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Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith concede their Masters hopes are on life support but will use Sunday's final round to try and book their tickets to Augusta next year.

Both Australians are among the world's best 30 golfers and would likely qualify for next year's Augusta major regardless.

However, Leishman and Smith can save themselves the hassle by finishing within the top 12.

The pair did it last year when Smith finished tied fifth and Leishman ninth.

They are hoping to repeat their efforts as Smith signed for a 69 on Saturday and a three-under total.

Leishman is a shot further behind at two under having posted a 70 on day three.

"Yeah, I'm probably too far back (to win)," Smith said.

"I'm like to be nine or 10 shots back by the end of the day and I'll need a good round tomorrow and some help from the leaderboard."

Leishman has risen to world No.20 by fighting to salvage respectable results at each tournament he tees up in and said nothing would change for the Masters finale.

"Oh yeah, there is still a lot to play for; a lot of world ranking points, FedEx Cup points and you can get yourself into next year's event," Leishman said.

"It's a go-for-broke day, really. I'm tied for 30th at the moment and we don't come to Augusta to finish 30th.

"So I will try shoot a really low one and see what happens."

Smith is hoping to emulate his final-round heroics at the 2018 Masters when he closed with a 66 - coming home in just 30 shots on his back nine - to finish as the top Australian.

"It would be nice to do that again; anything in the mid 60s would put me right up there," Smith said.

"That's definitely not out of the question but I have to figure out my long game, it has been a frustrating week."

Australian fans could be watching the drama of the Masters final round late on Sunday night with thunderstorms raising the possibility of a rare rescheduling of tee times at Augusta National.

With thunderstorms forecast throughout Sunday, it has been suggested that Masters officials could make the rare move of sending competitors out in threesomes from the first and 10th tees.

With a storm expected to hit the Augusta, Georgia area around 4pm local time on Sunday, it has been rumoured final round tee times could start from 7.30am - which would be 9.30pm AEST - in order to finish the final day before it hits.

Australian fans are accustomed to the final group tee off on Sunday at the Masters at 5am AEST.

The move would be unusual given Augusta National is a strict follower of tradition and would likely prefer to have competitors tee off the first hole only, in twosomes.

Masters host broadcaster CBS would also need to be consulted, given it is one of their highest-rating sports spectacles.

The back nine of the final round at the Masters is known for its drama and finishes in a prime time TV slot on Sunday night.

But the thunderstorms have increased the possibility of an unwanted Monday finish, which has only happened four times in 82 previous Masters - the last coming in 1983.

The Masters has used two-tee starts five times, including the first three rounds in 2005 when Tiger Woods went on to victory in a sudden-death play-off on Sunday over Chris DiMarco.

After a polite kick up the backside from his wife, Australian Jason Day has realised his crippling back injury may be a blessing in disguise in his Masters run.

Day, who has ruled out going under the knife, realises he needs to focus on negotiating his severe back pain with capitalising on his most exciting 36-hole start to the Augusta National major since 2013.

Day had not had a better opening two rounds at the Masters since then, but on Friday the 31-year-old fired a five-under-par 67 to share the 36-hole lead after a weather-interrupted second round.

Day is tied for the lead at seven under alongside countryman Adam Scott (68), as well as fellow major winners Brooks Koepka (71), Louis Oosthuizen (66) and Francesco Molinari (67).

Dustin Johnson (70), Justin Harding (69) and Xander Schauffele (65) are a shot behind at six under alongside four-time Masters winner Woods (68).

In 2013, Day led the Masters outright at the halfway point only to capitulate on the last three holes on the Sunday.

He handed Scott the Masters victory that day and the honour of being the first Australian to don Augusta's coveted green jacket.

Day is primed for another big Masters run but will have to battle his injured back over the next two rounds.

On Thursday, Day received treatment from his chiropractor, Canadian Dr Stuart Love, beside the second hole in his opening round. Dr Love worked tirelessly on Day's back on Thursday night and Friday morning.

But it was some tough love from dedicated wife Ellie that had Day mentally prepared for the fight on day two.

"I was moping a little bit in the bath, and Ellie said, 'It's the Masters, you need to suck it up.'

