16:49 GMT: Sergio Garcia smacks it down the right-hand side of the first fairway and is in good shape. He walks after his ball nonchalantly, head down for the most part. The once bouncy, chirpy Spaniard has been down in the dumps all week for some reason. "Needs to get some of that spark back if he is ever to win a major. He is 32 now and no longer the new kid on the block," says AFP's Allan Kelly.
16:42 GMT: A quick reminder of the leaderboard: -9 HANSON, -8 MICKELSON, -7 OOSTHUIZEN, -6 WATSON, -5 KUCHAR
16:36 GMT. AFP's Jim Slater notes that with Sunday's bogey McIlroy has played the first hole in five-over par this week, with double bogeys on Thursday and Saturday sandwiched around a par on Friday. The first is the course's toughest hole to date, having induced 88 bogeys, 11 doubles and three even worse scores.
16:28 GMT: Bogeys for McIlroy and McDowell at the first. Rory's Augusta meltdown started a day early this year with Saturday's woes but McDowell bounces back with a birdie at the second.
16:15 GMT: Hot start from 2007 Masters champ Zach Johnson. He birdies the second and the fourth and is now one over.
16:09 GMT: Graeme McDowell's drive almost clobbers our correspondent. "Lands two feet from me with a soft plop in the pine trees," says Allan. Clad in Irish green the 2010 US Open champion ponders his options, scratches his chin, wisely takes his caddie's advice and punches out a Ballesteros-like rescue shot threading it through the trees back onto the fairway.
16:03 GMT: High noon at Augusta National and McIlroy -- where did that 77 come from yesterday? -- flirts with the bunker at the first but he is safe and in prime position to attack the flag. "Rory is in red. Or is it pink? Pinky-red I suppose," says Allan Kelly.
16:00 GMT: Birdie for Tiger at the 2nd!!! He's now two over for the tournament -- but 11 off the pace.
15:56 GMT: Not long until Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy tees it up. He's playing with Ryder Cup partner, countryman and pal Graeme McDowell. "Winning is beyond them but they will be looking to shoot the lights out in their final rounds no doubt," remarks AFP's Allan Kelly.
15:50 GMT: It's a hot start from Rickie Fowler, who birdies the second and third to be only two over through the first five holes.
15:42 GMT: It's par at the first for Tiger. Fiji's Singh matches him. Luke Donald though has picked up another shot at the eighth.
15:38 GMT: Tiger, in his customary final day red shirt, blasts off -- a big drive finds the right side of the fairway, says AFP's Allan Kelly, noting the massed crowd -- two or three deep on both sides of the first hole. "Wouldn't it be great if he goes birdie, birdie to get the place rocking," one fan remarks. Tiger looks businesslike, but chats with playing partner Vijay Singh.
15:35 GMT: Augusta members in their Green Jackets are watching the early groups tee off. Others started the day scurrying -- running is not allowed on the course -- for a good spot to watch the action unfold.
15:32 GMT: As well as being the first golfing major of the year the Masters is seen by many as the most beautiful. An unseasonably warm winter, however, has seen the flowers at Augusta lose their blooms this year, says AFP's Jim Slater.
15:25 GMT: There's some early southern comfort for English world number one Luke Donald -- he picks up birdies at the second and seventh holes to pull back to five-over for the week.
15:14 GMT: Former champion Angel Cabrera birdies the first -- he's at three over par.
15:10 GMT: Germany's Martin Kaymer makes a good start. Birdies at the second and third pull him back to four over par through four holes.
15:05 GMT: Not long now till Tiger Woods starts his final round. He's three over par through the first 54 holes and will be looking for something special on the last day after a frustrating week so far.
14:58 GMT: American wonderboy Rickie Fowler blasts a huge drive up the top of the rise on the first hole. AFP's Allan Kelly spots Fowler easily in his usual blazing orange outfit, black hat with orange trim and black shoes. "About time though he made the move from fashion icon to tournament winner -- he is stuck at zero for that," says Allan.
