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The two European Ryder Cup team-mates - stablemates as well - went into the third round of the Masters in joint fifth place.

But to win their first major title the pair not only had to catch American Chad Campbell, on six under par four ahead of them and three clear of the field.

They also had to do battle with every single member of the game's 'Big Five'.

Vijay Singh was joint second with Fred Couples and Rocco Mediate. Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els were alongside Howell and Clarke, while Tiger Woods and Retief Goosen were just one shot further back - along with Padraig Harrington and 53-year-old Ben Crenshaw.

This is only the second Masters 30-year-old Howell has played. But on his debut last April he went into the weekend joint leader with Luke Donald and finished up 11th.

The main memory of that week is that he could not live with Woods when the world number one went on an amazing third round charge.

Since then, of course, Howell has beaten Woods head-to-head in Shanghai and firmly established himself in the sport's top 20.

And what will stand him in good stead this weekend - a weekend expected to begin with thunderstorms - is that he is, as Woods has dubbed him, one "cool dude".

After finishing off his second successive 71 with a birdie yesterday Howell said: "I didn't play great and I am delighted with one under (for the round).

"I drove it slightly better, but the swing changes I made messed up my iron play. Sod's law there.

"It was a struggle, but I just kept battling and the momentum stayed with me.

"I am putting well and managing my game well. There is more to golf than just hitting the ball. Hopefully I can just turn the swing around for the weekend if something clicks I might be dangerous.

"I am better equipped mentally now. Another year down the line, I am ranked higher and I have won a couple of times. I have handled some pressurised situations better than in previous years."

Clarke also took an instant liking to Augusta, coming eighth on his 1998 debut. He also led after an opening 66 three years ago, but a lack of fitness counted against him then when bad weather made it more of a physical test.

Known in the past for his short fuse, the 37-year-old is a very different man now. With his wife Heather in a long battle with cancer he has no difficulty putting golf into perspective.

"There are a lot of people who want to win this a lot more than I do. I would love to do it myself, but it's not that important," said the Ulsterman after also closing with a birdie.

"I am just taking whatever the course gives me. It is probably the most relaxed I have ever been in a major."

Clarke was in the Bahamas with his wife last week and added: "Sometimes when you get completely away from the game and hardly touch the clubs it brings back what is really important.

"And golf ain't that important. I am not bothered about anything. If I make a mistake I make a mistake."

Harrington was five over after seven holes of his first round on Thursday, but six under for his last 29 holes.

"After that start I started shooting for birdies, not pars," said the Dubliner. "I tried to stay aggressive.

"I am not being ridiculous or anything. It's just picking your shots wisely and playing them. I have worked (with American sports psychologist Bob Rotella) on dealing with adversity.

"I should have been feeling down at five over, but I stayed positive and came back very strongly. He's very pleased with that."

Donald, third last year, lost some ground late on yesterday and was resuming eight behind Campbell, whose best-of-the-day 67 enabled him to take over at the top from Singh, whose rollercoaster 74 included three double bogeys.

Texan Campbell finished second in the 2003 US PGA Championship to Shaun Micheel and is a class act. But leading the Masters on a course as tough as Augusta has been made will test him like nothing else in his career so far.

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