:00:27. > :00:33.Hello, the Masters may be the only men's major played on the same
:00:34. > :00:38.course every year, but the story here is ever-changing and always
:00:39. > :00:42.surprising. The opening day of the 81st tournament put conditions more
:00:43. > :00:45.reminiscent of an Open Championship with swirling winds that scatter to
:00:46. > :00:49.the four winds the chances of many of the world's top professionals.
:00:50. > :00:54.Indeed, not a single member of the world top ten broke par, one a day
:00:55. > :00:59.when Augusta played tougher than it had for a decade. It was a day when
:01:00. > :01:07.the world number one was beaten, conceding defeat just before the
:01:08. > :01:12.first tee. Jordan Spieth had his troubles with water again. And the
:01:13. > :01:17.man who overtook him last year started clumsily, but the champion
:01:18. > :01:20.recovered well. Three times a winner Phil Mickelson showed all his
:01:21. > :01:25.experience and found his putter working well. An eagle on the second
:01:26. > :01:28.just one of his highlights. Justin Rose has come close at Augusta
:01:29. > :01:34.before I put himself in a strong position. Once again, Peter green,
:01:35. > :01:38.as good as any in the field. For other home hopes it was a case of
:01:39. > :01:41.the comebacks. Lee Westwood out in 3-over but the five Brodie once on
:01:42. > :01:46.the 13th and sitting high on the leaderboard. Likewise, Rory McIlroy,
:01:47. > :01:52.struggling to the turn and recovering on the homeward run. Two
:01:53. > :01:57.Americans would finish out in front, one, William McGirt, last year's
:01:58. > :02:01.tomorrow champion, looking steady in the swirling wind, and for a long
:02:02. > :02:05.time his 69 threatened to be the only sub 70 round, until Charley
:02:06. > :02:11.Hoffman did his thing. It seem feasibly could not miss. A 65, one
:02:12. > :02:19.of the great rounds of the Masters. A long way clear, but still a long
:02:20. > :02:23.way to go. It was a day initially dominated by the patrol of Dustin
:02:24. > :02:28.Johnson and it became the story of the over 50s. 53, 52 and 54 occupy
:02:29. > :02:32.the top three spots on the leaderboard. The impressive Hoffman,
:02:33. > :02:38.who four shot lead is the largest around round his 1955, debutant
:02:39. > :02:41.William McGirt, and Lee Westwood, whose remarkable charge raised hopes
:02:42. > :02:51.of a breakthrough at last in what is his 76th major. Only 11 men broke
:02:52. > :02:54.par, amongst them Fitzpatrick, Mickelson and Garcia. No player has
:02:55. > :03:00.ever won by more than seven shots behind after round one, Rory McIlroy
:03:01. > :03:06.is right number after an opening 72. No lead is safe at Augusta. See
:03:07. > :03:11.Rory, Jordan Spieth and Greg Norman for details. A fascinating
:03:12. > :03:15.second-round layer. Charley Hoffman was well aware that only two men
:03:16. > :03:19.since 1985 upheld the first-round lead and gone on to win, but there
:03:20. > :03:26.was no time to ponder on that for the 40-year-old, who was one of the
:03:27. > :03:30.early starters. Out in the first pairing, William McGirt, and the
:03:31. > :03:38.veteran Australian, Rod Pampling. Charley Hoffman but that four shot
:03:39. > :03:45.lead in the company of Chris Wood and Ikeda. Rory McIlroy had a
:03:46. > :03:50.mid-morning start with Hideto Tanihara and the impressive Spanish
:03:51. > :03:53.newcomer, Jon Rahm. And handily placed Matt Fitzpatrick copies
:03:54. > :03:59.Martin Kaymer and champion Jordan Spieth who showed his worst ever
:04:00. > :04:05.score here, a 75, on Thursday. It is certainly not getting much easier
:04:06. > :04:09.for this 93- strong field. It is fractionally warmer, but as Arnold
:04:10. > :04:11.Palmer himself said, golf is deceptively simple and endlessly
:04:12. > :04:18.complicated. Especially at Augusta where we have blustery, breezy and
:04:19. > :04:22.tricky conditions with gusts of 25 miles an hour, testing both club
:04:23. > :04:28.selection and nerve, on the super slick greens. A fast start for
:04:29. > :04:34.William McGirt of North Carolina, an amiable personality. He won the
:04:35. > :04:38.Memorial tomb at last year. The 4th hole is known as the Flowering Crab
:04:39. > :04:48.Apple, but this is less apple and more peachy. He moves the forerunner
:04:49. > :04:55.in slow but spectacular style. -- emus to 4-under. Danny Willett, the
:04:56. > :05:01.defending champion, had another crack can round two. This is his
:05:02. > :05:09.fifth shot. He signed for and eight, 5-over, and his defence could yet be
:05:10. > :05:14.cut short. Sergio Garcia, at the same hole, enjoyed a rather
:05:15. > :05:18.different experience than Danny. He has been pin sharp and pin high from
:05:19. > :05:25.the middle of the fairway and this beautiful shot would be good enough
:05:26. > :05:27.for birdie. Two under in this, his 74th major tournament. Could it
:05:28. > :05:32.finally be the one? Here comes Charley Hoffman, began at 7-under
:05:33. > :05:41.and muscled in on an opening birdie at the 2nd. Two putts would deliver
:05:42. > :05:48.a first birdie of the day, 8-under, now. Garcia at the same hole, a
:05:49. > :05:51.second. And the iron is working magnificently, carving this one down
:05:52. > :05:56.the big hill and onto the green. His putter would do the rest. He has
:05:57. > :06:04.picked up two shots in his first two halls and he charges to 3-under. His
:06:05. > :06:07.playing partner Lee Westwood having dropped a shot at the 1st Peak
:06:08. > :06:11.District back up again to go two under. The 43-year-old has two
:06:12. > :06:17.runners-up spots at Augusta. He would love to go one better. Here is
:06:18. > :06:26.how it looks. Hoffman preserving his four shot lead for now. Surgery on
:06:27. > :06:30.the march. Those at five have still to get underway, and the only other
:06:31. > :06:38.man making progress at the moment, Ryan Moore, so it is time to welcome
:06:39. > :06:45.Andrew Cotter, Paul Azinger, Ken Brown and Peter Alliss. Thank you,
:06:46. > :06:50.Hazel. Sergio Garcia after a beautiful tee shot. 3rd hole,
:06:51. > :06:58.pitching up to the green. He is 3-under par. Zips it up. He usually
:06:59. > :07:05.plays these quite beautifully. Steady, steady, steady. Going
:07:06. > :07:16.further away. A nice shot, nearly, not bad. Bit of a cruel bounce. Tee
:07:17. > :07:24.shot for Charley Hoffman. A great start on a cold, blustery day. And
:07:25. > :07:30.that is an amazing shot. That is so difficult today. Although the flag
:07:31. > :07:33.is not moving, that is right into the wind. Another chance for
:07:34. > :07:40.Hoffman. That would be to get a 9-under. What a start from Hoffman.
