Rain halts play for the day

England’s David Howell went on a spectacular second round charge to share the lead with Ryder Cup team-mate Luke Donald and American Chris DiMarco on his Masters debut at Augusta National today – before rain ended play for the day at lunchtime.

The 29-year-old from Swindon, without a tournament victory since the 1999 Dubai Desert Classic and with a best finish on American soil of 37th, thrilled the band of family and friends staying with him and following him with five birdies in seven holes on the back nine.

Howell was preparing for a six-foot par putt on the 18th, his ninth, when the sirens sounded to suspend play because of an approaching storm.

It never really arrived, but the threat of it kept the players off the course and at 4pm the announcement was made that the tournament would resume at 8am Saturday.

There is a lot of catching up to do, the start on Thursday having been delayed for nearly five and a half hours.

Some players, including many of the big names, had still to start or had only just started their second rounds.

“That was alright – beautiful,” Howell said of his performance. “Everything is going great. I’m nice and relaxed and it’s nice to have some friendly faces around.”

His confidence boosted by an opening level par 72, he set off again with a six-iron to within five feet of the 10th flag, then rolled in a curling 25-footer on the next.

He two-putted the two par fives, the 13th and 15th, and then hit his tee shot to eight feet at the short 16th – the hole where 73-year-old Billy Casper had a tournament record 14 yesterday.

“It had four feet of break on it – unbelievable,” he said. Nevertheless that one went in as well.

“I’m not nervous yet. I wasn’t on the first tee and I guess that a bit of the Ryder Cup in there.”

Donald did not disappoint either. After three late birdies last night he picked up where he left off, making a 20-footer from the fringe of the sixth green.

Three pars followed for a four under par 68 that put him joint second with one behind DiMarco. And he went set out again little more than half an hour later he birdied the long second to make it a three-way tie at the top.

Alongside Donald on 68 after the first round was world number one Vijay Singh, who birdied the 13th and 14th and missed two other good chances over the closing stretch, while defending champion Phil Mickelson tucked in just behind with a 70.

Donald could have been at the top of the pile then. 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. “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.

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 finished with a 74, seven adrift of Ryder Cup teammate DiMarco.

Last year’s runner-up Ernie Els double-bogeyed the fourth in his 75. The South African had to remind himself had two years ago he began with a 79 and got back into the hunt before finishing sixth.

Ian Poulter, Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke all matched Howell’s 72, but in the three extra holes he managed Harrington had a double bogey six on the 11th to drop to two over.

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 okay 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 ame in with a 74.

Lee Westwood struggled to a 77 and Sergio Garcia, fourth last year, was on the same mark with one to play. He went back to the tee on the 12th after hitting into the bushes over the green and double-bogeyed.

Jose Maria Olazabal, who lost a play-off for the BellSouth Classic on Monday after missing two short putts, did not have a single birdie and closed with a double bogey six for a 77.