Rose ground his way to another solid round at Augusta

Brett Wetterich and Tim Clark are on two under, one ahead of Vaughn Taylor and two ahead of Rose, Jerry Kelly, Zach Johnson and Vijay Singh.

Bradley Dredge, Padraig Harrington and David Howell are on one over and Tiger Woods is two shots further back with Paul Casey and Luke Donald.

Phil Mickelson is seven back but many big names missed the cut.

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the Masters

To get involved, text us on 81111, e-mail golf@bbc.co.uk or contribute to 606

By Matt Slater

0041: ....which he missed. He taps in for a 77 and makes the cut on the number. Rose had a good look at that line but then overcooked it. Darn it! A three-putt from the fringe for a bogey and a return to level par.

Olly holes his return putt and stays on five over.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is that. It will be Rob Hodgetts again tomorrow and I'll be your ears, eyes and fingers on Sunday. I thank you.

0038: And with just the three of them left out there we get to see them all in real-time liveness. Lovely. Jose Maria Olazabal has played his third first, a vintage bunker shot to about a foot away from the cup. Rose is up next, a putt from the back of the green.....oops, he's charged that past by at least 6ft. Howell has a birdie putt.....

0034: Only three men left on the course now. JR at one under, Olly at five over and Charles Howell III (the third Augustan in the field) at eight over.

0029: Richie Ramsay fans, sorry. I horribly put the mockers on your man at the turn by saying he was a shoo-in for the top amateur prize. He then came home in 43 to slide to 12 over. A couple behind his American rival John Kelly.

0024: Come on Rustin Jose, don't let us down now.....ahh, you haven't. Well done.

For those of you not watching. He just got up and down beautifully from the front of the 17th green to save par. He really is playing some nice stuff. If, and I appreciate that it is a handsomely sized if, he could have holed a few putts today, he'd be a couple clear. We'd also have a smaller field for tomorrow (which may be delayed as they are expecting a morning frost). I would then have much earlier finishes over the weekend.

0016: Last rites time. Ernie bogeyed the last, he needed a birdie, so won't be around for the weekend. Monty needed a par, got a bogey. Same weekend plans (or lack of them). Sergio will be at a loose end this weekend too, although Peter Alliss has just suggested he is "in need of the cold steel and the badger". I don't know about that Peter, it is actually quite a sculpted arrangement.

0010: Bravo, Boom Boom. Fred Couples has just tapped in for a par at the last and an eight-over total, which should be good enough to tie Gary Player's record of 23 consecutive cuts at the Masters.

Ogilvy, by the by, bogeyed the last for a 70. He's on one over, just three off the lead.

Jeev Milkha Singh, the first Indian player to make the Masters, has had a good day. He's three over for 36, so he is also going to be the first Indian to make the cut. He also appears to be a lovely chap, with a slightly American accent.

0005:Michael Mackintosh is back with some more Augusta trivia. I'm not having it, though. Everybody knows the story about the Eisenhower Tree.

Back on the course, Phil Mickelson has just played one of the best shots I have seen. Having pulled his drive at 17 into the trees, he decided to ignore the obvious choice of a low runner to the front edge of the green and blast his lob wedge (not sure which one, though) over the pine trees to within six feet of the pin. Heroic.

2358: You have to hand it to Mickelson, he hasn't quit. He did what he had to do with birdies on 13 and 15 and is now just five over, seven off the lead. He isn't out of this.

Stenson is finished but won't want reminding of his back nine. Having got to two under at the turn he came home in 42 and is now four over.

Rose, meanwhile, misses another shortish birdie putt at 15. He is playing beautifully from tee to green but his putter is considerably cooler than it was yesterday. Not that the crowd of players on seven over par will be that upset.

2352: I told you Geoff Ogilvy was a tidy golfer. He's just birdied 15 and 17 to get to level par, just two back. Mike Weir, left-handers fans, has also put some holes together. He is just three over now.

Els, on the other hand, is playing the last and he needs a birdie to make the cut. His drive has finished in the pine needles down the left.

2348: "Emma, the answer to your question regarding "Amen corner" is that the 11th, 12th, and 13th holes at Augusta were termed "Amen Corner" by author Herbert Warren Wind in a 1958 Sports Illustrated article. Searching for a name for the location where critical action had taken place that year, he borrowed the name from an old jazz recording "Shouting at Amen Corner" by a band under the direction of Milton Mezzrow. Trust another Scot to come up with the answer." Mike Mackintosh

Another Scot? You mean after Andrew Cotter did it on TV? Only kidding. He's right, you know, Emma. I've just looked it up.