"I can't complain because she's birthed three children and I haven't, so she's a lot stronger as a person than me; I just hit a little white golf ball around a course."

The motivation and therapy worked wonders as Day appeared to be in considerably less pain as he put together a near-flawless round.

He birdied all four par 5s on Friday while picking up another two - at the par-4 fifth and par-3 16th.

The only stain was a poor tee shot at the par-3 12th, and a subsequent sloppy bunker shot, which resulted in a bogey.

Day has admitted to trying too hard in previous years at the major he wants the most, and says a back injury could be a positive.

"The Masters, how big it is and the distraction of wanting to win this tournament so bad, it (the back injury) is almost a blessing in disguise," Day said.

"It just brings down the expectation of going out there and trying too hard."

Day's ongoing back injuries have seen him withdraw mid-round from the recent Arnold Palmer tournament.

He contemplated pulling out at Augusta on day one but the ailments do not warrant surgery this year, Day says.

"No, no, no ... I want to stay away from that as much as possible.

"Once you cut yourself (open), you can't undo what you've done in there, so I (need to) stay away from that."

Tiger Woods getting tripped over by a security guard was just one of several bizarre incidents during an eventful second round at the Masters in Augusta.

Woods had just played a miraculous approach shot from the trees to the par-4 14th hole, when a member of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation tried to prevent patrons from getting too close to the 14-time major winner.

But the guard slipped on Augusta's wet grass and made contact with Woods' ankle.

Woods, who has a history of injuries including a torn ACL, limped in pain for several metres but was uninjured.

"No, it's all good. Accidents happen," Woods said. "I've had galleries run over me. When you play in front of a lot of people, things happen."

Woods jokingly added: "Other than having four knee surgeries and four back surgeries, I'm great."

Elsewhere on the course, world No.3 Rory McIlroy hit a drive on the par-5 15th that was so wayward, it flew beyond the trees, over spectators and nestled into a golf buggy being used by an Augusta National official.

Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnat was also made a victim by Augusta's soggy conditions - which forced a 40-minute weather delay - when he lost balance hitting his second shot and fell on his back as his approach found the 17th green, 19 feet from the hole.

Aphibarnrat made par on the par-4 17th and finished the round with an even par 72 after scoring an opening-round 69.

Former Masters winner Zach Johnson, on the par-5 13th, unintentionally clipped his ball off his tee during a practice swing and it rebounded off the tee marker to land a few feet in front of him.

But it wasn't a penalty. Under the new Rules of Golf, a tee ball is only considered in play when a player intends to hit it.

Johnson finished the round 1-over 73 to sit three over through two rounds - making the 36-hole cut on the number.

Spanish ace Jon Rahm dropped his club and winced immediately after shanking his second shot at the par-5 eighth and it flared into the trees - causing fans to flee and cover their heads.

Australians Jason Day and Adam Scott have set the stage for one of the most exciting Masters weekends in memory having fired their way into a share of the lead as the cream rose to the top at Augusta National.

Five different major winners are tied for the 36-hole lead, with Tiger Woods among the chasers one shot behind, but three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo expects 2013 winner Scott to break ahead as he eyes a run at another green jacket.

Six-time major winner Faldo's confidence in 18-year Augusta veteran Scott comes from the fact the Australian had never opened the Masters with two rounds in the 60s before posting 69, 68 this week.

Faldo expects former world No.1 Scott to make a move in Saturday's third round, nicknamed 'moving day' in professional golf.

"I wouldn't call it moving day. I think it's going to be shuffling day, but I like Adam Scott," Faldo said on TV.

"I love the way he's swinging and that the greens are a little slow. That would help him and I believe he's got the right intentions this weekend."

Scott threatened to run away with the halfway lead but settled for a four-under-par 68 to finish tied at the top at seven under, alongside fellow major winners Day (67), Brooks Koepka (71), Louis Oosthuizen (66) and Francesco Molinari (67).

Dustin Johnson (70), Justin Harding (69) and Xander Schauffele (65) are a shot behind at six under alongside four-time Masters winner Woods (68).

"I think it's going to be an incredible weekend no matter what happens; there are so many great players in with a chance," Scott said.

