Pre-tournament favourite DeChambeau was already a long way from the lead when he arrived at the par-4 3rd, his 12th hole, at Augusta National.

A triple-bogey followed, making his task all the harder and leaving him with work to do to even make the cut.

DeChambeau lost his ball when he hooked it left of the 3rd fairway, apparently into wet, muddy rough.

Had spectators been on site chances are someone would have seen the ball land, but with just a couple of marshals in the vicinity it was not to be.

After failing to locate the ball within the allowed three minutes, he had no choice but to return to the tee for his third shot.

DeChambeau was three-over par for the round after 12 holes and one over overall when play was halted for the day in fading light.

He was 10 strokes from the lead and will probably need to pick up one or two shots over the final six holes on Saturday morning to have a chance of making the cut.

- Andrew Both, Reuters