Rose, Garcia lead as Spieth lurks behind at the Masters

Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia led the U.S. Masters on six under par and Jordan Spieth was lurking two shots back after an absorbing third round at a sun-drenched Augusta National on Saturday.

England’s Rose and Spaniard Garcia finished one shot ahead of American Rickie Fowler and two clear of a group including 2015 Masters champion Spieth, who put together a fine four-under 68 to soar into contention.

Spieth was joined at four under by compatriots Ryan Moore and Charley Hoffman, the journeyman who led the tournament after a sparkling firstround 65 but dropped three shots over Saturday’s closing holes to slip down the leaderboard.

Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open champion, conjured up seven birdies, including two at the last two holes, in a day’s best round of 67.

“The course offers you a run around the par-fives,” Rose told reporters.

“I took advantage and the last two birdies put the cherry on the cake. It was a reward for staying patient on the front nine.”

Garcia played a flawless back nine including two birdies to card a 70 while world number eight Fowler, like the Spaniard bidding for his first major title, signed for a 71.

Spieth put himself in position to continue his extraordinary record at the Masters, which he won in 2015 and finished tied second in 2014 and 2016.

The 23-year-old American birdied the par-three sixth hole, sunk a 20-foot putt at the eighth and produced a sumptuous iron shot into the ninth green to get to three under.