The Masters News and Updates

Tiger Woods headed straight for the driving range at Augusta after hitting 'some of the worst golf swings I've ever hit'.

In the trees, in the bushes, in the crowd, in the hole, but very much in the mix: just. It was one of those days for Tiger Woods at Augusta.

Talk about a day of wildly contrasting emotions for England’s two leading golfers at the 76th Masters. For Lee Westwood, a mood of serene contentment following an opening round of 67 that left him leading a major for the first time after the opening round.

World No 1 Luke Donald was cleared to continue in The Masters after what was described as an 'administrative error' regarding his scorecard.

Amid the superstars, tournament winners, former champions and future stars at the 76th Masters stood a 54-year-old refugee from the real world.

Sit back, relax and let Sportsmail take you on a four-day stroll down Magnolia Lane and through Augusta National. The waiting is over, the Masters is here and we'll make sure you don't miss a thing between now and Sunday night.

A recent survey by Golf World magazine made Augusta National the professionals' favourite. 'It makes you feel uncomfortable, but in a good way,' said one. Increasingly, though, not everybody is in agreement

When the ethereal mist that hung like a shroud over Augusta National finally lifted it did so to reveal a game entranced and a major championship season woven under the magic spell of possibility.

Sportsmail's golf correspondent Derek Lawrenson gives his views on the five players who are favourites for the Masters, five who could go close and five more who need a good tournament in Augusta.

Pass through the outside gates into the inner sanctum at Augusta National and the greeting from one of the many security guards remains the same. ‘Welcome to the Masters.’

Padraig Harrington became the first player to win a hat-trick of par three titles at The Masters - but just like his first victory in 2003 he had to share the honour.

Masters chairman Billy Payne was given an uncomfortable grilling as the vexed issue of women members at Augusta National dominated his tournament-eve press conference.

Darren Clarke was busy trying to make up for lost time on the eve of The Masters. The Open champion, back at Augusta for the first time since 2007, was among the last players to arrive.

Charl Schwartzel admitted he was nervous today - not about his defence of the Masters title, but about hosting the champions dinner.

Phil Mickelson believes the secret to his success in The Masters comes down most of all to a change of thinking on one hole.

Phil Mickelson is clearly a member of the Rory McIlroy fan club and can see him winning multiple Masters. 'I think that he's an incredible player. That you could tell when he first came out,' said Mickelson.

Asked about where he is now, compared to that day two years ago, raw and vulnerable, having had his psyche stripped in private counselling, Woods retreated to his safe haven, with platitudes about familiar surroundings, that had nothing to do with the question asked.

Arnold Palmer was well enough to be at Augusta today, two weeks after being hospitalised. The 82-year-old missed presenting Tiger Woods with the trophy from his own tournament at Bay Hill.

Lee Westwood and Luke Donald came out firing at the Masters after a prestigious American magazine claimed that Rory McIlroy versus Tiger Woods was 'the only story in golf'.

There are few flowers in bloom at Augusta this year, just an odd pink splash at the par-five 13th. The azaleas have come and gone after an unusually warm winter. Lovers of irony might think it the perfect year to bet on Justin Rose.

Talk to the local caddies at Augusta National and they will tell you that everyone who walks down the 10th hole wants to know exactly where Rory McIlroy's drive finished on that fateful Sunday last year.

Rory McIlroy will be alongside the man who witnessed his collapse 12 months ago during the first two rounds of The Masters.

Rory McIlroy insists he is not haunted by what happened at last year's Masters - because he cannot remember that much about it.

Martin Kaymer's Masters week certainly got off to a great start with a trick shot hole-in-one - now he hopes it can finish spectacularly as well.

Tiger Woods was the first big name to sign in for the 76th Masters on Sunday, taking advantage of a beautiful spring day at Augusta National to play nine holes with former champion Mark O’Meara.

Augusta National is the home of the Masters. Here, Sportsmail gives you the rundown on each hole ahead of the 76th playing of golf's most famous tournament.

The world's elite golfers descend on the Augusta National Golf Club this week, vying to win the 76th Masters tournament. Sportsmail brings you some of the best memories.

He's the nine-time major champion and a man who has won at Augusta three times. So when Gary Player makes this statement, it's worth listening.

Darren Clarke is facing a battle to get fit in time for the start of the Masters on Thursday. He suffered a groin muscle strain while playing in the weather-hit Shell Houston Open.

Chubby Chandler, the larger-than-life boss of International Sports Management, insists that he is not bitter about losing young superstar Rory McIlroy from his stable of top golfers.

Sportsmail ask its panel of experts how they rate Tiger Woods' chances at Augusta and who are the Brits most likely to challenge him for the Masters title.

On the eve of Rory McIlroy's return to the Masters, we've tracked down some of his nearest and dearest and asked them to share their own painful experiences of that incredible day last year.

Rory McIlroy will cut himself off from the outside world in his bid for Augusta redemption after taking the advice of another man who suffered a Masters meltdown.

You can always tell when the Masters is just around the corner - Phil Mickelson comes out of hibernation. Just look who has wiped the sleep from his eyes in time to enjoy the azaleas.

How good to talk to Darren Clarke about the one that got away and for him to be referring to his less than glorious efforts to catch a tarpon off the shores of Florida last week.

One thing guaranteed on Saturday night of Masters week is that Lee Westwood’s two children, 10-year-old Sam and Poppy, eight, will be glued to the television. Just not watching to see how dad’s getting on.

A resurgent Tiger Woods has his sights set on winning a fifth green jacket at next week's Masters after finally ending a 30-month victory drought on the PGA Tour.

