Big-hitting Gary Woodland set Augusta National’s front nine alight when he equaled the Masters outward nine record in shooting a 6-under 30.

It is only the fifth occasion in the history of the Masters the feat has been achieved.

Those others were:- Johnny Miller (1975, third round); Greg Norman (1988, fourth round); K.J. Choi (2004, second round) and Phil Mickelson (2009, fourth round).

Woodland opened with birdie on the first hole, and then made eagle on the par-5 second. He then birdied Nos. 6, 8 and 9 and quickly vaulted into a third-place tie, only four shots behind leader Bubba Watson.

The American then birdied the 10th hole to be four under par for the before Augusta National exacted some revenge when he took a bogey at 11 and then a double bogey at 12th, and the famed par three gem that was statistically the hardest on the course on day two.

Woodland eventually went onto post a round 69 and finish the day tied in 14th place at level par.

He will play the final round in the company of Aussie John Senden.

Gary Woodland equals a Masters record with an outward nine of 30.