Matching the lowest score in Masters history, Jordan Spieth earned his Green Jacket at just the second attempt and ushered in a new era for golf on a momentous Sunday at Augusta National.

Jordan Spieth was staying one step ahead of his nearest challengers as his bid for a wire to wire Masters victory remained on course at Augusta National last night.

Before a ball was hit in the final round of the US Masters, the tournament was already a huge success, with the emergence of a true American superstar in Jordan Spieth. 

Such is his relationship with Augusta National that the Masters often holds a sting in the tail for Graeme McDowell, but it was a brush with an actual bee that nearly derailed him last night.

Matching the lowest score in Masters history, Jordan Spieth earned his Green Jacket at just the second attempt and ushered in a new era for golf on a momentous Sunday at Augusta National.

Rory McIlroy has backed Jordan Spieth to handle a four-shot lead at the US Masters much better than he did when the Irishman was in a similar position four years ago.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy moved ominously up the leaderboard to give runaway leader Jordan Spieth more to think about in the 79th Masters today.

Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods began the third round of the Masters 12 shots off the lead on Saturday, but were still certain to attract plenty of attention at Augusta National.

Rory McIlroy stormed to a back-nine 31 that reignited his Masters dream and gave him an outside hope he catch runaway leader Jordan Spieth.

He may be only a kid but from what we have already seen of Jordan Spieth, it is enough to be unsurprised that the Texan will not be taking a Masters victory for granted this weekend.

He may be only a kid but from what we have already seen of Jordan Spieth, it is enough to be unsurprised that the Texan will not be taking a Masters victory for granted this weekend.

Rory McIlroy stormed to a back-nine 31 that reignited his Masters dream and gave him an outside hope he could catch runaway leader Jordan Spieth.

Satisfaction, relief, tension and disappointment – Ireland’s Masters competitors ran the range of emotions at Augusta National last night as the first major of the year reached the halfway stage.

Very few gave Tiger Woods a chance before the Masters began and he himself and just everyone else fully acknowledges he will leave Augusta tomorrow night without a fifth green jacket.

Rory McIlroy could be forgiven for having an anxious eye on the leaderboard ahead of his second round of the 79th Masters on Friday as he looked to keep his bid to complete the career grand slam on track.

Jordan Spieth birdied the last at Augusta National to post a superb opening-round 64 at the Masters and throw down the gauntlet to Rory McIlroy and the rest of the field.

Pádraig Harrington was proving absence makes the heart grow fonder as he made a welcome return to the Masters last night.

Seasoned observers of Darren Clarke’s many mood swings have remarked in recent weeks on his transformation from half-man half-volcano into international man of diplomacy.

The early indication yesterday was that Augusta had been set up fairly. 

Charley Hoffman started his day hunting for autographs and ended it as a headline act at the Masters. Hoffman is a guy who jokes his Masters experience comes as “a TV watcher”.

A clash of egos can sometimes be a beautiful thing, in politics, perhaps. But in a stylish endeavour such as golf, it produces ugly theatre.

Jordan Spieth birdied the last at Augusta National to post a superb opening-round 64 at the Masters and throw down the gauntlet to Rory McIlroy and the rest of the field.

Gary Player was able to claim bragging rights after joining Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer in getting the 79th Masters under way on Thursday.

Lee Westwood was set to begin his 16th Masters on Thursday with the ambition of turning a superb recent record into a first major title.

He's still got it.

American Kevin Streelman was a popular man heading into the first round of the 79th Masters after shouldering the ''curse'' of the par-three champion.

MAGNOLIA LANE

Rickie Fowler could be speaking for the entire field when he says Rory McIlroy is the one to beat this week and also that no-one here at Augusta National is going to make it easy for the Masters favourite.

It was a round-table discussion, of sorts, questions fired at golf experts who work for ESPN, and when after 20 minutes or so none of the dialogue had touched upon an obvious candidate here at the Masters, former PGA Champion Paul Azinger laughed.

Shane Lowry has the game to come of age on his Masters debut today, both Pádraig Harrington and Darren Clarke agree, but for all the talents the newest Irish participant possesses, making them come alive at Augusta National is the biggest challenge of all.

For the rookies in the Masters’ field, like our own Shane Lowry, these past few days have been all about the realisation of one of their golfing dreams.

The time has come, mercifully, for the chattering to stop, the speculation to cede to actuality and the anticipation to be realised. 

Jordan Spieth believes he will be better equipped to cope with the pressure of trying to win the Masters after coming close to creating history last year.

It's not all ancient history at the Masters.

Graeme McDowell admits he has sometimes needed to spend time in a padded room after failing to get to grips with the challenges posed by Augusta National.

Tiger Woods declared himself ready to compete for a fifth Masters title after completing 11 holes of practice at Augusta National yesterday.

Bill Haas claimed the clubhouse lead in the 78th US Masters as the shortest hole at Augusta National had a major impact on two players attempting to enter the record books.

Phil Mickelson insists he is nervous about competing at Augusta National this week, despite having won three green jackets and recording 11 other top-10 finishes in the year’s first major championship.

Former world number one Greg Norman believes fellow Australian Adam Scott can use his Masters victory to propel his career to even greater heights.

Rory McIlroy was today trying again to figure out the right plan of attack for Augusta National, albeit after starting the final round of the Masters far too early for his liking.

Nine months after blowing a four-shot lead with four holes to play in the Open, Adam Scott has the chance to gain redemption by claiming a first major title in the Masters.

Tiger Woods quickly went about trying to repair the damage caused by a two-shot penalty as an incident-packed Masters continued today at Augusta National.

Tournament officials today insisted Tiger Woods had not received preferential treatment and the ruling on his two-shot penalty at the Masters was a “good decision”.

Defending champion Bubba Watson was not giving up his title without a fight today as an incident-packed Masters continued at Augusta National.