:07:41. > :07:48.It would go back to Garcia, putting on the third. A longish putt, nicely
:07:49. > :07:52.struck, it is running nicely and that is 4-under, Sergio Garcia
:07:53. > :08:05.4-under. After three calls on the second round. What a start, birdie,
:08:06. > :08:10.birdie, birdie. -- three holes. A manatee shot here, McIlroy with his
:08:11. > :08:22.second shot at the 2nd hole. -- a mammoth tee shot. That is good. Go
:08:23. > :08:31.on. Yes, that will be for eagle. APPLAUSE
:08:32. > :08:40.Lee Westwood at the 3rd. Two under par. This putt for par. He drops a
:08:41. > :08:50.shot and goes back to 1-under par. That slid away to the right. An
:08:51. > :09:01.unforced error. APPLAUSE
:09:02. > :09:13.A wonderful chance for birdie at the 4th of Charley Hoffman. Straight in.
:09:14. > :09:22.Oh, no, it has gone left. The first real mishap for Hoffman. After a
:09:23. > :09:28.terrific second shot from Rory McIlroy at the 2nd, this is an eagle
:09:29. > :09:34.putt, a whisker from left to right. It looks good. It looks very good,
:09:35. > :09:40.no, it just slid away, that was for a three. It should be OK for a
:09:41. > :09:45.birdie. He will have to wait and tap it in. Cleaning up after a short
:09:46. > :09:52.missed birdie, he handles that nicely. Hoffman, through a difficult
:09:53. > :09:57.stretch on the golf course, five, six, seven, eight and nine.
:09:58. > :10:02.Hopefully tidying up at the 2nd, this worry birdie putt, he has now
:10:03. > :10:09.gone to level par. -- this for a birdie putt. Drop one at the 1st and
:10:10. > :10:16.picked it up again at the 2nd, level par. He shot for Charley into a
:10:17. > :10:21.ferry bumper, and these bunkers are hard to play from, difficult to get
:10:22. > :10:25.the ball in the greenhouse of any fairway bunker at Augusta. That is
:10:26. > :10:34.an amazing shot. He will be really happy with that. Jumping up at the
:10:35. > :10:44.14th and William McGirt. He is 4-under, but this long putt for a
:10:45. > :10:53.par. Oh, put it away. He will knock that in and go back to 3-under par.
:10:54. > :11:04.Just a spectacular shot from the fairway bunker at five. And he had
:11:05. > :11:15.it, he had it, he knows it. But he remains at 8-under par. That's the
:11:16. > :11:22.situation early on on the second day. Garcia with a bogey, par for
:11:23. > :11:29.Westwood, but it is early days, but the conditions are rather tricky.
:11:30. > :11:41.Hoffman at the moment five ahead. But this is a place where there are
:11:42. > :11:49.lots of pitfalls. This is a par putt for Rory. Oh, boy. Almost as if he
:11:50. > :11:53.was frightened by the Augusta wins. He just seemed as if someone let off
:11:54. > :12:04.a firework in his trousers as he was about to putt. Something of an
:12:05. > :12:12.untidy start, but still hanging on. Hoffman now at the 6th. Tricky pitch
:12:13. > :12:19.onto this sloping green. Very fast, and it runs away. That has left him
:12:20. > :12:24.with a putt with a 2.55 in three foot swing from left to right.
:12:25. > :12:33.William McGirt here at 16. Miscued off the tee. But that was pretty
:12:34. > :12:43.clever. He made that look easy. He will save par, the North Carolina
:12:44. > :12:47.native. He remains 3-under. Charley Hoffman at the 6th. That never
:12:48. > :12:55.looked like it, that is a dropped shot, he goes out to 7-under. Those
:12:56. > :13:00.little putts and wins coming across, you know that everything has to be
:13:01. > :13:06.struck absolutely 100% in the middle. McIlroy with his second shot
:13:07. > :13:13.from far right, 455 yards, crosswind. The ball carrying. He has
:13:14. > :13:20.done it. What are shot, what a player. That is a good look, right
:13:21. > :13:29.there. He does play some wonderful iron shots, a joy to watch. Westward
:13:30. > :13:40.from the front of the sixth. -- Lee Westwood.