2339: Despite promising myself I wouldn't break my own house rules (see a long way below) by discussing the BBC TV commentary, can I just make one point. Do you really think us internet monkeys have much say in matters televisual? Our contacts with TV are akin to the relationship between East and West Germany during the Cold War - shadowy, clandestine and rarely through the official channels.

But for the record, I would like to see more of "Kenneth" Brown's pre-recorded high jinks, particularly a replay of his Caddyshack-esque snooping around the players' golf bags yesterday morning.

Rose missed that putt by the way and remains one back of the lead. The wind has really kicked up too. It is very tough out there now.

2335: "I'm not sure if the rules have changed but are Justin Rose's trousers today actually jeans? These would not be allowed on many golf courses." James McClure

James, you are absolutely right about jeans being verboten (sorry Emma) on most courses. Even the aforementioned LGC (or Royal Tooting to its members) takes a dim view of denim. I think that Justin (or Rustin Lose, as Wayne Grady just called him on air) is fooling us all with denim-effect slacks. I hope so anyway, I'd hate to see him penalised by the Augusta National pants police.

More importantly, however, Rose has just played a superb approach into 14 and has a six-footer for his first birdie of the day.

2325: If you are in the Augusta area tonight, stay away from Zach Johnson. He is likely to explode. From having a short putt for a two-shot lead at 16, he actually managed to bogey the last three to finish on level par. Ouch.

Geoff Ogilvy, a very tidy golfer, has just birdied 15 to get to one over, three off the lead.

And Rose has just seen a birdie putt at 13 come up short. He laid up and played a beautiful pitch to about 12ft but failed to sink the putt for a share of the lead. Monty, up at the last, is making a mess of making the weekend. I'd give him an even wider berth than Zach.

2322: "Just passing Knutsford services. Kids screaming in the back. Wife bleating on about a trip to B+Q tomorrow. Augusta feels a million miles away. What went wrong with my Easter planning?" Tim Andrew

Tim, Tim, Tim. You really have only yourself to blame. But surely you won't be on the M6 all weekend.

2317: "The greatest par 3 in the world is the 15th at Ilkley Golf Club, Yorkshire." Chris Caddick

Now there's a surprise, a Yorkshireman claiming world greatness for something in the Three Ridings. But he might be right, I haven't played it. For those of you not watching the BBC television coverage (which is probably most of you reading this), he is refering to the commentators' discussion of Jack Nicklaus' belief that Augusta's 12th is the finest par-three in the world. Phew, three possessive apostrophes in one sentence. Anyway, Chris agrees with Peter Alliss and Sam Torrance and they all disagree with Jack.

2311: The BBC's Andrew Cotter has just given chapter and verse on Amen Corner on telly. Rarely has anybody read the Masters website with more authority.

Stenson has just bogeyed another one. He's two over now.

Kenneth Ferrie, who sounds exactly like Paul Gascoigne, played golf exactly like Paul Gascoigne down the back nine. He came home in 45 shots and is now 14 over and taking his Superman belt buckles back to Blighty.

2306: Somebody asked earlier about Adam Scott, the world number three, doncha know. Well, he has just missed an eagle putt that would have got him to seven over. He missed it but is back on the cut mark with five to play.

Tom Watson, on the other hand, has just self-destructed with a triple-bogey seven at the last to fall back to nine over...and miss the cut. Not pretty viewing as he was in a greenside bunker in two.

2259: "Quick question, hope you can help with the answer: "Amen Corner", where did the name originate from?" Emma Tweedie Troon, Ayrshire

I know I should have the answer to this in my encyclopedia-like golf brain but I think it has something to do with a popular tune back in the 50s - "Shouting at Amen Corner". When in doubt, ask Wikipedia.

By the by, your man Monty is on the cut mark of eight over with two to play. And Richie Ramsay has hit the buffers. He is in danger of an early exit too.

2255:Rick in Burlington is back. Apparently his last "Live" golf man got a nasty case of Switchback. He's getting all nostalgic too (must be those $3.75 beers....what is that now? 75p in our stronger currency?) as he hopes Sandy Lyle makes the cut.

I'd say Sir Sandy of Lyle and Scott jumpers is in. Nobody is going to get to three under (and stay there) this evening.

2248: Sorry, I've neglected the emails. It's taken me half an hour to catch up after my pasty and potato wedges break. But you're getting very animated by the Tiger Woods "airshot".