Scott grabbed the outright lead on the par-5 15th when he returned from a 40-minute weather delay to fire his second shot from 231 yards to within four feet, knocking in the eagle putt.

He missed a short par putt on the par-3 16th and birdie putts on 17 and 18 from within close range.

Rain, thunderstorms and strong winds are forecast for the weekend - similar conditions to when Scott became the first Australian to don the green jacket six years ago.

"I think it's coincidental," Scott said, adding that the weather isn't why this week feels akin to his historic Masters win.

"I've really worked on everything with the Masters in mind from the start of the year; much like I did in 2013," he said.

"There has been more intent, this year. I want to prove to myself that I've got it."

Scott's countryman Day has not held even a share of the 36-hole lead since he led outright in 2013, only to stumble late in the final round.

Carrying a crippling back injury that required on-course medical treatment in Thursday's first round, Day says his ailment has lowered expectations on him.

"The Masters, how big it is and the distraction of wanting to win this tournament so bad, it (the back injury) is almost a blessing in disguise," Day said.

Fellow Australians Marc Leishman (72) and Cameron Smith (74) finished the second round at even-par 144.

The Masters cut fell at three over, meaning stars like Justin Rose and and Paul Casey, as well as former Masters winners Sergio Garcia and Charl Schwartzel, missed the cut.

Under a severe injury cloud, Jason Day is off and away in his second round at the Masters at Augusta National.

Day, who received medical treatment on course in Thursday's first round for his chronically injured back, saved par on Augusta's first hole despite pulling his drive left into the trees and missing the green for his second shot on Friday.

He got up and down for par but it's not clear whether Day will finish his second round.

On Thursday, Day defied crippling back pain to be in contention - throwing his Masters campaign into shambles.

The former world No.1 somehow posted a two-under-par 70 to finish day one just four shots from the lead despite aggravating his chronic back injury and needing medical treatment just five shots into his round.

He bogeyed the par-4 first, then complained of discomfort after his drive on the par-5 second and was massaged by his Canadian chiropractor Dr Stuart Love.

However he continued playing, moments later hitting a 278-yard second shot in the par-5 green and two-putting for a birdie.

Day walked slowly and winced over every shot while mixing three more birdies with a bogey.

The 31-year-old's management told officials he would not speak with media but confirmed Day aggravated his ongoing back injury when he leant down to kiss daughter Lucy on Augusta's practice putting green on Thursday morning.

Day withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month, citing an annular tear in a disc in his back, which required him to have four cortisone injections around his spine.

He was a final-round chance to win at the Players Championship the following week and tied for eighth but missed the cut at the Valspar Championship a week later and failed to advance from the group stage at the WGC-Match Play.

Cameron Smith and Adam Scott hoped their fellow Australian was okay and that he would be healthy enough to finish the 83rd Masters tournament.

"You wouldn't wish that on anyone, let alone any of the Aussies so hopefully he's alright and keeps going," Smith said.

Scott added: "Hopefully, it's nothing major and he gets through and then he can play the rest of the week."

DAY ONE AT THE MASTERS:

THE LEADERS - Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka (66); Phil Mickelson (67); Dustin Johnson, Ian Poulter (68)

THE AUSSIES - Adam Scott (69, tied sixth); Cameron Smith, Jason Day (70, tied 11th); Marc Leishman (72, tied 29th).

BEST ROUND - DeChambeau and Koepka, 66

TALKING POINT: Day's back injury. The former world No.1 needed to be stretched out by his trainer on the second hole but remarkably finished the round at two under.

QUOTE OF THE DAY - "I should have pulled the flagstick out. Or, I should have had (my caddie) go out there and pull it out or tend it." - DeChambeau on nearly holing his second shot for eagle at the par-4 18th.

Australian golfer Adam Scott has credited making peace with Augusta National for his lowest opening round at the Masters in five years, placing the 2013 champion well in contention.

Not since the 2014 Masters has Scott signed for a first-round under par, but the 38-year-old turned on a vintage performance with a three-under par 69.

Scott's score was later bettered by five others including American stars Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka, who each fired a 66.

