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Kuchar Hopes Third Time Charmed in Masters Hunt
Spieth, Watson Share Lead
AUGUSTA, April 12, 2014 (AFP) - Jordan Spieth, bidding to become the youngest ever Masters winner at 20, and 2012 champion Bubba Watson will take a share of the lead into Sunday's final round at Augusta National.
After a gruelling day of jousting atop a packed leaderboard under a hot sun that scorched the already devlish greens, the two Americans emerged tied at five-under par 211.
Spieth had a two-under 70, while 35-year-old Watson, who had led by three overnight, settled for a 74.
In second place, a stroke behind, were American Matt Kuchar, who had a 68, and unheralded Swedish newcomer Jonas Blixt with a 71.
But with 13 players under par and within four strokes of the lead, the stage was set for yet another Sunday afternoon of action-packed drama under the Georgia pines.
Spieth, who last year at age 19 became the youngest winner of a PGA Tour event since 1931, said that it had been the toughest of tests on an unforgiving layout.
"We could tell early on that the greens were ridiculous. They were so fast that balls would pass the hole and come back a couple of feet," he said.
"But that is just the Masters. You can't let your focus go astray for a moment.
"(The course) is a great fit for my game and so far so good."
If he wins, Spieth would take the youngest Masters winner tag from Tiger Woods, who was 21 when he won his first major at Augusta National in 1997.
He would also be the first rookie to win the Masters since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 and just the third ever to do so.
Waston, who struggled with his putter all day said he was looking forward to playing with Spieth in Sunday's final pairing.
"That's my worst day, but I am still tied for the lead, so it's not too bad," said Watson.
"Being in the last group gives you confidence for heing in that position. It will be interesting -- me trying to win, him trying to win. Hopefully one of us will win."
Watson opened with a bogey, but on the back of an eagle at the second, he had a five-stroke lead while teeing off at the third.
But four holes later he had been reeled in by Blitz, Spieth and Danish veteran Thomas Bjorn, to be joined shortly after by Kuchar on five under.
A superb approach for birdie at the 10th hole, where he clinched his playoff victory over Louis Oosthuizen two years ago, stopped the rot and ahead of him his rivals started to falter.
Both Bjorn and Blixt hit their approaches into Rae's Creek in front of the par-five 13th, Kuchar overcooked his approach from the back of the 18th and Spieth dropped one at the 11th to leave Watson two clear again at six under.
Already in the clubhouse on three under were 50-year-old Spanish shotmaker Miguel Angel Jimenez, who had a tournament-best 66, and American favorite Rickie Fowler with a 67.
Watson then had chances to extend his lead, but over-hit his approach to the par-five 15th and needed three to get down from the edge of the green at the par-three 16th.
Spieth birdied the 15th and then parred his way in to get to five.
Minutes later, Watson had a stroke of luck when his badly pulled approach to the last was bunted back by a packed gallery gathered around the hole and he managed to get up and down from there for par.
British hopes will be with 40-year-old Lee Westwood, who moved up the leaderboard with a 70 to get to two under, tied for seventh with Bjorn (73)and US veteran Jim Furyk (72).
Defending champion Adam Scott of Australia found himself going backwards as he stumbled to a 76 and at one over, his chances of becoming the first back-to-back Masters winner since Woods in 2002 looked dim.
Earlier in the day, Gary Woodland produced a blistering display of shotmaking to match the Masters record of 30 for the front nine, generally regarded as being the harder of the two nine-hole stretches.
But he came undone around Amen Corner, the feared trio of holes from 11 to 13 at Augusta National and had to settle for a 69 to leave him at one under.
First out was former world number one and pre-tournament favorite Rory McIlory, who scraped into the weekend by sinking a nervy five-footer for par at the last on Friday evening.
The Irishman, playing with a marker, sped round he course in double-quick time and three birdies in the last four holes gave him something to smile about for what is certain to be another doomed Masters campaign
Kuchar Hopes Third Time Charmed in Masters Hunt
AUGUSTA, April 12, 2014 (AFP) - Matt Kuchar flirted with a Masters title the past two years before faltering in the final round. This time, he's counting on experience to help him win a green jacket.
The 35-year-old American fired a four-under par 68 Saturday to grab a share of third on four-under 212, one stroke back of co-leaders Bubba Watson and Jordan Spieth entering the final round at Augusta National.
