Donald second after first round

Luke Donald picked up where he left off to stay right in the thick of things on his Masters debut today.

One of 68 players back at Augusta National to complete their first round, the 27-year-old followed three late birdies last night by making a 20-footer from the fringe of the sixth green, his first of the day.

Three pars followed for a four-under-par 68 that put him only one behind pacesetter Chris DiMarco, although still out on the course was world number one Vijay Singh, whose birdies at the 13th and 14th lifted him alongside Donald in second place.

Donald could have been at the top of the pile. His pitch to the long eighth spun close to the hole, but rolled 30 feet away and at the last a five-foot birdie chance went begging.

“It’s a great start, but nothing more than that,” said the High Wycombe golfer, joint runner-up in the Players Championship in Florida two weeks ago.

He was due off for his second round in little more than half an hour and commented: “I’m very happy with the way I’m playing, but this course can bite you back.”

DiMarco also had four holes to play when the tournament resumed and he too kicked off with a two at the sixth – the hole he aced in last year’s opening round – and continued to match Donald the rest of the way.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson instantly moved a stroke off the lead when he set off again, hitting his tee shot to seven feet on the short 12th.

The left-hander chose to lay up on the long 13th, however, failed with his birdie attempt and then bogeyed the next to slip back to joint sixth on two under.

Tiger Woods continued to have an eventful time. Somehow only two over par overnight the world number two birdied the fifth, but at the sixth his first putt from the front nine failed to make it up the sharp slope and came back to him.

His next attempt steamed 10 feet past the flag, but he made that for a bogey four. Another birdie followed, but then a bogey six and he was back to two over, seven adrift of Ryder Cup teammate DiMarco.

Ernie Els kicked off again with a birdie at the third, but followed with a double bogey five and with two to play remained four over and down in 54th place.

Ian Poulter and Padraig Harrington were happy enough to join their Ryder Cup colleague David Howell on level par, while another member of the side, Frenchman Thomas Levet turned his woeful season – not one cut made yet – on its head with a one under 71.

Poulter, who sank a 15-foot putt at the 17th, stated: “Steady – very steady.

“I kept it on the right side of the hole. The more times you play the more you know about the course. I’m right in there and very happy. There were some tricky pins.”

His 72 was 26 strokes better than his father Terry managed last Saturday after Poulter managed to arrange a birthday treat for him.

Harrington birdied the long 15th, but was relieved not to go in the water there.

“I hit a great chip, but only the cushion of rough stopped it going in,” he said. “I’m happy enough. It’s an OK first round to see where you are at.” The key for him was “just stay patient.”

Donald’s former Walker Cup colleague Graeme McDowell did not have such a successful debut round. Eight over after 10 holes he eventually finished with a seven over 79, while 1988 winner Sandy Lyle, who had a skin cancer scare before the event, came in with a 74.

Woods parred the ninth meaning he has played his opening round at the tournament in 76, 75 and 74 since his third victory in 2002.

Playing partner Darren Clarke joined Harrington, Poulter and Howell on level par, but Lee Westwood double-bogeyed the 14th and needed a birdie on the next to be five over.

Sergio Garcia, fourth last year, went back to the tee on the 12th after hitting into the bushes over the green, double-bogeyed and was also five over, while Jose Maria Olazabal, who lost a play-off for the BellSouth Classic on Monday after missing two short putts, was still searching for his first birdie after 16 holes and stood three over.

American amateur champion Ryan Moore, partnering Mickelson, came into his second Masters thinking he could win it and birdies at the 15th and 16th put him alongside the holder.