:13:41. > :13:50.You see how these greens can make you look foolish? That shouldn't be
:13:51. > :13:54.happening, should? If that on your home course you would wonder if you
:13:55. > :14:03.had stayed up and had too many fizzy drinks the night before! Michael
:14:04. > :14:08.White for birdie at the 5th. This is about as good a place as you would
:14:09. > :14:19.want to end up on that hole and he has got it! Perfect speed. A little
:14:20. > :14:23.harder and it would not have gone. Hoffman for a bogey at the 7th. He
:14:24. > :14:31.bogeyed six to drop a shot. This is to avoid dropping two. He needs to
:14:32. > :14:39.make this to remain at 6-under par. That was well holed, but another
:14:40. > :14:48.lost shot for par, and now his five shot lead down to just three. McGirt
:14:49. > :14:56.has got to the 18th and he has found trouble. The bunker, third shot,
:14:57. > :15:01.Greenside, flips it up, stop, stop, stop. Sometimes they stop, sometimes
:15:02. > :15:12.they don't. It is doing its best to come back. Well, very good, just
:15:13. > :15:19.moving under its body weight. Not bad. Hoffman at the 8th with his
:15:20. > :15:26.third shot, just lofting it, pushing it through nicely. Oh, hello. A
:15:27. > :15:34.complete mess it. We have all done that on our home course, haven't we?
:15:35. > :15:45.Well, some, more than others! Surgery with a difficult par putt at
:15:46. > :15:56.the 7th. -- Sergio. A fist pump out of surgery, and he is going nicely
:15:57. > :16:07.at the moment. -- Sergio. The sixth green, McIlroy. Steady, steady,
:16:08. > :16:11.though, steady! That is what we can -- that is what we call controlling
:16:12. > :16:15.the spin. He knew exactly what was going to happen. And you can tell
:16:16. > :16:26.from his demeanour he is not at all surprised. We are, he isn't! Put me
:16:27. > :16:34.down for a two! This is our first look at Ryan Moore, a birdie putt at
:16:35. > :16:41.13. And he's got it. Ryan Moore suddenly making a move up the board.
:16:42. > :16:51.Now 1-under par. Started the day two over. McGirt at the 18th. Got out of
:16:52. > :17:01.the bunker and bacteria. Finishes at two under par. That is pretty good.
:17:02. > :17:09.But it is still early days. Charley Hoffman, this for par at the 8th
:17:10. > :17:16.after a complete... From the middle of the fairway, and that right there
:17:17. > :17:20.will give him a bit of a jolt to the system. A bogey like that will
:17:21. > :17:28.certainly fire the nerves back up. He has got to collect himself now as
:17:29. > :17:31.he heads to nine. This is a situation. And a quick word on the
:17:32. > :17:36.clubhouse leader William McGirt, only his fourth major Championship,
:17:37. > :17:39.a tie for tenth in the PGA Championship last year. He has a
:17:40. > :17:47.taste of the spotlight. Very much in the thick of things today.
:17:48. > :17:50.Yesterday, the dust in the same, today it is costing and bouncing
:17:51. > :17:56.around more. The greens have picked up what a good bit of pace
:17:57. > :18:00.overnight. It was tough. The runner wipes on the putting green so it was
:18:01. > :18:04.hard to warm up, putting, but I will get some work in this afternoon. It
:18:05. > :18:10.took me about six, eight holes to get the pace. It seemed like every
:18:11. > :18:12.putt I thought was fast, I gave it too much respect, so we will get a
:18:13. > :18:26.little work in on that this Back-to-back birdies now, this might
:18:27. > :18:32.be very good from McIlroy. Move into the light out of the shadows. He has
:18:33. > :18:40.left himself a kicker for par. Charley Hoffman at the 10th. Just
:18:41. > :18:45.manages to scrape one in for another bogey. His fourth bogey of the day.
:18:46. > :18:52.Very different yesterday when he had ten birdies his card. This is really
:18:53. > :18:57.moving shadows of the tree. That is a good stroke from McIlroy. Keeps
:18:58. > :19:09.the momentum of the birdies on the fifth and sixth. His tee shot
:19:10. > :19:19.clattered about in the trees, so he's a long way back, Garcia at the
:19:20. > :19:26.10th. What a break. Into the azaleas and popped out. Very fortunate. A
:19:27. > :19:34.little landing area, too. Jon Rahm to this par-5. The green sits in
:19:35. > :19:43.that gathering area with mounds to the left and right, and Jon Rahm,
:19:44. > :19:50.straight down the middle, eight beautiful putt from the 22-year-old
:19:51. > :19:54.Spaniard. Charley Hoffman and Sergio Garcia tied at the top one 4-under.
:19:55. > :20:01.William McGirt with a very good round of 73 to follow up is 69. Ryan
:20:02. > :20:05.Moore, a lone amateur back in 2005, along with Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm,
:20:06. > :20:10.Soren Kjeldsen and Andy Sullivan, or just beginning their rows.
:20:11. > :20:17.Fitzpatrick and Mickelson, heading out later. -- just beginning their
:20:18. > :20:23.rounds. Charley Hoffman is going to hit a big high book, water to the
:20:24. > :20:34.left. Issy turning it? It is a long way back. Uh-oh. Fortunately there
:20:35. > :20:38.is a bit of moisture in the service otherwise that would have found the
:20:39. > :20:42.water. Not a bad spot in the end, although he is looking at it
:20:43. > :20:48.anxiously. Awkward for Garcia to flip over the bunker. Means the come
:20:49. > :20:53.on a little bit, a lot of of it. -- needs to come. Well done, little
:20:54. > :21:17.ball. Hoffman has chipped up to here.
:21:18. > :21:27.Dropping another stroke. No. What a difference a day makes. He couldn't
:21:28. > :21:33.miss yesterday. Dropping strokes at the 10th and 11th. The greens not
:21:34. > :21:38.quite as lethally quick as they have been in the past but they will pick
:21:39. > :21:42.up over the weekend. Garcia, to save par. That could've been worse, it
:21:43. > :21:46.was loose off the tee, and he got away with the second shot, a little
:21:47. > :21:55.bit. I will just about giving that one. -- give him that one. Ryan
:21:56. > :22:03.Moore with his final hole of the day. 74 yesterday, and what looks
:22:04. > :22:10.like 69 today. The man spigots. -- from Las Vegas. He played here as an
:22:11. > :22:14.amateur. Not many players managed to do that.