Kuchar was a contender down the final holes two years ago but just missed out on the playoff Watson won and settled for third. Last year he was sixth entering the final round but fired a 73 and finished in a tie for eighth.
"I'm very excited to have another crack at it," Kuchar said. "This is a position all of us hope to be in when we show up on Monday. It's one of those special places and awfully exciting to be in this position."
But, Kuchar said, the legendary lightning-fast greens of Augusta National might be at their all-time meanest in Sunday's fight for the green jacket.
"The greens are as fast as I ever remember Masters greens. That's a bit on the frightening side," Kuchar said. "But it's fun. That's why we come here."
Kuchar says he plans no changes in his game plan from past years but admits some changes in himself might help his cause.
"There has been some maturity as far as course management is concerned," Kuchar said. "I've learned how to put up the best score I can. I'm more comfortable playing golf with a chance to win a tournament."
Kuchar, ranked seventh, was in contention the past two weeks in PGA events, settling for second last weekend at the Houston Open. He hopes that will mean more than memories of his near-miss last year.
"It was great to have a shot last Sunday to try to win a tournament," Kuchar said.
"Last year is a long time ago in the game of golf. The last two weeks are fresher. I was in the hunt. I had chances. I'll take a lot more from the last two weeks than from a year ago."
Kuchar does recall the pressure down the stretch on the back nine Sunday from two years ago.
"It was exciting," Kuchar sad. "On the outskirts and I eagled the 15th hole to momentarily tie for the lead. Just a real thrill to be that close that far along on a Sunday.
"I'm certainly excited about my chances. It's going to be one of those unique and special days."
Kuchar's third-round 68 matched the lowest of his career at Augusta National.
"I played some good steady golf, drove it well. I found myself in some good spots for birdie," he said.
Kuchar birdied the par-5 15th after going over the green following two days of finding water when he came up short. This time he chipped to 12 feet and made the key putt.
"I never thought it would go that far over," he said. "Had a steady round of golf, not a lot of mistakes. I felt like I was striking it with pretty good control. Nice to see a few putts go in."
Collated third round scores and totals at the Masters on Thursday:-
(USA unless stated, par 72, x-denotes amateur):
211 - Bubba Watson 69 68 74, Jordan Spieth 71 70 70
212 - Matt Kuchar 73 71 68, Jonas Blixt (SWE) 70 71 71
213 - Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 71 76 66, Rickie Fowler 71 75 67
214 - Jim Furyk 74 68 72, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 73 68 73, Lee Westwood (ENG) 73 71 70
215 - Kevin Stadler 70 73 72, Justin Rose (ENG) 76 70 69, John Senden (AUS) 72 68 75, Fred Couples 71 71 73
216 - Ian Poulter (Eng) 76 70 70, Gary Woodland 70 77 69
217 - Adam Scott (Aus) 69 72 76, Kevin Streelman 72 71 74
218 - Steve Stricker 72 73 73, Chris Kirk 75 72 71, Russell Henley 73 70 75, Jimmy Walker 70 72 76, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (ESP) 75 69 74, Jason Day (AUS) 75 73 70
219 - Bernhard Langer (GER) 72 74 73, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71 77 71, Jamie Donaldson (Wal) 73 70 76, Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 69 75 75, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 73 72 74
220 - Hunter Mahan 74 72 74, Vijay Singh (FIJ) 75 71 74, Bill Haas 68 78 74, Steven Bowditch (AUS) 74 72 74, Martin Kaymer (GER) 75 72 73
221 - Jose-Maria Olazabal (ESP) 74 74 73, Lucas Glover 75 69 77, Stewart Cink 73 72 76, Darren Clarke (NIR) 74 74 73
222 - Brendon De Jonge 74 72 76, Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 74 72 76, Billy Horschel 75 72 75, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 73 74 75
223 - Nick Watney 72 75 76, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 71 76 76, K J Choi (KOR) 70 75 78, Oliver Goss (AUS) 76 71 76
224 - Stephen Gallacher (SCO) 71 72 81, Mike Weir (CAN) 73 72 79, Brandt Snedeker 70 74 80, Sandy Lyle (SCO) 76 72 76
225 - Joost Luiten (NED) 75 73 77, Larry Mize 74 72 79