Please use the following links:
Snedeker and Cabrera In Tie for Masters Lead
Fast Finish Puts Penalty-Hit Tiger in Masters Hunt
Guan Struggles to 77 But Still Enjoying Masters
Snedeker and Cabrera In Tie for Masters Lead
AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 13, 2013 (AFP) - Brandt Snedeker of the United States and Angel Cabrera of Argentina shared the lead at seven-under par 209 after the third round of the Masters on Saturday.
Snedeker opened on four under, two back from leader Jason Day of Australia, and he parred the first 12 holes before advancing with three birdies in four holes to get to seven under.
Cabrera, the 2009 Masters winner, also picked up three shots on the day, making a birdie at the last to finish, like Snedeker, with a three-under 69.
Day, who led the field by one overnight, looked set to join Snedeker and Cabrera in a three-way tie, but he missed short putts at the last two holes to slip back to five under.
That was one back of countryman Adam Scott (69), who was alone in third at six under.
A third Austraian, Marc Leishman, was level with Day at five under after a 72 with Matt Kuchar (69) alone on four under and South African Tim Clark on three under after a 67, the best round of the day.
Level with Clark was Tiger Woods, who was hit with a two-stroke penalty for an improper drop before the round started, but then clawed his back into contention at three under with a round of 70.
History is against him though as he has never won a major when not leading. or sharing the lead, going into the final round.
World number two Rory McIlroy, the winner of the previous major at the PGA Championship in August, shot himself out of the tournament with a 79 that included a triple bogey at the 11th and a double at the 15th to stand at five over.
"It's very disappointing. I feel like I was playing well and feel like I have been playing well coming in here and it's just a frustrating day here," said McIlroy, who has been struggling since the start of the year when he changed his golfing equipment.
The English challenge stuttered as Lee Westwood had a 73 to slip to two under, Justin Rose carded a 75 for level par and Luke Donald managed only a 75 to sink to two over.
Phil Mickelson's hopes were shattered as the three-time former winner slipped out to eight over with a 77, while defending champion Bubba Watson, out first alone, came in with a 70 to get to two over.
Fast Finish Puts Penalty-Hit Tiger in Masters Hunt
AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 13, 2013 (AFP) - Tiger Woods fired a two-under par 70 in Saturday's third round of the Masters only hours after being hit with a two-stroke penalty, putting him in the hunt for his 15th career major crown.
Woods began a run of three birdies in four holes at the par-3 12th and made tense par putts on the last three holes to share seventh on three-under 213 after 54 holes at Augusta National, where he has won four green jackets.
After a bogey at the par-4 11th, Woods birdied three of the next four holes, then made a sand save at the 16th, a tricky par putt at 17 and a 10-footer for par at the 18th after a bad tee shot.
"That was a nice one to make," Woods said of his last putt. "The last three saves were key and kept me in the tournmament."
Woods was four strokes off the lead when he reached the clubhouse with the leaders still finishing their third rounds, but the 14-time major champion has never won a major when he was not leading after 54 holes.
World number one Woods began the day with an early morning meeting with the Augusta National competition committee, which imposed the penalty on him for an improper drop at the par-5 15th hole in Friday's second round.
"I made a mistake. Under the rules of golf, I made an improper drop and I got a penalty," Woods said. "I'm abiding by the rules."
The committee had checked the drop and ruled it proper on Friday after a television viewer inquiry, but comments by Woods in a post-round television interview opened the door to reconsider the ruling.
After hitting the flagstick with his third shot at 15 on Friday and seeing his ball roll into a water hazard, Woods had said he dropped the ball two yards back from the original shot to avoid a similar risk on the next shot.
When Augusta National competition committee chairman Fred Ridley saw those remarks, the group reversed itself and imposed the penalty, but it would have been within its rights to disqualify Woods for signing an incorrect scorecard.
"Take the fact that it was Tiger out of the equation and it is a fair ruling," tweeted Graeme McDowell, who missed the cut. "Since it is him the debate begins about TV ratings etc etc."
Ridley said Woods was treated like any other golfer.
"I thought (on Friday) Tiger had done his best to comply," Ridley said. "Other people may disagree with that. It was my decision.
"It would have been grossly unfair to Tiger to have disqualified him. If this had been John Smith from wherever he would have gotten the same ruling because it's the right ruling under the circumstances."
Instead, a rule change approved in 2011 governing such situations allowed for a two-stroke penalty rather than disqualification for a player who unknowingly makes a violation, which Ridley ruled Woods had done.
"It was certainly a distraction early with the routine but it's like anything, it happens and you move on," Woods said. "I was ready to play come game time."
The ruling sparked furious comments from former players who were accustomed to players withdrawing themselves if they found they had made a violation, none moreso than three-time Masters winner Nick Faldo of England.
"He should really sit down and think about this and the mark this will leave on his career, his legacy, everything," Faldo said on The Golf Channel.
"It's just dreadful. Tiger is judge and jury on this. There is absolutely no intention to drop as close to the divot. That's a breach of the rules."
Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, has not won a major title since the 2008 US Open and has not won the Masters since capturing his fourth green jacket in 2005.
The spectre raised of Woods winning on Sunday and having a tainted victory as he tries to catch or pass Nicklaus was raised by commentators.
"This is a flagrant, obvious violation," retired player Brandel Chamblee said. "If Tiger has read the rule it is incumbent on him to say he is in violation and disqualify himself. Anything else is unacceptable."
Faldo, however, backed off his comments in Masters TV coverage, saying, "We're in a new era under new rules. Even if they bring some controversy, we're playing under new rules. Some of the old pros like myself, we have to accept that now."