:22:15. > :22:31.APPLAUSE 1-under. 35 out. 34 back. Excellent.
:22:32. > :22:38.A great grant from Ryan Moore. Sergio Garcia has been demoted on
:22:39. > :22:42.this official leaderboard to wonder because his scorer the tent has been
:22:43. > :22:47.put down as a seven instead of a five, because there seems to be some
:22:48. > :22:53.confusion about which ball off the tee he has played, whether it was
:22:54. > :22:57.his first ball or his provisional. We will keep you updated on that.
:22:58. > :23:03.The man at the top, Charley Hoffman, needing to try and keep the wheels
:23:04. > :23:12.on. Hoffman laying up on the 13th. He went for it in two yesterday.
:23:13. > :23:22.This will test your nerves after duffing at the 8th. That is a nice
:23:23. > :23:30.way to come back and that will be a birdie four the Hoff. It stops that
:23:31. > :23:41.horrible run. Garcia has found the front bunker at the 12th. What a
:23:42. > :23:46.cracking effort. He can't believe it has turned so much as it was slowing
:23:47. > :23:58.up. Quite a deep bunker. Not much landing area for Rickie Fowler. You
:23:59. > :24:01.little beauty, an eagle three, moves into red figures. It was travelling
:24:02. > :24:14.when it struck the pin but it was a beautifully played shot. Lee
:24:15. > :24:27.Westwood now, for eagle. Up the little ledge on the green, not
:24:28. > :24:35.particularly fast. But ran on pretty well. The greens seem to be a little
:24:36. > :24:40.slicker as they are drying up. He should tap in for his birdie to move
:24:41. > :24:53.back to 1-under par. Casey, down the slippery, slightly sloped from the
:24:54. > :24:56.left, Paul Casey. -- slidey slope. A beautiful place to watch from a
:24:57. > :25:12.bank, and a nice start for Paul Casey. -- that bang. -- bank. He
:25:13. > :25:17.will need this, the defending champion. It was a horrible start to
:25:18. > :25:22.his round, quadruple bogey at the 1st, double bogey yesterday and
:25:23. > :25:26.recover, but today, he is out on 41. That is serve another for Danny
:25:27. > :25:29.Willett 's and he will be here on Sunday to present the green jacket
:25:30. > :25:42.but I am not sure that he will be playing. McIlroy finding the back
:25:43. > :25:47.bunker and this, for par. That was never online. Three birdies on his
:25:48. > :25:58.card, now four bogeys. Assuming he nudges this in. He's hanging in
:25:59. > :26:03.there at 1-over. It has been a lively start to the second round,
:26:04. > :26:08.for Rickie Fowler, out of the bunker for an eagle at the 2nd. And the
:26:09. > :26:18.birdie year, beautifully judged, Rickie Fowler making a move, par,
:26:19. > :26:22.eagle, birdie start, 3-under. Well, the mystery is solved. Sergio Garcia
:26:23. > :26:28.did indeed play his original ball at the 10th, not his provisional so the
:26:29. > :26:32.triple bogey seven was in fact a bogey five. It has been cleared up
:26:33. > :26:37.by the visuals and Sergio Garcia is back to two under, all is well. He
:26:38. > :26:48.has made par at the 14th and here he is again at the 15th. Going for it
:26:49. > :26:52.in two. Into the wind which has perhaps dropped a little bit. That
:26:53. > :26:57.went off like a tracer, you could see it flying straight and true. It
:26:58. > :27:02.just crept over the water. As fine a second shot as you will see at the
:27:03. > :27:07.15th. Wonderful from Garcia with an eagle chance to come. The veteran
:27:08. > :27:13.Fred Couples. Nice to see him playing after having back trouble
:27:14. > :27:19.last year. Nice tee shot, just feathering 1-over the little bluff.
:27:20. > :27:21.That came down like a bag of sugar. What a little beauty. My swan,
:27:22. > :27:32.Freddie. APPLAUSE
:27:33. > :27:42.-- nice one, Freddie. Down the slope for Garcia, with the claw grip, do
:27:43. > :27:46.your work. That is good, good, good. That is a birdie. Nice to have that
:27:47. > :27:56.confusion cleared up about the tent, that will be a birdie to move to
:27:57. > :28:07.3-under. It was justified, that supposed seven. And a birdie on the
:28:08. > :28:11.15th. -- it was just a five. Right in the heart of the cup. What a
:28:12. > :28:23.record he has here, the past champion. They love him here. Phil
:28:24. > :28:31.Mickelson in trouble at the 3rd. Nice contact. Well, you can't teach
:28:32. > :28:38.that, can you? That was fantastic. Took all the spin off it, on the
:28:39. > :28:49.back foot. And up the hill to the final green for Charley Hoffman, 154
:28:50. > :28:55.yards. You can see the wind through there, from left to right it blows.,
:28:56. > :29:02.back,, back, will it go back in? Can't believe it. He's on the slope
:29:03. > :29:09.but the wind is sort of holding it up there. Mickelson at the 3rd to
:29:10. > :29:22.move to a couple under. It was never in doubt. Going for his fourth green
:29:23. > :29:25.jacket. And it is looking ominous. Perfectly shot for Garcia with the
:29:26. > :29:31.pin at the back left of this putting surface. My goodness. It is coming
:29:32. > :29:36.down like the lunar module! That was a fantastic shot, down the breeze,
:29:37. > :29:44.landing on the downslope, 5-star Raul Garcia, there. Charley Hoffman
:29:45. > :29:57.about to show what his second should have done if it had spun back about
:29:58. > :30:04.one foot or so, more. Well away, and the wind just seemed to be holding
:30:05. > :30:11.up a little, Andrew. On that exposed part of the course. Back to Garcia
:30:12. > :30:14.after that beautiful second shot. A little tap infra birdie, and in she
:30:15. > :30:21.goes, well done. He really is playing quite beautifully. Just one
:30:22. > :30:22.dropped stroke on the outward nine, none of them coming home, playing
:30:23. > :30:32.well. 16th and McIlroy, has a testy one.