At six under, DeChambeau and three-time major winner Koepka lead by one shot from three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson (67), while England veteran Ian Poulter and Dustin Johnson (68) are tied fourth at four under.

Scott arrived at the first major of the year buoyed by his lowest putting rank through April on the US PGA Tour in 15 years.

But it's also the comfort of playing without the anxiety of breaking through at Augusta that Scott says has him primed for another Masters charge.

"I've talked a lot about being at peace with the (Augusta) and understanding it can give you a lot," Scott said.

"It can take it away as well, but I certainly feel there's a lot of good karma if you treat it right."

Scott has not shot better than 75 on Thursday at the past three Masters, while he has not broken par on day one since 2014 - when he posted a 69.

The fast start has Scott giddy about his chances of getting in position for a run at a second green jacket.

"Generally in my career, I'm a slow starter - certainly the last 10 years," Scott said.

"I don't jump out of the gates, it seems. So I don't know if this is jumping out of the gates, but it certainly is great."

Fellow Australians Cameron Smith and Jason Day each carded a 70, which is remarkable given Day was in severe pain from an ongoing back injury.

Day aggravated his troubled back bending down to kiss his daughter on the practice putting green on Thursday morning and now his Masters campaign is in dire straits.

He needed medical treatment from his trainer beside the second hole but finished the round while wincing in pain over every shot.

Tiger Woods also carded a 70 and the four-time Masters winner lurks ominously, four shots off the pace.

Marc Leishman (72) rounded out the Australian contingent and although he three-putted the 18th hole for bogey, he remains in the mix at even par.

Australian Cameron Smith was well versed about Augusta National's course changes ahead of the 83rd Masters.

The brutal par-4 fifth was given a new tee that lengthened it by 50 yards to measure 495 yards.

But it was Thursday's opening-round pin placements took the Queenslander by surprise.

"The pin on the 14th was a ripper; that was a pearler," Smith said.

Countryman Adam Scott, playing his 18th Masters, said he had never seen flags in certain spots on Augusta's lightning-fast greens.

"There were some tough pins out there; couple took me by surprise," Smith said.

But it didn't stop Smith firing his way into contention on day one with a two-under-par 70 that left him four shots behind first-round co-leaders Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau.

World No.28 Smith, playing his third Masters, was struggling with the difficulty of the pin placements and was one-over the card through 11 holes.

But the 25-year-old found another gear and birdied three of his last six holes - including the two par 5s on the back nine.

"The scores weren't great and it was tough out there; if you don't have your best stuff like I did (Augusta) can be brutal," Smith said.

"Could have let it get away from me a little bit but I hung in there and put a nice swing on a few shots coming home."

A year after finishing as the top Australian in a tie for fifth, Smith is well in contention going into Friday's second round.

"It's nice to know I can still scratch out a score even without my A game," he said.

"I made plenty of clutch putts and sometimes you have to scrap a score out there and hopefully I can continue that the rest of this week."

A three-putt on the last hole has left Marc Leishman "fuming" but Australia's form player this year says it will fire him up to have a hot second round at the Masters.

Leishman hit the par-4 18th in two but the three-putt bogey prevented him from finishing under par.

An even-par 72 has the world No.20 six shots behind first-round co-leaders Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau.

Leishman's rollercoaster scorecard contained five birdies, three bogeys and a momentum-crippling double-bogey six at the par-4 10th moments after he had made the turn in one under.

"There's something about three-putting the last hole that always makes you walk off with a few fumes coming out where they shouldn't be," Leishman said.

"When you're having doubles and three putts and a few average shots, it was hard.

"But even par is not the worst start in the world, it's not far back at all.

"It's just disappointing because I felt like I could have shot five or six under today."

Leishman, who finished ninth at last year's Masters and tied fourth behind countryman Adam Scott when he won in 2013, has backed his stellar form on the US PGA Tour this season to return in time for Friday's second round.

Leishman is the only Australian to win a PGA Tour event this season and has three top-four results in the US this year.

It is also his seventh Masters and the 35-year-old knows a Thursday 72 has given him a chance to remain in contention.

"My game's really good, I'm playing well," he said.

"With 54 holes to go, I think I'm still a pretty good chance."