Ridley noted that the US PGA and European tours and the US and Royal and Ancient Golf Associations were notified of the decision and supported it.
"I'm pleased the governing bodies and the tours are behind our decision because I think it's a good decision," Ridley said. "I can't really control what the perception might or might not be."
Guan Struggles to 77 But Still Enjoying Masters
AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 13, 2013 (AFP) - Chinese 14-year-old schoolboy Guan Tianlang, the youngest player in Masters history, struggled to a five-over par 77 in Saturday's third round of the 77th Masters to stand third-from last.
Simply reaching the weekend by making the cut on the number was a triumph of sorts for Guan, the youngest player in a major since Scotland's "Young" Tom Morris made his British Open debut at age 14 in 1865.
"It's just a great week for me, and I really enjoy it," Guan said. "People here are nice and I learned a lot from the top players. I played pretty good rounds these three days. It's really great."
Guan, who won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship last year in Thailand to qualify for the Masters, stood on nine-over par 225 after 54 holes.
On Sunday, Guan will play alongside Scotland's 55-year-old Sandy Lyle, the 1985 Masters winner, in the second group.
"I'm pretty excited I get to play with all the top players on the weekend," Guan said. "I had a pretty good run in the first two days, and today feels pretty good, not badly. I did a couple unlucky (things), but that's golf."
After a bogey at the par-3 fourth for the second day in a row, Guan took bogeys at the par-4 ninth and par-4 11th for the second time in three days. He also made bogeys at 14 and 17 playing alongside Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen.
"Unbelievable. He's a great player," Olesen said. "Every shot he hit was almost at the pin and in the right spots. He could have holed a few more putts, but I was really impressed by his game. It was impressive to watch."
Guan has not made a birdie since sinking a 20-foot putt on the 18th hole on Thursday to finish his first Masters round with a sizzling 71.
That start helped ensure Guan will claim the Silver Cup as low amateur as the only non-pro to make the cut and put Guan in the Butler Cabin on Sunday when the new champion is first presented with his green jacket.
"It's my honor to be there and I'm really happy," Guan said.
Guan's Asia-Pacific Amateur triumph also booked him a berth in the final international qualifying for this year's British Open and he said that he hopes to attempt to qualify for June's US Open if timing with schoolwork allows.
Asked about his idol, 14-time major winner Tiger Woods, receiving a two-shot penalty for an improper drop from the same Augusta Natyional officials who gave Guan a rare slow-play penalty stroke on Friday, Guan backed the authorities.
"I think rules are rules, and I respect the decisions they make," Guan said. "I think Tiger played pretty good."
Guan said rules officials told him he was slightly slow at the 12th hole on Saturday but not out of position.
"They said we are a couple minutes behind but we are still good," Guan said.
Added Olesen: "I didn't think he played slow. I think he played pretty quick actually. He's 14 and there's a big crowd following him so it's pretty difficult for him. I think he has handled it really, really good."
Complete scores on Saturday after the third round of the 77th Masters at par-72 Augusta National Golf Club:
209 - Brandt Snedeker (USA) 70-70-69, Angel Cabrera (ARG) 71-69-69
210 - Adam Scott (AUS) 69-72-69
211 - Marc Leishman (AUS) 66-73-72, Jason Day (AUS) 70-68-73
212 - Matt Kuchar (USA) 68-75-69
213 - Tim Clark (RSA) 70-76-67, Tiger Woods 70-71-70
214 - Rickie Fowler (USA) 72-68-70, Steve Stricker (USA) 73-70-71, Bernhard Langer (GER) 71-71-72, Lee Westwood (ENG) 70-71-73, Jim Furyk (USA) 69-71-74
215 - Nick Watney (USA) 78-69-68, Bo Van Pelt (USA) 71-74-70, Sergio Garcia (ESP) 66-76-73, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (ESP) 68-74-73
216 - Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 78-70-68, Zach Johnson (USA) 69-76-71, Justin Rose (ENG) 70-71-75, Jason Dufner (USA) 72-69-75, Fred Couples (USA) 68-71-77
217 - Fredrik Jacobson (SWE) 72-73-72, Bill Haas (USA) 71-72-74, Dustin Johnson (USA) 67-76-74, John Senden (AUS) 72-70-75, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 71-71-75
218 - Bubba Watson (USA) 75-73-70, John Huh (USA) 70-77-71, Ernie Els (RSA) 71-74-73, Luke Donald (ENG) 71-72-75, K.J. Choi (KOR) 70-71-77
219 - Branden Grace (RSA) 78-70-71, Robert Garrigus (USA) 76-71-72, Stewart Cink (USA) 75-71-73, D.A. Points (USA) 72-75-72, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 75-71-73
220 - Jose Maria Olazabal (ESP) 74-72-74, Kevin Na (USA) 70-76-74, Brian Gay (USA) 72-74-74, Vijay Singh (FIJ) 72-74-74, Richard Sterne (RSA) 73-72-75, David Toms (USA) 70-74-76
221 - Lucas Glover (USA) 74-74-73, Martin Kaymer (GER) 72-75-74, Paul Lawrie (SCO) 76-70-75, Trevor Immelman (RSA) 68-75-78, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 72-70-79, David Lynn (ENG) 68-73-80
222 - John Peterson (USA) 71-77-74, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 73-73-76, Scott Piercy (USA) 75-69-78
223 - Peter Hanson (SWE) 72-75-76, Carl Pettersson (SWE) 76-70-77, Michael Thompson (USA) 73-71-79
224 - Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 71-77-76, Phil Mickelson (USA) 71-76-77, Ryan Moore (USA) 71-72-81
225 - Guan Tianlang (CHN) 73-75-77
226 - Sandy Lyle (SCO) 73-72-81