:30:33. > :30:36.Going up the length. Beautifully played. Modern equipment and ball
:30:37. > :30:43.and you can nick them from short range and that was a little honey.
:30:44. > :30:49.Big putt for Hoffman and so too Danny Willett. In it goes. We
:30:50. > :30:58.wouldn't wish him ill. 75 for Charlie Hoffman. 8-under at one
:30:59. > :31:05.stage, slips back to 4. Still leader. Fred Couples, here he is for
:31:06. > :31:10.a birdie at the 7th. Dropped a couple of strokes at the last hole,
:31:11. > :31:11.the par-3. There may be snow on the roof, but there is a fire in the
:31:12. > :31:31.hearth! Rose par-3, 4th. Watch this one go.
:31:32. > :31:42.He is making it all right... No, good effort. Silky touch. Still it
:31:43. > :31:46.wanders on. Adam Scott at the 9th for a birdie. Touches it down the
:31:47. > :31:52.right, swings left and in! Well done. That was really going. Thank
:31:53. > :32:02.goodness that went in, out in 32. That's quite splendid stuff.
:32:03. > :32:12.The wind whistling off the left for Garcia. Second shot at the 18th.
:32:13. > :32:31.Made a lovely sound. Go on! Has to trickle back. Doing nicely. Looking
:32:32. > :32:38.as if five over will make the cut. This is for a bogey, Mickelson.
:32:39. > :32:41.Rattles it in. Bogeyed the first and the fifth. A couple of birdies in
:32:42. > :32:55.between. Slippery slimy putt this one, a
:32:56. > :33:00.little downhill. If you are brave inside the left edge and firm, but
:33:01. > :33:04.you have to be brave to do that. Otherwise it's just outside the left
:33:05. > :33:13.edge which is where he is aiming. Is he aiming far enough to the left?
:33:14. > :33:22.No. It was tricky. McIlroy at the 17th.
:33:23. > :33:29.He's got one! Well done. It's been a mixed bag for McIlroy. Some
:33:30. > :33:40.fantastic shots and a bit of all sorts thrown in. A round of 69, two
:33:41. > :33:45.superb rounds. 71 yesterday and a strong winds, this morning it was a
:33:46. > :33:54.bit cold. 69 today for 140. Joint leader with Charlie Hoffman. Could
:33:55. > :33:59.it be his week? STUDIO: Charley Hoffman ten shots
:34:00. > :34:06.higher today, 75. However, he is still at the top but he has company
:34:07. > :34:14.with Sergio Garcia. McGirt tied in third place. Mickelson on the move.
:34:15. > :34:19.McIlroy steady at level par for the tournament with one hole to play.
:34:20. > :34:24.Jason Day, former world number one up there, as well. 1-under for his
:34:25. > :34:27.round today. Let's hear from our co-leaders.
:34:28. > :34:34.I enjoy when courses play tough and when the Masters plays difficult
:34:35. > :34:39.because it means that the high quality shots are going to be
:34:40. > :34:46.rewarded and you have to hit the ball the right way. So, usually if I
:34:47. > :34:49.am in good form I can do that. So, I have always enjoyed those kind of
:34:50. > :34:55.challenges. A different day today than yesterday, but how do you feel
:34:56. > :34:58.about that score of 75? Yeah, I played all right. Began the round
:34:59. > :35:03.played great, yesterday was going in. Today it seemed I was above the
:35:04. > :35:07.hole instead of below. Above the hole at Augusta National it's a
:35:08. > :35:10.struggle. Middle of the round it was tough, made good bogey putts and
:35:11. > :35:17.finished up with a birdie and a punch of pars which was nice.
:35:18. > :35:25.Justin Rose for a birdie and sweet as a nut. Playing quite beautifully.
:35:26. > :35:29.Dropped a stroke at the last hole but recovered at the 5th. Not an
:35:30. > :35:39.easy hole to birdie, the 5th, I can tell you.
:35:40. > :35:43.McIlroy's second shot to the 18th. Although the flag is in a quite
:35:44. > :35:49.comfortable position, we haven't seen all that many threes. Oh! Hit
:35:50. > :35:55.the flag! Where has it gone? That was desperately unlucky. Off the
:35:56. > :36:01.flag, 20, 30 yards off the green down the left side. Have it again,
:36:02. > :36:10.that's not fair! Rickie Fowler now, third shot at the par-5, 8th.
:36:11. > :36:15.Straightforward, pitch and run. Decides to pitch it all the way.
:36:16. > :36:22.Doesn't quite get the stop he wanted but not bad.
:36:23. > :36:27.Now the wind is fairly whistling across this green. All sorts of
:36:28. > :36:33.things come into your mind but strike it nice and true and firm
:36:34. > :36:38.and... Oh, my good God! He is as far away again as he started. Too hard
:36:39. > :36:42.on that line. It was a straight putt if you are going to hit them that
:36:43. > :36:48.hard. All because he hit the flag stick with his second. Desperately
:36:49. > :36:58.unlucky really. This is for a bogey five.
:36:59. > :37:06.Unlucky. Leaves the green with a nasty feeling. 36 out.
:37:07. > :37:13.And 37 home. 73, one over par. Tricky putt to read this. It's
:37:14. > :37:25.quicker than it looks. Ricky thinks it's a little left. Oh! He read it
:37:26. > :37:32.beautifully. Double breaker. Mickelson's second shot at the 7th.