14:52 GMT: Stewart Cink is one of the few players who has made a positive start on Sunday, with birdies at the fifth and seventh holes taking up back to +9.
14:45 GMT: Ireland's Padraig Harrington is having a great week. He birdied five of the last six holes on Saturday and starts the final round at four-under -- five behind leader Hanson. "You could say I'm the man in form," quipped the three-time major winning Irishman, whose form has been erratic in recent years, afterwards.
14:35 GMT: It's a rotten start for US Amateur champ Kraft -- he's four over for the day through six holes -- +14 for the tournament. Japan's Hideki Matsuyama is on pace to pick up his second consecutive Masters Silver Cup for leading amateur. He's one-over par after the third round.
14:30 GMT: Augusta is known for the drama of the Sunday's back nine. When the heat is on it will come down to who holes out best - through 54 holes Mickelson has taken just 77 putts on the greens. Hanson (79) is second with the putter.
14:25 GMT: As well as being closing day, Masters Sunday this year is Easter Sunday. The last winner at Augusta on Easter Sunday was Argentina's Angel Cabrera in 2009.
14:20 GMT: AFP's Allan Kelly tells us that reigning Masters champ Charl Schwartzel is heading for the first tee. The South African looked lively in the opening two rounds but playing with Tiger Woods on Saturday he dropped out of contention with a 75.
14:18 GMT: All holes at Augusta National are named after flowers. The front nine includes Tea Olive, Pink Dogwood, Flowering Peach, Yellow Jasmine and Carolina Cherry. The back nine boasts Camelia, Golden Bell, Azalea and Chinese Fir.
14:12 GMT: World number one Luke Donald of England is up and running in the final round of a disappointing Masters. "I've not been good enough," he admitted after a third round 75 left him among the also-rans.
14:08 GMT: US sports network ESPN showing last night's interview with Mickelson: "To have made a run on the back nine to put me in the final group is awesome," he says. Big Phil wants his fourth Masters title.
14:01 GMT: It's been a frustrating week for Tiger Woods -- he came into the tournament fresh after his first tour victory in more than two years but his swing has been all over the place at Augusta - - he stands at +3 and will tee off in 90 minutes' time.
13:58 GMT: Of today's starting top 10, six players have yet to win a major - could Peter Hanson, Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson or Hunter Mahan break their duck?
13:53 GMT: AFP's Jim Slater at Augusta notes that the best final-round comeback to win was Jack Burke - eight strokes in 1956.
13:48 GMT: Just under five hours until Hanson and Mickelson are due at the first tee. Both finished strongly yesterday -- Mickelson's closing nine of 30 was just one shot off the Masters record.
13:42 GMT: A disappointing bogey start at the first for US Amateur champ Kelly Kraft. Cink makes par.
13:40 GMT: The second biggest weekend Masters field in history has players from six countries -- Sweden, USA, South Africa, Ireland, England and Scotland -- in the top 10 after 54 holes.
13:28 GMT: Kelly Kraft clatters his drive 300 yards down the left side of the first fairway. Stewart Cink, the 2009 British Open champ, heads down theright side. We're off and running...
13:26 GMT All eyes are on Hanson today - no Swede has ever won a major championship!!! But Mickelson is a three-time Masters champion. He's been in this position before.
13:24 GMT: -9 HANSON, -8 MICKELSON, -7 OOSTHUIZEN, -6 BUBBA WATSON, -5 KUCHAR
13:20 GMT: Blue skies and sunshine - perfect conditions greet first men Kelly Kraft and Stewart Cink at Augusta National.
WELCOME TO AFP'S LIVE REPORT ON THE 2012 US MASTERS. Sweden's Peter Hanson and Phil Mickelson of the United States top the leaderboard, but with a field of major winners just a few shots back the tournament is likely to throw up at least a few surprises.
