Masters: Tiger Woods faces gruelling Friday as Bryson DeChambeu sets early pace

Tiger Woods faced the prospect of completing 23 holes in one day as he looked to keep his hopes of a record-equalling sixth Masters title alive on Friday.

Woods was among the 27 players who were unable to finish their first rounds on Thursday at Augusta National after bad weather meant the start of play had been delayed by two-and-a-half hours.

The 15-time major winner managed to complete 13 holes in one under par to lie six shots off the pace set by former US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, with pre-tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler just a shot behind following a flawless 66.

Tiger Woods put on a short-game clinic to close out his Masters Thursday. #themasters pic.twitter.com/vW8ikbfKJ3

Scheffler came into the week with form figures of 1-1-2 and the biggest obstacle to a third win in four starts would appear to be his wife Meredith going into labour with their first child.

“The nursery is not quite ready and we’ve had some issues at our house the last few weeks,” Scheffler said. “I think that’s the exciting part. I think we are definitely underprepared to be parents.

“As far as her going into labour, I wouldn’t say I’m very concerned. We haven’t seen any of the early signs. But pregnancy is weird. It can happen at any time.

“Yeah, [we have] open lines of communication and she can get a hold of me if she needs to. I’m ready to go at a moment’s notice.”

Scottie Scheffler leaps to within one shot of the lead with a birdie on No. 16. #themasters pic.twitter.com/bbHojpTueU

DeChambeau put on a clinic of power and putting, always a good recipe at Augusta National.

“I'm just in a place where I'm repeating a motion, trying to do the same thing over and over again," he said.

He ran off five birdies in a six-hole stretch on