IAN POULTER was steaming in the Augusta heat, as he had to keep looking over his shoulder when his group were put on the clock twice.
Poulter was partnered with the inexperienced Patrick Cantlay and out-of-sorts 2008 champion Trevor Immelman, and he clearly felt he was not to blame for their slow play.
He said: We were put on the clock not once, but twice. What did I think about it? I think as a group we were slow, but I'm not going to say the reasons why we were slow.
I'm going to say we. Let me just generalise and say we. Just to keep that clean.
"I mentioned to the lads we need to get off the clock coming to 12, but we fell back onto it. And quite rightly, thats all Ill say.
Poulters rounds of 74 and 75 left him on five over par, and meant he could not be sure of making the cut. And he admitted last weeks Houston open triumph had left him short of gas.
He added: I was always going to be fatigued coming into this week. I'm under-prepared, I got here Tuesday afternoon - I needed to have a day off Monday - so , I'm under-practiced.
I got 18 quick holes in. But it's a long week I just hope it's a bit longer.
Fred Couples once again proved the value of Augusta know-how as he produced another Master-ful display at the course he loves most.
Couples, 58, shares the record for most consecutive cuts made in the Masters with 23, and he is through to the weekend yet again with plenty to spare.
His rounds of 72-74 took him to two over par, and the 1992 champion has now made the cut in 30 of his 33 starts at Augusta.
Ian Poulter celebrates after winning Houston Open to clinch a place at the Masters