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.

Dufner Claims PGA Championship

American Jason Dufner carded a strong fourth round 68 to claim the 95th PGA Championship as well as setting a 72 hole course record around Oak Hill.

Dufner played fantastically off of the tees.

While the men around him failed to get to grips with the tricky Oak Hill Course, Dufner excelled, carding a three under 32 on the front nine. Despite bogeying the final two holes, his consistent driving and wedge play throughout the day meant that Dufner was able to maintain the two shot lead he had going into the last two. The win will mean more for Dufner after he lost a play-off to close friend Keegan Bradley in the same tournament two years previously.

As well as setting a 72 hole course record ten under par, he also scored the 18 hole course record of 63 on friday, an instrumental factor in his victory. Dufner showed great nerve throughout the whole of his final round, wielding the putter well compared to Saturday where he looked unsteady. It was his consistent driving and fantastic wedge play that set him apart from the rest of the front runners and there is no doubt that Dufner earned his win this weekend.

So close but so far for Furyk.

Although Jim Furyk put up a strong fight he was never able to challenge Dufner after the front nine. Furyk had a poor day off of the tee, meaning he wasn't able to truly test Dufner. Eventually, Furyk finished two behind Dufner, shooting a 71 for the day, suggesting that nerves got the better off him after leading overnight.

Blixt enjoyed being in the picture.

Behind Furyk on seven under par was the the in form Henrik Stenson, the Swede still searching for his first major. His form in recent weeks and at Oak Hill has rightly shot him into the top ten in the World. He was followed by fellow Swede Jonas Blixt, one shot further back. The 29 year old showed he can play on the big stage as he ended the tournament fourth.

The big mover on the day was Scott Piercy who shot a 65, the best round of the day, catapulting him up the leaderboard to fifth place and shooting eight birdies on the day. He was joined there by Masters Champion Adam Scott who was unable to string together a strong enough round to really challenge the leaders. Nevertheless, it's another top 10 finish for one of the hottest prospects in golf.

The wait goes on for Woods' 15th.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the pre-tournament favorites, both slipped away as the week went on. Tiger had a fairly consistent week with the main issue being that he was consistently a few shots over par, finishing the tournament four over. Mickelson shot a disastrous 78 on the Saturday leaving him way off the pace at 12 over par.

Rory gets back on track

What of the Brits playing in the Championship? Well it was great to see Rory McIlroy back towards the top of the Leaderboard, after finishing tied 8th. McIlroy showed signs he was overcoming his psychological issues of recent times as he played some solid golf. His Northern Irish compatriot was a further one shot back on two under par along with Scotsman Marc Warren, who recovered from a four over first round to also end on two under par.

Jason Dufner almost cracks a smile as he wins his first major

The highest Englishman was David Lynn on even par, a good achievement to top off a strong year. Paul Casey showed signs he was continuing his comeback from injury with a three over par for the tournament alongside Justin Rose and Lee Westwood. It was a tournament of what-ifs for Rose and Westwood who were both in the mix at some point but struggled for consistency over the four days.