Dustin Johnson withdrew without hitting a shot, while Charley Hoffman made nine birdies on his way to a 65, defying tricky conditions at Augusta National.
The visitors made the strongest start in a game played in tricky conditions after a day of heavy rain left the Headingley pitch soaked.
"It's been a good start, tricky conditions the first couple of matches, with the heat, but beautiful conditions today, in front of a full crowd.
Another person needed hospital treatment in Carmarthenshire following a crash, while in Welshpool a car overturned in tricky conditions.
For Bell, whose 65 was his second half-century of a match played in some tricky conditions, it was a timely response to those who might have doubted his capacity to fill the No3 role, and for the second time he took the game by the scruff after the early loss of a wicket.
For seven and a half hours, in tricky conditions, he kept at bay one of the most formidable pace attacks that has taken the field.
"It was tricky conditions, a tough opponent so I'm very happy I was able to come back and come through and win this match".
"It was tricky conditions, a tough opponent so I'm very happy I was able to come back and come through and win this match". "I feel like I play my best when my opponent pushes me really," said Williams.
Kubica is an artist in the tricky conditions forecast and while the five championship rivals take care of each other, the Renault driver might well be in a position to help himself to the race.
Scrum-half Conor Murray, unfortunate to be taken off after an assured outing in tricky conditions, also kept his hopes alive, but his replacement Eoin Reddan - a long shot at best anyway - is out of the equation after breaking his leg in the game's last knockings.