Yes, it looked dodgy but I think he just about got away with it (should have taken the shot, though, he would never be ready to play at the London Golf Centre in Wandsworth if he gets distracted that easily).

"I have now got to say that if Bradley Dredge goes on a good run and wins the Masters, I think he will put Wales on the map. Go on Bradley, you can do it." Gavin Tranter, Ripon

Here's hoping, Gavin. God knows that annoying blank next to Shrewsbury has always troubled me.

2246: Stenson is losing a friend in me - all this birdie-bogey stuff is very taxing. He drops another at 14 - he's just not reading the greens at all - to go back to one over.

Monty misses a very makeable birdie putt at 15 and stays on eight over, one better than Els.

2242: Johnson has more than Georgia on his mind, he's still sore about that horror show on 16. He's bogeyed 17 too and is now in a three-way tie for third with Rose and Taylor. Clark and Wetterich will be loving this.

2235: Stenson birdied 13 to get back to evens and Mickelson holed a short putt for a quite remarkable bogey at 11. He's not quite done yet at seven over with two par-fives to come but he's going to need to find something fairly special.

Meanwhile, Vaughn Taylor is the latest man to come a cropper on the 18th green. He three-putts for a bogey to fall back to one over with Rose. Gary Player, Taylor's playing partner, carded a 77...at the age of 71! The man is an inspiration to ball-by-ball commentators like me, he really is.

2229: Having missed with his approach, JR has a big putt for par coming up on 10....blast, he missed it. He's now one under, one behind the two-under quartet (who I really can't see being beaten tonight).

2228: Mickelson, the lucky so and so, managed to improve his lie slightly (thanks to a very random piece of wire under a shrub) and his now playing four from the fairway of the par-four 11th. Ramsay, on the other hand, almost holed his second shot.

2220: Hold on a mo, there Matthew. Did I just say that Johnson had a tap-in for a two-shot lead (and that Lyle was heading for the airport on eight over)? Excuse me for being so previous. Johnson THREE-PUTTED from five feet for a bogey and the cut is now at eight over. Which is incidentally where Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els are right now.

Hold the mail coach. Phil Mickelson is in all manner of bother in the undergrowth. In fact, he is so horribly stuck in the woods he appears to have called over a passing English birdwatcher for advice. He has also tried to get the group behind to play through. It's like my football club's golf day. I think he is looking for Tiger-like amendment to the rulebook.

2215: Talking of Lefty, his playing partner Richie Ramsay is having another tremendous day. The young Scot is six over with eight to play and in with a very reasonable chance of extending his stay at Augusta by two days. It looks like the best amateur gong is a lock.

And while we're rounding our matters Scottish, 1988 champion Sandy Lyle put in a greatly improved shift on Friday but bogeyed the last to fall back to eight over - a dreadful blow especially as he had birdied 14, 15 and 16 to get to the projected cut mark.

2211: Holy cow, as the Masters radio commentators kept saying, Zach Johnson has just stiffed his tee shot to 16 and now has a nibbler for a birdie and a two-shot lead.

News from elsewhere? Poults will be around for the next two day thanks to a second straight 75, and Colin Montgomerie has just birdied the long 13th to give himself a shout at seven over. Mickelson is three holes behind the cheery Scot and one shot better off. Still waiting for that charge, then.

2202: So what have I missed (apart from all the decent tucker in the canteen)?

Well, Henrik had a shocker going bogey, double-bogey at 10 and 11 - his three-putt on 11 was particularly ugly. Bradley Dredge (fast replacing Michael Owen as my favourite Welshman) chipped in for birdie at 17 and then bogeyed the last. Hard lines but a 70 in only his second round at Augusta is great going. He is only four off the lead on one over.

Zach Johnson just made a nice up-and-down for par after messing up his pitch to the long 15th and stays out in front, while Vaughn Taylor is using local knowledge to full effect today. He is now two under with Wetterich, Rose and Clark.

2137: Stenson has just bogeyed 10 and is now two off Johnson's lead. While Dredge (you just can't keep that man down) chips in at 17 to get to level, just three off the lead. Brilliant!

2131: Justin Rose is putting like a dream. He's just holed a big 'un for par on the 7th. That is very much the ticket.

The stalemate is broken...but for how long? ZJ has nudged himself into the lead again on three under. Vaughn Taylor, a local lad, has just dipped into red numbers on one under.

2125: Bradley Dredge's "number one fan" Steve Williams has been in touch (hold on, aren't you supposed to be rooting for Team Tiger?) to say that all the juniors at Pontypridd Golf Club are wishing him well.

