Scott in the Mix as Haas Leads Masters

Haas leads after day on of the Masters.

Bill Haas goes into the second day of this years Masters tournament as the outright leader on four under par but a whole host of experienced players lurk just a few shots behind him on the glorious Augusta greens.

Haas made the most of favourable morning conditions as he shot six birdies and two bogeys to card a solid four under par. After dropping a shot on the 17th, the American recovered with a marvelous birdie to end his day with a 68 and the outright leader.

However Haas will spend Friday looking nervously over his shoulder as former champion Bubba Watson and defending champion Adam Scott sit one shot behind on three under par. Alongside them is 2012 runner-up Louis Oosthuizen.

Watson was one of few afternoon starters to make an impression on the leaderboard and was the only player not to drop a shot at any point during the day. The 2012 Masters Champion looked composed as players around him faltered.

Scott flopped a tee shot into the water.

Scott also had an excellent day, leading by two stokes at one point before falling foul to a cruel pin position on the twelfth, placing his tee shot into the water and taking a double bogey. After becoming the first Australian to win the Masters last year, Scott is this year seeking to become just the fourth player to retain the Green Jacket.

Brandt Snedeker is one of a host of players on two under par. The American looked to be going into the clubhouse on three under before a sloppy final hole left him one back. The first into the clubhouse was Kevin Stadler with a steady two under but it was the Swede Jonas Blixt who made the biggest impression, four under after fourteen before a couple of bogeys left him trailing the lead by just two strokes.

British favourite Rory McIlroy is still well in contention as he sits just one under par alongside a mixture of youth and experience. The Northern Irishman had a mixed day with three bogeys to go alongside his four birdies but will be more than happy to still be well in the hunt.

Bubba Watson rises up the leaderboard.

McIlroy is joined on one under by the experienced veterans Fred Couples and Miguel Angel Jimenez as well as youngsters Jordan Spieth and Matteo Manassero and a number of other players including debutant Scotsman Stephen Gallacher.

But it was not an overwhelmingly positive opening day for the British players with just Graeme McDowell not ending the day over par as he entered the clubhouse on level par. Last out on the course Lee Westwood endured a testing afternoon breeze to finish one over after a dropped shot on the final hole.

Veteran Sandy Lyle endured a miserable back nine as he collapsed from three under par to four over par alongside Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter and current US Open champion Justin Rose. It was an even more dismal day for Luke Donald who never recovered from a double bogey on the opening hole to collapse to seven over par.