Surprise package Spieth goes head to head with Watson
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 the 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.
If he wins, Spieth would take the youngest Masters winner tag from Tiger Woods, who was 21 when he won at Augusta 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.
Defending champion Adam Scott 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.