:37:33. > :37:38.A good strike. Oh! Steady, steady. Go down the
:37:39. > :37:46.hill. Yes, it's getting closer. Not bad.
:37:47. > :37:51.STUDIO: Our co-leaders Hoffman and Garcia safely in the clubhouse but
:37:52. > :37:57.it's Rickie Fowler we are watching and there is action there, 4-under
:37:58. > :38:00.for the day for the man who made 27 birdies last week in Houston. He has
:38:01. > :38:08.shown great form coming in here. Could it be Fowler's year?
:38:09. > :38:17.A chance for a birdie, missed a shortish putt on the last green for
:38:18. > :38:27.a birdie, Mickelson. But this is a fairly straight putt. Hit it well
:38:28. > :38:34.and all the way a winner. Beautiful birdie three two bogeys, three
:38:35. > :38:39.birdies. 2-under. Great work Justin Rose faces here.
:38:40. > :38:47.Has to land it left of the flag to have a chance of getting it close.
:38:48. > :39:02.Mind your spin now. Oh, what a shot that is! Beautifully played. Watch
:39:03. > :39:08.out for Justin Rose this weekend. Thomas Pieters. Risky play from the
:39:09. > :39:15.Belgian. Oh, what a shot! The equal of
:39:16. > :39:20.Mickelson's shot. That is shot of the day from Thomas Pieters. Unsure
:39:21. > :39:26.of what it was going to do, beautiful. Justin Rose hit a
:39:27. > :39:34.magnificent shot here to the 9th. Played it past the hole with a lot
:39:35. > :39:44.of spin. Now he has this right-to-left putt. For another
:39:45. > :39:54.birdie. Yeah, good putt. Justin Rose making a move.
:39:55. > :40:04.Mickelson, a long way down the 10th. Just 155 yards. Muttering away.
:40:05. > :40:14.And lovely shot. Below the hole. Pretty much straight up towards it.
:40:15. > :40:19.Now we will see if Pieters can pay it off after that magnificent shot
:40:20. > :40:24.from the pine straw. And he has! Well, there won't be many threes at
:40:25. > :40:32.the 13th today, but boy if ever there was a beautiful one, that
:40:33. > :40:37.would be it. Wow! Now Mickelson down among the shadows
:40:38. > :40:46.of the 10th green. This is about as nice a chance as you will get here
:40:47. > :40:54.at the 10th. Oh, yeah, Phil Mickelson!
:40:55. > :41:00.It's all starting to come to live here in the second round.
:41:01. > :41:08.STUDIO: So far only two men have broken 70, Ryan Moore and Sergio
:41:09. > :41:16.Garcia are co-leaders with Charley Hoffman. Thomas Pieters up there at
:41:17. > :41:17.3-under par and Phil Mickelson is moving in the right direction. Very
:41:18. > :41:28.ominous indeed. That gives you answer idea of the
:41:29. > :41:33.terrain coming over the little brook that guards the right of the 13th, a
:41:34. > :41:53.little downslope. So sweet. Lovely! Just caressed off
:41:54. > :42:00.the turf. Not too much spin. Thomas Pieters at 14. You have to fly the
:42:01. > :42:06.ball all the way to the hole here. He has that false front protecting
:42:07. > :42:10.that flag. Oh, yes! Hit it right at the top of that was hill and that is
:42:11. > :42:19.spectacular. As good as you can do without holing
:42:20. > :42:27.it there at the 14th. Couples after that magnificent pitch into the
:42:28. > :42:39.13th. In the front edge. He stepped after it as if he thought he hit it
:42:40. > :42:47.firmly enough and he had. Now Thomas Pieters after a remarkable shot at
:42:48. > :42:59.14. Oh, yeah! Suddenly Thomas Pieters now is tied
:43:00. > :43:06.for the lead. Currently the leading amateur, at the final hole. That's
:43:07. > :43:13.got to go back. This could be... Go on, accelerate down. Go on! It's
:43:14. > :43:21.going to be close! Oh, no! Straightened out. He thinks it is in
:43:22. > :43:39.with the roar of the crowd. What a shot. Adam Scott at 15. Third shot.
:43:40. > :43:43.Another beauty. Lots of green to work with here for Ricky. Lites a
:43:44. > :43:50.low clipper. All kinds of sauce on it. What a shot!
:43:51. > :43:55.Adam Scott played a terrific wedge shot to here, let's see if he can
:43:56. > :44:02.hole this. He has done it nicely. Two beautiful wedges on the par-5s
:44:03. > :44:11.on the outward half. Look at that score card.
:44:12. > :44:26.Rickie Fowler now for birdie. Just a formality. What a lovely putter he
:44:27. > :44:35.has become. Unusual to see Mickelson hit a putt as poorly as that first
:44:36. > :44:40.at the 11th. Oh, nearly. A dropped shot for Phil. Magnificent birdie
:44:41. > :44:44.for Phil at the 10th but a three-putt bogey here. Now he will
:44:45. > :44:48.head up to the dangerous 12th. Justin Rose, this is for a par at
:44:49. > :44:54.the 12th. Through the green with his tee shot. A clumsy shot back and...
:44:55. > :45:00.I thought he had done it again. He holed a monster putt for a par on
:45:01. > :45:10.the previous green. That's a four. A shot dropped. Still going along OK.
:45:11. > :45:21.Rickup Fowler at the 15th. Second shot. He boldly goes.
:45:22. > :45:30.A good clean straight hit, bang! Sit, sit, sit. And that's why. Oh,
:45:31. > :45:42.dear, dear, dear! That's gone right through, 30 yards in the water. So
:45:43. > :45:57.Phil Mickelson. Skip, skip, skip. Oh! What a shot!