Jan Douglas in Atlanta, that person should be fired, or forced to go to the Jimmy Carter Library, whatever is worse (they handed back a Masters ticket because they thought nobody at the office would want it).

Sandy W in Kingston (formerly of Aberdeen), my fingers are OK...it's my bladder that is actually starting to hurt. I think Bradley Dredge is still the top debutant.

Geoff Ogilvy, meanwhile, has reached the turn and almost without me noticing it he is just two off the lead.

2119: Big news from Augusta. We have a five-way lovefest at the top of the leaderboard. Tim Clark bogeyed 16 and Henrik Stenson birdied nine to join JR, Brett and ZJ on two under. Marvellous stuff.

2113:Rick H in Burlington you are a hard taskmaster. What did your last ball-by-ball man die of?

Gentle Ben Crenshaw is having a blinder, level for his round through 14 to stay on four over. That nice Tom Watson is two over through 11, five over for the tournament.

Nice work on paying $3.75 for your lunchtime pints but I have no idea what Switchback is, sounds like a skin complaint. And I was joking about Aneurin Bevan, I know he played up front for that great Swansea side in the 80s.

2109: But before I go:

"Poor Matt. Can't spell, can't count either (whittering + here + here = 3, I think?). At this rate you are an odds-on to be the next host of Countdown. Move over Des!" Rob, Snowy and Cold Toronto

Hold on, does spelling the same word twice wrong count? OK. I'd love the Countdown gig, by the way. And I don't mean dictionary corner.

2101: I'm starting to get a little bit jaded. Did I tell you that Zach Johnson bogeyed the 11th and Tim Clark is now out in front on three under on his own? No, sorry.

JR is holding it together on the outward trip. He's just one back. But sneaking up behind him is many people's favourite Swede (Larsson? Ulrika? Borg? Ekland?), Henrik Stenson. The European number one has just picked up a birdie at Augusta's easiest hole, the 8th, to go to one under.

Right the TV coverage has started in the UK (and in Mexico, apparently, Orion) so I must go for a comfort break and a cup of tea.

2052: Best rounds of the day? Take a bow Padraig Harrington and Paul Casey. A couple of 68s. Porridge is now one over and just four off the lead. Five Live's Iain Carter will be delighted. Jerry Kelly would have matched them but like so many he bogeyed the last and is heading for the showers on level par.

Veej is done too. He carded a very cagey 71 and he is another in the level-par gang. The news is less good from Darren Clarke. He finished bogey-bogey to end up on 10 over. One better than he started but probably not better enough to make the weekend.

2048: Tiger Woods has just completed a very mixed bag of a round. His two-over 74 leaves him on three over, the same score as Paul Casey, who bogeyed the last to slightly (but only slightly) take the sheen off an excellent 68. Luke Donald also carded a 74 to be on three over for 36.

2041:Andrew Evans from the Mountain Ash Golf Club in South Wales (so that's another one) says he is backing Dredge (surprise, surprise) but wants to know how Sergio is getting on.

Andrew, El Nino is six over through six. And no, as far as I know he has not flobbed today.

2034: "Got Dredge at a nice-looking 400-1. Each way - first 5 places. He's 80s now. Is that nice?" Milo & Scheemo, Belfast

Yes...but you know what they say about not counting your gift chickens with your the mouth, or something.

"I got onto Rose at 100-1 e/w, then went back to have another look and picked out Zach Johnson at 150-1! What a nice top two that would make! though I would sacrifice the larger windfall for a Rose win! Alistair Goodall, Derbyshire

That's the spirit, Alistair. Not enough people are willing to make sacrifices these days for the greater good.

Briana, that was a lovely offer but I'm not looking for a "frien.d" at the moment. I'll hold on to your email, though.

2029: JJ Henry has lost four shots in four holes and is now two over. But that Woods bloke has birdied 15 and 17 to get back to three over.

Bradley Dredge fans, your man has just bogeyed the very difficult 12th. He's back to one over. Padraig Harrington, meanwhile, is playing the last after an eventful but mostly excellent round. He too is two over.

2025: We have co-leaders again. Tim Clark has just birdied the par-five 13th to join ZJ, as I'm calling him now, on three under.

Paul Casey has just birded 17 and is five under for the day, just five off the lead. Super stuff for Cheltenham's finest. Also on two over is Luke Donald from Hemel Hempstead. Let's hear it (or should that be here it, Seb?) for the shires.