Former Open champion Paul Lawrie has clinched his first appearance in the US Masters since 2004 - without hitting a shot.

Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey put himself back into the hunt for a Ryder Cup debut with a three-stroke victory at the Hassan Trophy in Morocco.

Tiger Woods has sent out some of the strongest signals yet that he is ready to end a six-year drought without picking up a Masters Green Jacket.

Phil Mickelson needs to find a big improvement if he is to head into The Masters with another win under his belt. Whatever happens at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Mickelson cannot wait for the first major of the year.

Eleven shots on one hole has almost certainly ended Robert Rock's hopes of celebrating his 35th birthday at The Masters in a fortnight's time.

Tiger Woods plans to start practising again on Friday and is confident of being fit for The Masters starting in three weeks' time. Woods limped out of the Cadillac Championship.

Former world No 1 Tiger Woods hopes to return to action next week after being told he has only a mild strain of his achilles tendon.

Colin Montgomerie is delighted to see Rory McIlroy take over at the top of the world rankings - but he still thinks Tiger Woods will win next month's Masters at Augusta.

Scotland's Peter Whiteford, one off the lead at the start of the day, was disqualified from the Avantha Masters in New Delhi over a ball-moving incident late in his third round.

South African Jbe Kruger carded a six-under-par 66 at the Avantha Masters to put himself in position for a maiden European Tour title, but will have a host of players snapping at his heels in the final round in New Delhi.

Scotland's Peter Whiteford might never have a better opportunity to land his first European Tour title than he does at the weekend, at the Avantha Masters.

Scotland's Peter Whiteford shot a six-under-par 66 to share the first-round lead with Spaniard Alejandro Canizares at the Avantha Masters in New Delhi.

Paul Lawrie shot a flawless closing round of 65 to win the Commercialbank Qatar Masters by a commanding four shots in Doha.

Paul Lawrie is looking to bridge a 13-year gap as he goes into the final round of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters with a one-stroke lead.

Less than three hours' play was possible before strong winds brought a suspension of play at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in Doha.

The golfer known as 'Gonzo' was anything but a muppet as he began the windswept Qatar Masters with a brilliant six under par 66. He birdied the last three holes.

Ian Poulter has secured a three-shot victory at the JBWere Masters in Melbourne. The world number 28 finished on 15 under par for the tournament.

Local favourite Geoff Ogilvy produced a brilliant eight-under-par third round of 63 to replace Ian Poulter at the top of the JBWere Australian Masters leaderboard.

A three-under par round of 68 was enough for Ian Poulter to maintain his lead at the midway point of the JBWere Australian Masters in Melbourne, but a couple of big names are still in touch.

Ian Poulter put world No 1 Luke Donald in the shade to seize the lead after the opening round of the JBWere Australian Masters with a six-under-par 65 at Victoria Golf Club.

World No 1 Luke Donald insists he has 'enough fuel in the tank' for one more victory as he looks to round off a historic 2011 at the JBWere Australian Masters at Victoria Golf Club.

Sergio Garcia is back in the world's top 20 and top of Europe's Ryder Cup points race after grabbing his second victory in a row on Sunday.

Rory McIlroy claimed golf's biggest first prize of £1.25million - but only after losing a three-shot lead for the second event in a row and being forced into a play-off.

Rory McIlroy fired a third round 65 to open up a three-stroke lead over American Anthony Kim at the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters. McIlroy didn't drop a stroke.

US open champion Rory McIlroy still leads the race for golf's biggest first prize of £1.25million after the second round of the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters.

Four days after proclaiming 'Bring on Valderrama', Scotland's Richie Ramsay rose to the challenge of continental Europe's toughest course.

Rory McIlroy made a superb start to his bid for a record £1.25million jackpot at the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters as he fired an eight-under-par 64.

Sergio Garcia dedicated victory to the late Seve Ballesteros following a remarkable 11-shot win at his home Castellon Masters - his first win for nearly three years.

It was a case of 'Home Sweet Home' as Sergio Garcia took a giant stride towards his first victory for almost three years with a 63 to lead at the Castello Masters.

Rising star Tom Lewis pulled out of the Castello Masters in Spain on Friday morning after suffering from a virus. The 20-year-old won the Portugal Masters last week.

England's Ross McGowan, fighting for his European Tour future, began the Castello Masters with a seven under par 64 in Spain on Thursday. McGowan has slumped from 63rd in the world to 543rd.

LIVE: Castello Masters first-round leaderboard

England's Tom Lewis confirmed his superstar potential on Sunday when he produced a stunning finish to win the Portugal Masters on only his third start as a professional.

Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Portugal Masters after a superb third round of 64.

England's Simon Khan will take a one-shot lead into the third round of the Portugal Masters after another day of low scoring in Vilamoura.

James Kingston held the clubhouse lead on eight under as the Portugal Masters got under way at Vilamoura's Oceanico Victoria Golf Course.

England's Lee Slattery survived a jittery final hole to claim his maiden win on the European Tour at the Bankia Madrid Masters.

Southport’s Lee Slattery left five members of last year’s Ryder Cup in his wake in the Madrid Masters as he went in search of his first win after seven years on the European Tour.

England's Ross McGowan held the lead after shooting 64 in the opening round of the Madrid Masters. The 29-year-old's eight-under-par round left him one stroke clear.

LIVE: Andalucia Masters final-round leaderboard

LIVE: Andalucia Masters first-round leaderboard

Have Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els begun what must be one of the game’s cruellest fates - the slow but inexorable march into inconsequence?