:45:58. > :46:03.Hey, Phil! That was confidence there. Perhaps he was showing him
:46:04. > :46:06.where the green was. His eyesight might be getting dodgy. I think he
:46:07. > :46:11.was looking into the flag and couldn't see the flag, I think that
:46:12. > :46:19.was the reason, he wasn't that confident. Having gone in the water,
:46:20. > :46:23.this is Ricky's fourth. That a mighty good effort.
:46:24. > :46:28.Up the little bank, closed the face because the ball is landing into the
:46:29. > :46:37.grain, got it to hop forward a couple of times. Won't see many
:46:38. > :46:46.better than that today. Mickelson with this tap-in here for
:46:47. > :46:58.a likely birdie. It will have a little movement, though. Oh, it
:46:59. > :47:04.almost got away! But it's in now. A sigh of relief for Mickelson I am
:47:05. > :47:10.sure. Fowler faces a par at the 15th.
:47:11. > :47:19.This will be some par if he can rattle this one in.
:47:20. > :47:25.Stop, stop, stop! Justin Rose after a blast off the
:47:26. > :47:36.tee around the corner, second shot here. Oh, what a shot! The best of
:47:37. > :47:43.the day so far. Fowler, this for a six.
:47:44. > :47:52.And the 15th. He has got it. Only one shot dropped.
:47:53. > :47:59.Justin Rose. Just tapped it. That could have gone. Would have been
:48:00. > :48:08.some kind of eagle there but an easy birdie for Justin Rose. Back on
:48:09. > :48:22.2-under par. Just two off the pace. Rickie Fowler.
:48:23. > :48:30.Oh! Just snuck over, but OK. A big putt for Mickelson. Kept his
:48:31. > :48:33.score going nicely. Don't want to miss one of these. But he has.
:48:34. > :48:53.He has, he has. Well, three putts at the 11th.
:48:54. > :48:57.Missed putts and three putts there. Pieters third shot at the 18th.
:48:58. > :49:05.Drove into the trees and came out to here. Wide of the green to the left.
:49:06. > :49:13.Down the left side, let the... Go on, swing it. That could come back.
:49:14. > :49:22.It might. It's happened before. And by golly it's happening again.
:49:23. > :49:26.Well thought out. Over to the 16th. Rickie Fowler for
:49:27. > :49:31.birdie. It's a slow putt up that hill.
:49:32. > :49:35.Beautiful speed. Dead on line. He has got it and Rickie Fowler, a
:49:36. > :49:44.quick bounceback from the bogey on 15. Back in the lead. Now Pieters.
:49:45. > :49:47.Final hole. This is for a par-4. This is to stay with a share of the
:49:48. > :50:00.lead. He has done it. Well done, sir.
:50:01. > :50:06.35 the first nine, and home in 33. Very nice playing.
:50:07. > :50:09.STUDIO: Thomas Pieters told us last year that a Ryder Cup experience
:50:10. > :50:14.would prepare him for life at the Majors. It hasn't half. A star then,
:50:15. > :50:19.a star now. Let's hear from him after his 4-under par round of 68.
:50:20. > :50:24.When conditions are as tough and the course is tricky, how drain
:50:25. > :50:32.something that mentally and physically? I am tired, believe me.
:50:33. > :50:38.You kind of want to get done after nine, ten, you just want to get to
:50:39. > :50:44.13 and 15 and have a good birdie opportunity. But I enjoyed it. I
:50:45. > :50:50.have had a good laugh with Daniel and looking forward to the weekend.
:50:51. > :51:09.Fred Couples now at 18. Come on, Freddie, one more good swing. Be
:51:10. > :51:15.right, be right. It is right if it comes back now. It should do. Is it
:51:16. > :51:26.something remarkable from Freddie Couples? Not his finest pitch on the
:51:27. > :51:41.16th, this is to save par. These might be costly shots come
:51:42. > :51:47.Sunday evening. Slipping just a little bit further away from the
:51:48. > :51:51.lead. Mickelson back to 1-under par. Justin Rose all the way over the
:51:52. > :51:57.back of the 15th. A couple of times into that slope. Beautiful shot.
:51:58. > :52:05.Just a stunning shot from Justin Rose. He will leave himself the
:52:06. > :52:15.uphill, he knows how good that was. Rickie Fowler on the 18th. Get in!
:52:16. > :52:21.Get in, they cry. Cannot break free, he will not lead on his own. Justin
:52:22. > :52:26.Rose for birdie. Spectacular shot to get to here.
:52:27. > :52:30.Oh, yeah! Wonderful birdie there for Justin
:52:31. > :52:37.Rose, gets back to 2-under par. Now 2 off the pace.
:52:38. > :52:45.It's been a beautiful round of golf from Rickie Fowler thus far. No
:52:46. > :52:48.birdie at the final hole. But his final stroke and Rickie Fowler will
:52:49. > :52:52.sit in a four-way tie at the top of the leaderboard going into the
:52:53. > :53:00.weekend at the Masters. Missed the cut last year. Right in contention
:53:01. > :53:05.in 2017. 67, the lowest round of the day.
:53:06. > :53:11.STUDIO: Yes, that stellar round of 67 from Rickie Fowler equals his
:53:12. > :53:15.personal best at Augusta. This is the first time he has ever led after
:53:16. > :53:20.any round of a Major. Front-running is a new feeling even if it is in
:53:21. > :53:23.company. Let's hear how he would describe it.