2021: Excellent news! There are at least three Welshmen in Wales (although I only have their emails to prove that...and given Sgt James Clayton's earlier offer from Iraq I'm a little hesitant to believe everything I read in an email).

But well done to David Mortimer, Chris Jones (who is in Tredegar) and Andy Picton. Bristolian burglars should now turn back, everybody in Wales is not abroad.

2018: Oh, and Henrik Stenson is looking very, very handy on even par through six holes, just three behind ZJ.

2016: "I don't mind your wittering (if all you want is the scores, look on the Masters website, which updates very fast) but I do object violently to your spelling. Wittering has no 'h' and while 'here, here' would be a useful command for a sheepdog it is not the same as 'hear,hear'." Seb in Dublin, where they are not allowed by law to sell alcohol on Good Friday. PS Why is nobody mentioning Henrik Stenson in all this?

You object "violently". Calme-toi, Seb (see Emma, I'm learning). I've typed over 5,000 words in four hours and only misspelled two (French verb endings don't count).

2008: How is the "seniors event" going?

Well, Gary Player is 14 over with nine to play, Larry Mize is 14 over on the back nine, Ray Floyd has slipped into something more comfortable after a 13-over return for 36 and Fuzzy Zoeller is sitting relatively pretty on eight over. Zoeller, by the way, was the last Masters rookie to win it.

2005: News from the middle of the leaderboard:

Superman belt-wearing Geordie Kenneth Ferrie is five over with nine to play, Ian Poulter is six over on the back nine, Colin Montgomerie six over on the front nine, and Lee Westwood and Retief Goosen are back in the house on eight over - a nervous three hours or so for them, I think.

1958: David Howell closes with a bogey. Shame. A 75 leaves him on one over for the event.

Oh well, it's all about Bradley Dredge now. He is three under through 10 and now just three off the lead....on his Augusta debut! Harrington's fun 'n games continue. He has now carded six birdies, a bogey and a double. But he is now two over for the tournament and just five behind. One behind him is Paul Casey, Luke Donald and Craig Stadler (we love the Walrus).

And one behind them is Tiger Woods, who just won't go completely away. He birdies 15 to stay within seven shots of the lead.

1949:Gerry McLaughlin (another licence-fee payer) is being driven around the bend by my wittering, (sorry Gerry, others are loving it - I've just been invited for meat loaf and root beer at the Madison Chop House in Madison, Georgia, apparently it's one of the few towns generals Grant and Sherman forgot to burn during the making of Gone With The Wind) so I'll get back to the golf.

We have a new leader. Zach Johnson has just birdied the 8th to go to three under. Rose pars the 2nd.

1947: "Didn't get on Casey to 'club' the Woods, but got on Rose to win at 80-1 on Wednesday - c'mon Justin." Ian, Barnoldswick, Lancashire

Hear, hear.

1945: "I hate to rain on Trevor's parade, but Michael Foot is from Plymouth, though he was MP for Ebbw Vale for a while. I also bet he isn't watching the golf." Rhodri Lewis, Berlin

I knew I'd seen something about Michael Foot on Football Focus once.

Can I have an email from a Welshman or woman actually in Wales, please? I have a feeling the principality is empty.

1937: Pants. Justin Rose has just bogeyed the 1st. It's a four-way logjam at the top with Brett Wetterich, Tim Clark and Zach Johnson.

Totally under the radar, as per usual, Jim Furyk has slashed his way around Augusta National in 71 shots to get himself right back into the mix at two over.

This cut mark is heading south. We are looking at a huge weekend field.

1933: Big gun fans. Ernie opened with a birdie is now five over through three. Sergio is still at four over after two. Adam Scott bogeyed the 1st and is also four over through two. Phil Mickelson, our defending champion, has just opened up with a bogey. So that's him, Ernie and Tiger all at five over. Hmmm, so much for a showdown.

1927: "Please let me know how Darren Clarke is playing. He seems to have picked up two shots. Working in Mexico City, listening to Pete Tong and keeping track of the Masters - bless the Beeb!" Orion Henderson (normally of Mountain lakes Golf Club in South Wales)

Bless us indeed. Still paying your licence fee from Mexico, Orion? Don't worry about, our vans won't go that far. DC is putting together a lovely, lovely round. He is three under and bogey-free through 16. Shame about that opening 83 but he is in with a shout of the cut at eight over. Another shot would be handy, though.

Which brings me on to this:

"I know it's a bit daft but what if Justin Rose hits a 62 and ends up 10 clear? How does the 10-shot cut rule operate - is he the winner? Jeff Lloyd, sunny Maidenhead

Nice idea (an English winner and the weekend off) but sadly the top 44 and ties get in too.

