Cabrera, Snedeker lead,
AUGUSTA, GA.— Co-leaders Angel Cabrera and Brandt Snedeker may have something loud to say about the outcome, but if there is strength in numbers, perhaps Australia can finally win itself a green jacket Sunday.
A trio of Australians — Adam Scott, Jason Day and Marc Leishman — are crowding the leaders and another handful of talent, including Tiger Woods, lurks within range as the 77th Masters turns into the homestretch.
Two-time major winner Cabrera, who shot a back-and-forth 3-under 69, and putting king Snedeker, who produced a no-bogey 69 that began with a dozen successive pars, sit at 7-under 209.
Next comes Scott in third place at 210 after a late-firing 69, with Day (73) and Leishman (72) next at 211, one shot ahead of Matt Kuchar (69) and two up on Woods (70) and Tim Clark (67).
It was a particularly poor finish for Day, who three-putted both the 17th and 18th holes to fall out of a three-way tie for the lead.
“It’s all huge to win the Masters. It would be great for Australia,” said Scott, himself looking for his first major title. “We’ve never looked better odds-wise, except perhaps for ’96.”
That was the year of Greg Norman’s great collapse with a six-shot lead as Nick Faldo rallied to win and a new generation of Australians has had to answer questions since.
“A couple of us had a look at it a couple years ago and three of us right there knocking on the door tomorrow,” Scott said. “So I mean there’s no better time to ever have to deal with that question again than if (we) go out and (do well) tomorrow.”
Cabrera, winner here in 2009, curled in a 20-footer for birdie at the final hole to share the lead, an important place for Sunday. “I think it’s important, obviously, to make that birdie. For my confidence, it’s good to be in the last or next-to-last group, (but) it’s more the confidence of making that birdie,” he said. “A no-bogey round here is great for me,” said Snedeker, who birdied the 13th, 15th and 16th holes. “I fired away from a lot of flags and allowed my putting to get me through. This golf course baits you into going for pins you shouldn’t.” “I had a couple tough up and downs early on three and four, and a really tough up and down on 12,” Snedeker continued. “Those kept the momentum going, kept the round going. It’s not easy out there.”