:53:24. > :53:29.How much of a joy is it to be sitting where you are going into the
:53:30. > :53:35.weekend? It's exactly where we wanted to be. You know, especially
:53:36. > :53:38.with the conditions the last two days, really just didn't want to
:53:39. > :53:42.take yourself out of the tournament. Go out there and play solid golf and
:53:43. > :53:45.make sure you are in the right position for this weekend because
:53:46. > :53:49.from what I have seen the winds are going to die down, the weather's
:53:50. > :53:53.going to be good and if they get this golf course continuing to firm
:53:54. > :53:58.out, there's going to be a lot of birdies, you are going to see eagles
:53:59. > :54:03.with the wind being down and you don't want to be too far back from
:54:04. > :54:06.the guys out front. So, in a great position but this tournament's far
:54:07. > :54:11.from over. A highly motivated Jordan Spieth
:54:12. > :54:15.smarting all year after events here at Augusta finishing off in the top
:54:16. > :54:21.ten with a 4th birdie of the day and a round of 69. A stumbling finish
:54:22. > :54:26.from Mickelson at the 17th, he scrambled a par at the 18th. A round
:54:27. > :54:31.that promised so much, finishes in 73, but like Spieth he too is within
:54:32. > :54:37.four shots. Former US Open champion Justin Rose, never missed a cut in
:54:38. > :54:41.12 appearances, well, a tester for par at the last, goes begging. He
:54:42. > :54:48.signed for 72 and will chase from three shots behind.
:54:49. > :54:54.So, it's a four-way tie on 4-under. What a fascinating leaderboard this
:54:55. > :55:00.is. So many stories waiting to be written perhaps about old-timers
:55:01. > :55:03.like Couples are or first-timers like Pieters to real ever present
:55:04. > :55:08.threats like Phil and indeed Spieth. There is something for everyone.
:55:09. > :55:12.Only nine men under par including Justin Rose and lurking beyond,
:55:13. > :55:16.Spieth and Scott, former champions, and McIlroy is only five behind in
:55:17. > :55:19.that group at one over. Defending champion Danny Willett will be
:55:20. > :55:25.around too but sadly only to present the green jacket to the new champion
:55:26. > :55:26.on Sunday. His are not the only hopes blown away over the opening
:55:27. > :55:40.couple of days. Ken Brown has certainly enjoyed the
:55:41. > :55:46.opening days, especially from a European perspective. Marvellous
:55:47. > :55:51.stuff played and notably from Sergio Garcia. He seems to be under
:55:52. > :55:56.control. He is right in it. Wouldn't it be a fairytale story on what
:55:57. > :56:01.would have been Seve's birthday if he was to win, which is on Sunday.
:56:02. > :56:05.Most top fives in Major golf without winning those, he has 12 of those,
:56:06. > :56:10.been so close so often. Yeah, he is there. His 71st consecutive Major
:56:11. > :56:13.which is amazing and he has had his chances at the Open Championship.
:56:14. > :56:18.But there's been marvellous shots played by him this week. He birdied
:56:19. > :56:24.the first and second. This is at the third. This has occasionally been
:56:25. > :56:30.his Achilles heel. Has a new putter in the bag. This was his second to
:56:31. > :56:35.the 16th. Wachlt this drill off the clubface. Sorry, the five enth. The
:56:36. > :56:40.green is flush. Shot high in the air. Gets it to land softly. One of
:56:41. > :56:47.a number of wonderful iron shots he has played. That was a delight. Set
:56:48. > :56:49.up the simplest of birdies. A little unlucky, because at the 17th he
:56:50. > :56:58.played this Floats it miles in the air. He is
:56:59. > :57:01.looking to the sky. A down breeze and watch how he gets it to grab.
:57:02. > :57:06.That was one of the shots of the day. Very difficult. The ball
:57:07. > :57:12.skidding off the downslope. It was a gem of an iron. Rory McIlroy, he
:57:13. > :57:16.birdied the 17th and came to the 18th and thought he is in the
:57:17. > :57:20.perfect spot. 140 yards left. Pin front right. Trying to pitch it past
:57:21. > :57:23.the flag and use the slope behind. Drilled is in low and spun the club.
:57:24. > :57:29.You are thinking this is on the money. So unlucky. Struck about five
:57:30. > :57:33.feet up the flag and shot miles and miles away down. Watch where it
:57:34. > :57:39.hits. If it misses the flag he will finish a yard away. Because it will
:57:40. > :57:43.come back. Unlucky. A 72, 73 and could have been better. Thomas
:57:44. > :57:46.Pieters who played so well in the Ryder Cup matches, gained
:57:47. > :57:52.confidence. This was his marvellous approach at the 13th. Out of the
:57:53. > :57:55.pine straw. Easy to slip and miscue and he picks it off like Phil
:57:56. > :57:58.Mickelson did. The pin was on the left of the green and that set up
:57:59. > :58:05.this eagle chance. Down the slope and left-to-right. A big roar from
:58:06. > :58:12.the crowd. Lots to think about. This was a beauty. Eagle chance. Right
:58:13. > :58:17.into the heart of the cup. 72, 68, he has looked to be playing
:58:18. > :58:22.absolutely at the top of his game and enjoying his first Masters. . .
:58:23. > :58:28.Composure and confidence at the Ryder Cup he has shown, it promises
:58:29. > :58:32.so much. The Ryder Cup, you go as a rookie, nervous, can I do it on the
:58:33. > :58:40.big stage? And he proproved he could. A number of players did that.
:58:41. > :58:44.Jimenez, you thought, yeah, and from there he grew in strat ture. I think
:58:45. > :58:49.Thomas Pieters has a good chance to win. -- stature. What a weekend we
:58:50. > :58:54.will have. I am sure you will share it with us because our coverage is
:58:55. > :58:57.live, full live coverage begins tonight.
:58:58. > :59:02.Plenty of other options before that. If you are all ears for news and
:59:03. > :59:09.live action Radio 5 live will oblige. It will be all change at
:59:10. > :59:14.Augusta for Saturday. The ferocious winds will give way to flat, calm
:59:15. > :59:18.conditions. The charge is on and we are back on in about five-and-a-half
:59:19. > :59:23.hours' time. We will catch you very soon Father a great Saturday night
:59:24. > :59:30.in at the Masters -- for a great Saturday night in at the Masters.