1922: Hats off to Paul Casey. He is now just three over for the tournament. The same score as David Toms, who is going backwards fast.

Casey, dear patriots, is now beating Tiger Woods by eight shots in their head-to-head today. Anybody get on that?

1917: Justin Rose is on the first tee, a shot clear of American Ryder Cup (makeweights) trio Brett Wetterich, who has finished, Zach Johnson and JJ Henry.

Behind them on one under are Jerry Kelly and Tim Clark. And one back of them are six players on level par that include Vijay Singh, our very own David Howell and the heavily-backed Henrik Stenson, who started bogey-birdie.

Oh, and Son of Tredegar Bradley Dredge has just birdied eight to join them. Come on, butty!

1908: God is in his heaven, an Englishman (with a slightly South African accent) leads the Masters. Zach Johnson has just bogeyed the 5th, Justin Rose is back in front....and he is six minutes away from starting his second round.

1903: Never ever work with children or animals or use foreign phrases when you weren't very good at languages at school. Of course the singular is calme-toi, not calmez-toi. Zut alors! Et merci, Emma Pimm. Which reminds me, Amateur champion Julien Guerrier is 13 over through 24 holes. Richie Ramsay is looking good for top amateur.

1859: Brett Wetterich has got his shoes and socks off and his feet in a bowl of cold water. He carded a very reasonable 73 to post a halfway target of two under. Veej has just dropped one at 11, he's back at level par. "Double J" Henry has just birdied the 2nd to get to two under. Jerry Kelly is still on one under, as is Tim Clark, thanks to a nice "bird" at eight.

1854: "Dear Matt (good start), do you think Tiger Woods can win the Masters again, or do you think that someone from the UK could win it, like Justin rose?" Gavin Tranter, Ripon

Yes and yes. On the former, Tiger has just made the kind of clutch putt for a damage-limiting bogey at 12 that only he can. He is like the head zombie in a 70s horror movie. I will not believe he cannot win this tournament until he is four down coming to the last.

Can Rose win this? Why not. So can Casey, Donald, Howell....big difference between can and will, though.

1852: "Gents, stuck here in Dammam am See, Saudi Arabia, can't bet, can't get a drink at any price, can't even see women's faces." Roger Hartley, Normally Nelson Golf Club

How awful Roger, it sounds a bit like Augusta.

1850:Ian S from Liverpool has emailed in to say he thinks this is the best start to a Masters for ages. I agree. He also asks:

"Can you just mention that my mate's band Rebbeca are playing the Carling Academy tonight in Liverpool?"

No Ian I can't. We're not allowed to advertise on the BBC.

1847: Paul Casey will be whistlin' down Amen Corner indeed. He has just stiffed his tee shot to 12 - inches from only the fourth ace ever at that hole in Masters history. A tap-in to go to four under for the round awaits.

Oh, his playing partner Tiger Woods put his shot in the water.

1843: "It's almost midnight here in Thailand and live TV doesn't start until 4am, its going to be a long night. Willing on the Brits, especially Bradley Dredge, c'mon butty, born in Tredegar, butty and butt are reserved for valley boys (so definitely not boyo, then?). Just to give you some other useless information; other famous Tredegar boys are Aneurin Bevan, Neil Kinnock, Ray Reardon and Michael Foot. Now I want to add Mr Dredge." Trevor

Me too, Trevor, me too. By the by, I've heard of those last three, but what did Bevan play off?

1839: It ain't happening for Tiger today. He's just given that shot back at the very next hole - he's three over for his round, four over for the tournament. Playing partner Paul Casey, on the other hand, is pulling off his usual dig-a-massive-hole-for-myself-on-Thursday-climb-out-of-it-on-Friday trick. He's three under through 11 and now just seven off the lead. Good lad.

Best rounds of the day at the moment? Casey, Clarke and Kelly.

1830: All change! The wheels are coming off the Brett Wetterich wagon. He's just bogeyed the 16th too to fall back to two under. Zach Johnson and Justin Rose are the new leaders at three under.

Padraig Harrington and Tiger Woods seem to be joined at the hip. The Irishman has just birdied 11, Woods the 10th. They are now just six off the lead on three over.

1824: Calmez-toi Marian, some real news.

Brett Wetterich has just dropped his first shot of the day - an ugly six at the par-five 15th - to fall back to three under.......and a tie for the lead with Zach Johnson, who is just birdied the third.

