Augusta bares its teeth once more

Masters update:Eight players, one hole, not one par. Augusta National was not showing signs of getting any easier when the Masters resumed today

Even more amazingly, not one of the first eight into third round action managed to hit the green in regulation.

Swede Niclas Fasth was the first of the 15 European survivors back on the course, but he stumbled to a double bogey six, coming up short with his approach into a bunker and three-putting.

Scot Sandy Lyle, who also qualified for the final 36 holes on the limit of eight over par, pulled his drive into the tress, missed the green on the right and by failing to get up and down slipped immediately to nine over.

Adam Scott, Charles Howell, Angel Cabrera, Fred Couples, Rich Beem and Brett Quigley also bogeyed.

Climbing through the field was the objective for all of them, of course, when they set off again 10 adrift of halfway leaders Brett Wetterich and Tim Clark.

Those two were not teeing off until 3pm (local time), by which time world number one Tiger Woods was hoping to make his presence felt more.

Woods, paired once more with England's Paul Casey, was three over and joint 15th overnight - and he has won all his 12 majors with at least a share of the lead going into the final day.

Padraig Harrington is wee-placed on one over after a fine 68 yesterday.