma grad holds that spot on his own for less than a minute before Cameron Smith rattles in his birdie putt to join him on nine-under.
At the beginning of his second round Woods plays a dreadful second and a fantastic third to withing 4ft which should be a par-saver for him.
07:38 PM
Rock on, Tommy
Tommy Fleetwood has matched Danny Willett with seven birdies and a bogey to finish with 66 and seven-under for the tournament.
07:29 PM
Thanks to Greg Wilcox
Who has been your guide for the past 90 minutes. Bagchi back for the rest of today which will last as long as the light.
07:28 PM
Yorkshire pudding at the champions dinner again?
Willett plays a peach of an approach to 18, the flag is back left but the Englishman fires it to to six feet, he birdies it to go to 7-under. Brilliant stuff from the son of Sheffield.
07:25 PM
We have a new leader
Ancer birdies the 8th, his 17th, to go clear at the top on 9-under. What a moment for the Mexican - he’s well regarded by the fellow pros, and on the evidence of this round (he’s 5-under for the day_ it’s not hard to see why.
Meanwhile, DeChambeau has started his second round - will it be as much of a rollercoaster as his first? He has a great effort at birdie after a 333 drive on the 1st for par. He’s on 2-under.
07:19 PM
Smith backs up eagle with a birdie
Johnson goes close with his birdie effort on the 5th, it kisses the hole, he remains on 8-under. McIlroy pars also and stays at 2-under, with Cantlay on 7-under in the three ball of the earlier starters.
Meanwhile, Cameron Smith birdies 16 to follow up the eagle on 15 and he’s now just one back on 7-under. Great charge from the Australian.
07:12 PM
Missed chance for Willett
Willett lays up at the par-5 8th but fires in his approach left of the green with the pin at the front - bit of an error there. He two putts for par, but an opportunity gone. Still the Englishman, on 6-under, is putting together his best round at Augusta since the famous 67 that saw him won in 2016.
Elsewhere, Frittelli three putts on 14 to fall back to 6-under.
07:03 PM
Still very tight!
Cameron Smith eagles the 15th - he stiffed a long iron to within a foot - to move to 6-under. Lots of players in contention now, 23 players within four shots of the lead and on a course as volatile as Augusta that’s not a lot.
06:59 PM
Tight at the top
If things continue as they are, the field is going to be fairly bunched up and with the top 50 and ties making it to the third round no one will likely be out of it - something for McIlroy to focus on.
Ancer is putting together a fine round and birdies the 6th to move to 8-under. The talented Mexican is 4-under for his second round and looking at ease on his first trip to Augusta.
-8 Johnson (through 12), Ancer (15)
-7 Thomas (13), Frittelli (12), Cantlay (12) Casey
-6 Willett (16), Fleetwood (15), Im (10)
06:49 PM
Perfect Patrick
Cantlay - SHUTTERSTOCK
06:45 PM
More dodgy driving from McIlroy
McIlroy is still struggling with the driver, he blocks one at the short par-4 third, he’s lucky as it comes out (off a tree presumably) just 20 yards short of the green. He putts well to walk off the green with a par. Playing partner Johnson sees the ball flirt with the hole in the most extravagant manner - it doesn’t just lip out, it does a 360 around the hole refusing to go in. He stays at 8-under.
Cantlay has now birdied his last two holes to move to within one of the lead - he's at 7-under.
For McIlroy the aim must be to stay in there, play sensible percentage golf (no one is currently running away at the top of the leaderboard), pick up shots where he can, make the cut and hopefully spend time on the range this evening to iron out the obvious errors in his swing.
Elsewhere Im drops another shot at the first, his 10th, to fall back to 6-under.
06:37 PM
Here's where we stand at the moment
-8 Johnson (through 11),
-7 Ancer (13), Im (9), Thomas (12), Frittelli (11) Casey
-6 Willett (15), Cantlay (11)
06:34 PM
McIlroy continues fightback
Dustin Johnson hits a hideous approach on the second leaving him in the bunker he does well to get the ball to within 20 feet of the pin but two putts for par - he’s clearly not happy with that.