1818: "Dear Matt, I've got a treble on Jimenez, David Howell and Goosen to win their 3 balls today. Do you think I'll be rolling in wonga tonight? Sheik Chewy

Hello Chewy, old chap, as I know you to be a highly-paid surgeon I predict you will be rolling in wonga tonight and most nights. As for your bets, I think Jimmy will do the business but Howeller is trailing suddenly Canadian Stephen Ames and the Goose is losing to John Rollins, of all people. So no.

1811: Is this true?

"I backed Jerry Kelly at 840-1 on Betfair on Tuesday, if he keeps this up I'll be laying him off for a lovely profit. What do you think the projected cut will be today? How many golfers have to compete in the last two days? Ross Mooney

840-1! Who cares how much pints cost, the beers may be on you, Ross. Your man is four under through 10, one under for tournament.

That nice Tim Clark, meanwhile, has just double-boged the 5th. Naughty. And Rich Beem has opened with a bogey.

Golfing clothes horse Ian Poulter is three over through seven, six over for tournament, which is my shout for the cut. Time to knuckle down, Poults, it would be a shame to waste those colour-coordinated butcher hats you brought up from Florida.

1809: No, Steve Shotton, Angel has made no movement yet. I believe he is just about to unleash one down the first fairway.

1802: Anyway, getting back to the good stuff:

"Matt, my lunchtime pint during the week cost me �1.20 however as it resulted in many more pints it subsequently cost me much more and any chance of finishing my university coursework on time. My only hope is that Vijay can help a poor final-year student out after i backed him at 16/1 during the week." Mark H studying in Liverpool

Ah, Liverpool. The spires, the cloisters, the learning...wonderful stuff. Worry not, Veej has just picked up a shot at eight. He's only three back.

Zach Johnson, meanwhile, is now in third place on his own at two under through two. Very streaky golfer, that Zach. Top Aussie right now (on the course, that is) is Stuart Appleby after a birdie at one to go to two over.

Darren Clarke is two under for his round. He is nine over with seven to play. He will need at least two more shots to have a chance of showing off his weekend wardrobe.

1756:Marian White has asked for just the facts, mam.

OK, David Howell is back at level after a bogey at 10, Vaughn Taylor dropped a shot at the 1st, Jeev Milkha Singh is two over with five to play, Padraig Harrington and Tiger Woods birdied eight to get back to three over, Calcs dropped one (a shot, that is) at 10, Paul Casey is three under for his round (nice) and Brett Wetterich is still one shot clear with four to play.

1751: "Is it too early to start thinking about the cut line?" Maurice Copan, San Jose, Costa Rica.

Hello Maurice. Well, it is perhaps a tad early to be thinking about the cut (although perhaps not early enough for Seve who is 22 over going up the last) but since you've brought it up here are some things to think about. The 10-shot rule is in operation here and the highest ever cut at the Masters was 10 over in 1982. It won't get anywhere near that today, although a cut at let's say six over would leave a quite a few big names heading for the Interstate.

1742: More news from the betting shop:

"Here's a silly bet I had. Big-hitting Cabrera at 100-1, big hitter yes, good chip and putter? obviously not." Steve, Mirfield

Oh I don't know, Steve, give the cuddly Argentine a chance, he hasn't started his second round yet.

"VJ, is motroing along now lads. This could be a low score on the cards for him such a great player to watch. Great attitude. This could turn out to be the round of the day if he keeps it up. And who is your money on, Matt?" Kris Clarke

You're absolutely right, Kris....oops, Veej just bogeyed seven. And I'm like The Sun (folds easy and a bit cheap), I like to be on the winning side so I'll not be declaring my hand until very late Sunday evening.

1737: Cor blimey! Jerry Kelly, who I'm sure I once saw take 12 up the 1st at Sandwich, is four under through eight and now just three behind Wetterich on one under. And it's not just him. That other cheerful soul from the States, Mark Calcavecchia, is two under through nine.

1733: Just been slapped down by the feared BBC Pronunciation Department. I'm not to call Bradley Dredge "boyo" anymore. Butt, butty or bach, apparently, are entirely acceptable. He's still two under through three, by the way.

1728: Tiger Woods has just carded his third bogey in seven holes. He's now eight off the lead and clearly all washed up (calling all Betfair customers). Also on four over for the tournament is Padraig Harrington. The Hurricane appears to be out of puff after his birdie-birdie-birdie start, he's just doubled the seventh.