McIlroy continues his good fightback, chipping away at the deficit he created for himself with some woeful driving and iron play yesterday and today. He birdies to get to 2-under.
Thomas, sniffing the top of the leaderboard, hits a fine approach to the tricky third green but cannot capitalise, two-putting from 10 feet to stay at 7-under. Koepka struggles more as he drops a shot on the same hole to fall back to 4-under.
06:24 PM
Mistake from Im
Im fires long on 18 and shortsides himself. He cannot get up and down and drops a shot to go back to 7-under - DJ now has sole lead.
06:22 PM
Willett looking good
Willett fires his approach to the 5th to three feet, he just misses and that would have been a shot gained on the field had he sunk that. He stays at 6-under. Playing alongside the Englishman is the amateur Augenstein - he drops a shot to go to 5-under, still mightily impressive from the young American.
Meanwhile, on the second Thomas birdies to go to 7-under, Koepka pars to stay at 5-under (he’ll look at that as a shot dropped)
06:10 PM
Koepka continues fine run
Koepka has just sunk a birdie putt on the first, his 10th, to get to 5-under. What a change from 22 hours or so ago when the American was floundering on 2-over.
McIlroy another player to get himself back into the tournament (though not to the same extent at Koepka, admittedly) fires his approach to the first (also his 10th) pin high but it spins back to the lower tier of the green. He two putts for a safe par. At 1-under he'll be thinking about trying to pick up another shot on the par-5 2nd. DJ also pars and remains at 8-under
They begin the front nine on -1 and -8 respectively.
Justin Thomas dropped shots at 9 and 10 to leave it looking like this:
-8 Johnson (through 9), Im (7) -7 Ancer (11), Casey -6 Willett (12), Augenstein (12), Thomas (10), Frittelli (9)
Dustin Johnson, right, watches as Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, reacts to a missed birdie putt - AP Photo/Chris Carlson
05:52 PM
Encore - another birdie for Willett
Sheffield's finest and the 2016 champion is now on six-under after making birdie at the third (his 12th).
05:45 PM
Another birdie for Danny Willlett
This one at the second, his 11th, takes him up to five-under and -4 for his second round, three off the lead.
05:37 PM
Birdie for Rory McIlroy on 17
It's his fourth in eight holes this afternoon and propels him up to one-under. Dustin Johnson, whose birdie putt was on the same line as Rory's, pushes his past to stay on -8 for a three-way tie of the lead with Justin Thomas after JT birdied 18 (his ninth) and Im Sung-jae bogeyed 14 and birdied 15.
05:26 PM
Danny Willett on the march
The 2016 green jacket winner has made a double bogey, an eagle and three birdies as he climbs up to four-under where he joins Tommy Fleetwood four strokes off the lead, having made a bogey and four birdies in his first nine holes.
Danny Willett - Rob Carr/Getty Images
05:21 PM
'A bag of Dolly Mixtures'
Says Ewen Murray of DJ's second round after he makes par on the par-three 16th to stay at eight-under after seven holes of his second round. I always thought the correct analogy featured the diabolical product shilled by Bertram Bassett,
05:11 PM
DJ drops another
It was a horribly curly-wurly putt and it creeps away from the hole in the last few inches and rolls 2ft past.
McIlroy drains his 15-footer for birdie to move up to Evens.
Im's successive birdies at 12 and 13 give him a share of the lead.
-8 Dustin Johnson (through 6), Im (through 4) -7 Casey (yet to start) -6 Augenstein -(through 9) Ancer (through 8), Smith (through 8), Thomas (through 7)
05:04 PM
Back to back birdies for Justin Thomas
Hauls him back up to six-under.
Dustin Johnson is in further trouble at the 15th, splashing his second stroke into the water. He takes a drop and chips his fourth above the hole and leaves himself a wobbly 10-footer with a big break to save par.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland stands with Dustin Johnson of the United States on the 10th green during the second round - Jamie Squire/Getty Images
04:59 PM
More pain for Frittelli
Who has started his second round after finishing his first this morning on 65 with bogey, bogey, birdie, bogey to drop to four-under, five strokes off DJ's lead.
04:54 PM
Johnson drops a stroke
At 14 to drop back to nine-under and a two-stroke lead. It's all happening at six-under where the amateur John Augenstien currently resides after birdies at 13, 16 and 17 in his front nine.
-9 Dustin Johnson (through 5) -7 Im (through 3), Casey (yet to start) -6 Augenstein -(through 8) Ancer (through 7), Smith (through 7)
04:38 PM
Three in a row
Tommy Fleetwood hs just made his third birdie in succession at the sixth hole of his second round to move up to three-under. It's a hat-trick of sorts matched by Dustin Johnson who is putting like he can't miss now with his molten putter. He extends his lead to three strokes on -10.
McIlroy had a 12-footer for birdie at the 13th but it's a wobbly path to the hole and he pushes it to the right of the cup. He has to settle for par.
-10 Dustin Johnson (through 4) -7 Smith (through 5), Im (through 3) Casey (yet to start)
04:22 PM
Langer continues his charge
After beginning his second round with a bogey, back-to-back birdies take Bernhard to -5 and a tie of fourth with Ancer, Thomas, Frittelli, Simpson and Schauffele.
The 13th is a graveyard today. Both Fitzpatrick and Thomas drop shots there. Koepka, though, claims a birdie to continue his rise to three-under. Justin Thomas drops to only a stroke better on -4 after beginning his second round on -6.
04:16 PM
Cameron Smith
The Australian who tied for fifth here two years ago has begin his second round with two birdies from his first four holes to advance to seven-under par and a tie of second with Paul Casey.
-9 D Johnson (after 3) -7 Smith (after 4), Casey (not started) -6 Im (after 1)
04:10 PM
Back-to-back birdies for DJ
Apologies for confusion below. Now amended. McIlroy began with birdie-par-birdie. Dustin Johnson with par-birdie-birdie. McIlroy is on +1, DJ -9 and a two-stroke lead.
04:00 PM
Birdies at 12 and 11 for McIlroy and Johnson
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, Dustin Johnson of the United States and Patrick Cantlay of the United States - Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Having enjoyed a lucky bounce out of the trees from the tee, McIlroy bags two birdies in the first three holes after saving par at 11 to advance to +1 while Johnson's majestic second at 11 gives him the opportunity to take the overall lead, which he does by draining his putt to rise to -8.
03:54 PM
Despite their best efforts
With the first round only just ended and three-balls out at two different starting points, plus only leading groups being broadcast, this is a complete dog's breakfast. Very tricky indeed to follow. Hopefully, all will become a bit more streamlined when they can show the full field from about 6pm.
McIlroy birdies the 10th and goes up to +2 with 17 to play. Current estimate for the cut is -1 but it's early days yet.
03:46 PM
Last knockings of first round
Im Sung-jae has finished with pars at 17 and 18 to sign for 66 and six-under.
Dustin Johnson rolls his 20-foot birdie attempt to within 4ft at the 10th (the first of his second round) to stay at seven-under, sharing the lead with Paul Casey after Dylan Fritelli drops a stroke at the first of his second round.
03:35 PM
Justin Thomas joins Rose
With a bogey at the opening hole of his second round which started on the back nine. All a bit confusing as the players continue to play catch-up.
Dustin Johnson's second at the 10th (the start if his second round) gives him a 20ft putt for birdie.
03:23 PM
Justin Rose two shots back
Ends his round getting up and down from Lyle bunker at 18 for par and a five-under 67. Fine save. His morning partner Cameron Champ is one stroke back on 68. Quick turnaround for them, they start their second round in 15 minutes with Zach Johnson from the 10th tee.
Finish your Round 1 Sign your scorecard Jam an egg salad sammie Take a leak Tee off in Round 2
Signs for +3 after five bogeys and two birdies, continuing his rotten post-lockdown form. He's hooking tee shots, his iron play is shonky, only his putting is holding up.
McIlroy - Jamie Squire/Getty Images
03:15 PM
Dustin Johnson
Starts his second round with Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay at 3.25pm from the 10th hole.
Dustin Johnson - Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
03:02 PM
Three-way tie for the lead
After Dustin Johnson holes his birdie putt at 18. The world No1 goes into the scorer's hut with 65 on his card.
Dustin Johnson with a bogey-free 65 to tie for the lead at the Masters. It's his lowest career round at Augusta. He also came into the week having finished 1st or 2nd in four of his last six starts and no worse than 6th.
Has had five succeessive top 10 finishes at Augusta National in the past five years but he is going to struggle to maintain that uncannily consistent record. He has made par on 17 to remain on three-over but his short game needs to improve if he is going to make the strides this afternoon to make the cut.
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, watches his tee shot on the 15th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament Friday - AP Photo/Matt Slocum
Dylan Fritelli sinks his par putt on 18 and walks off to sign for a 65, a share of the clubhouse lead with Paul Casey.
02:49 PM
Koepka closes
With eagle, birdie, par, birdie to go into the second round at two-under.
Thomas with an eight-footer for a tie of the lead at 18 sweeps it past above the lip. He ends on six-under, two ahead of 63-year-old Bernhad Langer, winner of two green jackets in 1985 and 1993.
02:38 PM
Fritelli has a chance for the overall lead at 17
But his birdie putt slides by on the high side to the right. He rolls in the tiddler for par and stays tied with Casey for the lead at seven-under.
02:37 PM
Four little birds
For Abraham Ancer who sinks a 10-footer for his fourth birdie in the final six holes to card four-under for the first round, one more than the man he's playing with, Big Phil Mickelson who bogeys the last after hitting his second stroke hard up against the wall of the forward bunker. l
02:34 PM
'As easy as Augusta National will ever play'
Says Paul McGinley as McIlroy bogeys the 16th to move to +3. McGinley thinks the cut will be around -1. I think the embed at the top still reflects round two as it stood before it began last night. Here's the R1 leaderboard as it stands:
-7 Fritelli (16), Casey (f) -6 Thomas (17), Johnson (16), Im (14) -5 Smith (f), Rose (15), Simpson (f), Schauffele (f) -4 Ancer (f), Langer (17), Champ (15), Matsuyama (f), Oosthuizen (f). Westwood (f), Reed (f), Woods (f)
And here is Justin Thomas:
Justin Thomas of the U.S. reacts with his caddie after his tee shot on the 16th during the first round - REUTERS/Brian Snyder
02:20 PM
More misery for McIlroy
At the 16th he puts his tee shot into the water, his bottom hand slipping ever further down the shaft.
'That is so bad,' he says. 'Oh my God.'
02:16 PM
DJ picks up another stroke
With a birdie at 15, Dustin Johnson moves to a tie of fifth with Webb Simpson and Justin Rose at five-under.
Phil Mickelson picked up a birdie at 17 to move to four-under with one to play but puts his second at the 18th into the sand.
After back-to-back bogeys, McIlroy birdies 15 to move to +2.
Brooks Koepka follows his eagle at 15 with a birdie at 16 to climb to -1. On the march.
02:07 PM
Par for Justin Rose
At 14 to stay at five-under, two off the lead. And Adam Scott wangles one of his dropped shots back with a birdie at 16, draining the 27-footer to climb back to three-under.
02:01 PM
We have a joint-leader
Dylan Frittelli with a birdie to move to 7 under.
Meanwhile, Justin Rose has climbed to 5 under.
01:59 PM
Water nightmare for Scott
Adam Scott has just lost two balls in the water at 15.
Scott's second into the Par 5 15th trickled its way back into the water. He took a drop, only to watch his ball come back down the slope to land in the water once again.
The Australian is finally out with a double bogey and drops back to 2 under.
01:53 PM
McIlroy falls back to +3
A stonker of a monster putt from world No 1 Dustin Johnson leaves him with a fairly short putt for par on 14. McIlroy, on the other hand, chips long and leaves himself with a good 12-foot putt to save par... which he agonisingly misses to go 3 over.
01:48 PM
McIlroy fighting to save par again
More trouble for Rory. Already +2, having made bogey on the 13th, he over-hits from the rough on the 14th and the ball sails over the green.
01:42 PM
What a save from Langer
On the Par 4 5th, his chip stops well short of the pin and leaves him with a very length putt to save par. It curls from right to left and it drops right in the heart. Outstanding!
01:38 PM
Thomas dealing in pars
Justin Thomas misses yet another birdie chance on 14, but at least he's not dropping shots and stays on 5 under, two off the lead.
01:37 PM
DJ saves, Rory can't
Dustin Johnson, who like McIlroy also hit a wayward drive - although not as wayward as Rory's - has just saved par.
Unfortunately, Rory could not do the same. Bogey, and he drops back to 1 over.
01:32 PM
Rose climbing up the table
The Englishman hits a pin-high iron into the Par 3 12th, leaving a 10-foot birdie putt which he nails. He's now only three back on 4 under.
01:30 PM
Rory fighting fires
McIlroy smacks the ball through the trees, bushes and twigs and now has to find his way back onto the fairway. He has two shots to save par and his chip to the green is... superb, landing around 10 feet from the hole. Can he rescue this hole and kickstart his round?
01:25 PM
McIlroy in the thickest of thick stuff
McIlroy is in the bushes on Azalea after a very wayward drive. He's currently in amongst it all having found his ball and trying to work out of he can hit it out of there. He did play a provisional shot off the tee just in case which is on the fairway.
01:21 PM
Frittelli misses chance to go top
The South African is playing out of his skin but his eight-foot putt for birdie on the 3rd - a really tough left to right downhill read - slides wide and he stays on 6 under.
01:16 PM
DJ finding his rhythm
Dustin Johnson is climbing the leaderboard with a birdie at the 12th to move to 4 under. But his playing partner, Rory McIlroy, is still unable to get his putter motoring and he has to settle for a par.
01:10 PM
Movement at the top
Sungjae Im has just chipped in and moves to 5 under, just two shots off the lead.
And Dylan Frittelli is now only one off the lead with a birdie of his own.
01:01 PM
Langer purring along
Bernhard Langer is playing beautifully at the moment. He knows Augusta like the back of his hand and, already 4 under, has given himself a great chance to go 5 under, chipping the ball to the front of the green and within 12 feet of the hole.
But it's not to be another birdie as his putt goes right and he must settle for a par.
12:59 PM
Thomas not yet firing
A rueful look on Justin Thomas' face as he is forced to settle for another par on the Par 3 12th.
12:54 PM
Thomas misses out on birdie
Justin Thomas has a birdie putt on the 11th to go to one off the lead, but it narrowly glides past the hole.
12:51 PM
Eagle alert
Young American amateur John Augenstein has just chipped in from the bunker on the 13th for an eagle.
12:49 PM
Langer proving age is just a number
The veteran German is now at 4 under with a birdie at the 2nd.
The 63 year-old doesn't do booming drives, instead it's all about placement. A pitch from 80 yards hops and stops six feet short and he makes no mistake with the putter.
12:48 PM
Wolff makes solid start
Matthew Wolff within a whisker of making a birdie on the Par 4 3rd, having started on the 10th yesterday. He gave himself a 15-footer up the hill to get to five under but it just slid by.
12:44 PM
McIlroy makes bogey start
At the 10th, Dustin Johnson with a lengthy putt for birdie and the ball rolls at least five feet past to leave a tough par putt. Rory McIlroy, also on the 10th, has a shortish putt for par... and he misses! Not the start Rory needed.
Johnson makes no mistake with his par putt.
12:40 PM
Phil happy
Mickelson so nearly birdies the 12th!! What a touch he has around the greens. His chip from the thick grass drops and rolls with inches of the hole.
12:36 PM
Phil not happy
Mickelson at the Par 3 12th and as soon as he hits it he knows it's a dud, the ball landing in the thicker grass surrounding the green and fortunate to avoid the water.
12:33 PM
And we are underway
Augusta is expecting perfect golfing conditions today so we should get live play from dawn til dusk, with the temperature in the early 20s.
12:31 PM
Why you never bet against Tiger
Whether he is standing on one leg with various body parts starting to fail him, or in the midst of a full-blown sex scandal, something about the Masters brings the best out of the 15-time major champion.
Woods arrived in Georgia this year with zero form, having tumbled to 33 in the world in the wake of his extraordinary, redemptive fifth victory here last year, which ended an 11-year wait for his 15th major.
His back has been giving him grief. Again. So much so Jack Nicklaus reported before play began yesterday that when he last caught up with Woods six weeks ago, "he could hardly walk his back was killing him so much".
Yet here he is, stalking Augusta's fairways like it was 1997. A bogey-free opening round of 68 - a career-best opening round at the Masters, and one which he looked like he actually enjoyed for a change - putting him among the early front-runners.
Read Oliver Brown's take on how the power game failed to fire...
Augusta has a habit of humbling the vainglorious. Take Ian Poulter, who has never fully shaken off his cocky young prediction that golf would be dominated by "just me and Tiger". Last weekend, he strode into the Masters shop for a few souvenirs and found himself mistaken by a security guard for Bernhard Langer. It was a similarly chastening experience for Bryson DeChambeau, the most hyped physics graduate in the Western world, as he plotted and agonised his way to a 70. The course was punishing him, it seemed, for having the temerity to boast that he would play it as a par 67.
Rory McIlroy is faced with an uphill task on day two of the Masters after England's Paul Casey set an impressive clubhouse target at Augusta National.
Casey fired an eagle and five birdies in a flawless 65 to lead by two shots from Webb Simpson and Xander Schauffele, with defending champion Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood part of a five-strong group on four under.
A weather delay of almost three hours meant most of the later starters were unable to finish their first round on schedule, with Justin Thomas reaching five under par after 10 holes before play was suspended due to the fading light.
McIlroy had covered the front nine in level par and faces a bunker shot on the 10th when play resumes.
Tweet of the day
Jason Kokrak was unlucky to find the water on the 15th, but at least Westwood showed him where the ball had gone in.
"Oh my God! Mud ball!"
Jason Kokrak's second shot flew the 15th green and caught a downslope before running just past Westwood, as he walked off the 16th tee, and into the lake! 🌊#TheMasterspic.twitter.com/zT4AmvH0tl
"I've got rubber things inside here to stop the shirt coming out, and when I wear braces the shirt doesn't come out, so that's it. I don't use it for a fashion parade"
- Sandy Lyle explains his decision to wear braces
Shot of the day
Former champion Patrick Reed looked to be in trouble after a wayward drive on the ninth, only to produce a magical escape to set up a birdie.
Casey also birdied the 10th, his opening hole, but overall that played the toughest, with 23 bogeys and two double bogeys contributing to an average of 4.265.
On the slide
McIlroy's chances of the victory needed to complete the career grand slam after a front nine of 36 left him with plenty of work to do.
April is the perfect time of the season to buy low, sell low, buy high and sell high on key players — but you need to know who fits in what department. Fred Zinkie helps fantasy baseball managers with an initial batch.
Starting pitchers in fantasy football have been compared to running backs in fantasy baseball — but have we made an error in not prioritizing relief pitchers more? Scott Pianowski investigates.
Draft week has arrived and with that comes our final installment of 'Mock Draft Mondays'. We go out with a bang as The Athletic's Dane Brugler joins Matt Harmon to share his five favorite picks in his latest seven-round mock draft. Yes, Brugler doesn't just put together 'The Beast' but a seven round mock. Everything you need to get ready for Thursday night.
Georgia's star tight end, Brock Bowers, is the top prospect at his position, but will he be another Sam LaPorta for fantasy football? Andy Behrens gives his thoughts.
Fantasy football players all get worked up about the incoming class of rookies, but what about the veteran players already on the teams they join? Matt Harmon identifies who could be on the hot seat this season.