1719: It's not all gambling, though. Sgt James Clayton has just emailed me from Iraq (can't imagine what he's doing there). Apparently he has got an incurable disease but wants my help in getting $25m out of the country to help build hospitals and stuff. The only catch is that he needs my bank details. Sorry James, I keep my money in a box under the bed.

But James is not the only friendly voice from a faraway place to have contacted today:

"Working nightshifts here in Azerbaijan (the locals cannot understand why I am more interested in the movement of little white balls rather than oil & gas) does little for my viewing of the Annual US Putting Competition. Justin Rose could be heading for trouble though as I have him and Luke Donald to finish in the top 10. Keep up the good work and what is the price of a beer there?" Steve Barrow (Normally of Holywell Golf Club North Wales) - Baku - Azerbaijan

My pint this lunchtime cost me �2.90, although it was a slightly trendy gastropub in not very working class anymore Bermondsey (Berm-sur-Mer, as it known in some quarters).

News from Augusta - Tim Clark has just birdied three to get to two under, David Howell has birdied 10 to get back to one under (get in there, David) and Vijay Singh has just birdied six to join him on one under. Bradley Dredge, meanwhile, has just birdied the second too. He was born to play the Masters.

1712: Gamblers (not so) anonymous:

"Safe to say betting on Phil Mickelson at 8-1 wasn't the smartest bit of investing I've ever done, but I think I just may have made up for it in nabbing Wetterich at 25-1 in the "others" pool. Somehow the bookies didn't isolate him at my book. It's very rare when the bookies make such a glaring omission, but one has to pounce when given the chance." Scott Malone from "ole San Antone, deep in the heart of Texas"

You're not the only one, Scottie boy.

"Hey lads, I backed Brett this morning at 25/1, now he is 10/1. He seems to be a very patient good player. Come on Brett." Kris in Dublin

"I had a bet on Luke Donald (each way) @ 50-1 although he has just bogeyed the 5th - what do you reckon, any chance?" Daniel Christey

Daniel, put it this way...I certainly hope so.

1709: "I know it's very early to say this, but we can't have Brett Wetterich winning this," Rob Hodgetts sitting next to me.

OK Rob, I'll have a word.

1704: Welsh wizard Bradley Dredge has just birdied the 1st. Well done, boyo. Vijay Singh is looking "ominous" at one under for his round, four of the lead, and Jerry Kelly is shot back after going through the first six holes in two under.

Oh, and that Woods bloke is rubbish. He's bogeyed two and four and is now a massive seven shots behind Brett Wetterich. Hmmm, I think I might have a quick look at Betfair.

1701: I have news of Paul Casey. Don't rip up those betting slips just yet. He eagled the 2nd, dropped one on four but got it back on five. He is now five over. Lee Westwood just dropped a shot on venomous 11th, though. It was actually a bit of a result as he put his second in the creek.

1658: "Eleven is spewing venom on the field," according to Clampett. Bit harsh, that. It is already the hardest hole on the course.

1653: I think have just heard Bobby Clampett say Tim Herron "is in great shape". It's that kind of talk that gives golf a bad name. "Lumpy" is two over for the tournament, though, so I suppose he is having the last slice of pizza, sorry, laugh.

1650: Strike up that EU theme tune/Ode to Joy music (Beethoven? Bach? Falco?), a European has just become the first man to birdie 12 today - well done Miguel Angel Jimenez. I love saying that man's name. Is that wrong?

1647: Some public service messages:

"Our daughter Wendy is working again this year as a greenkeeper during the Masters. What wonderful experience for her although hard work! The course is looking magnificent and as you say magical. Please ask the team to say hello from family and friends." Angela and Phil O'Brien, via email

Consider it done.

And:

"Afternoon Matt, (Afternoon, James) I have backed Brett Wetterich to be leading debutant at 7/1 but nothing on him at 100/1 to win it. Also come on Gary Player (you've haven't had a bet on him too, have you?). James Dyson, via email

1643: Mixed news. Padraig Harrington's birdie blitz is over, he parred the 4th. But Son of Swindon and nicest man in golf David Howell has got one of those early dropped shots back with a birdie at eight. He returns to level par.

1640: It's official, it is easier out there today. The current average score for the front nine is a shot lower than yesterday. Quite what 2004 Open champion Todd Hamilton is doing at six over through 14 is anybody's guess - how on earth did Ernie lose that play-off?

1632: No more eagles from British golfers to report - although Darren Clarke has got a shot back to get to 10 over - so I'm just going to run through some house rules for today.

Here are some things I'm not going to talk about: