Adam Scott remains in the hunt for his second Masters green jacket after the third round at Augusta National today.
Scott carded a bogey-free 69 to be three-under overall and sits in seventh place, three shots from the lead held by England’s Justin Rose and Spain’s Sergio Garcia at six-under.
Ten shots from the lead after his opening 75, Scott has posted consecutive 69s to haul himself into contention.
Scott, the 2013 winner, birdied both the par-fives on the front nine today, made a great par-save at the 11th after driving into the trees and then made a birdie from the fringe at the par-five 13th. But he lipped out cruelly from four metres at the par-four 14th, and burned the hole with another birdie try at the 17th.
One of his few poor shots of the day was a flared short iron into the right trap at the 18th, but he made a nice up-and-down to save par and move into the final round with optimism. He had started the day four back; by day’s end, he was one shot closer.
Scott was happy with his effort. “What a nice reward for surviving two brutal days,” he told Fox Sports.
“You couldn’t have a better day here at the Masters and I tried to make the most of it. I played a really solid round. Of course I could’ve shot my way out of the tournament, and I didn’t. I wish I could have had a couple better but I really like the way I’m playing and anything can happen tomorrow. A few back’s not a bad spot to be. Get out there and have a nice front nine and put myself in the mix. I don’t have the pressure of lead-sleeping tonight.”
After a rare missed cut in Texas last week, Scott has played beautifully at Augusta this week without holing enough putts. But he has a strong chance tomorrow, albeit that he will likely need to shoot something around 68 or better playing alongside South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel, also a former Masters winner.
None of the other Australians is in contention.
Jason Day had a good round, a 69 to move into the top-30 at three-over.
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Marc Leishman came to grief at the par-five 15th where he found water and took an 8. Having started the day at three-over, the Victorian had a 78 to slide to nine-over.
Perth amateur Curtis Luck had a 75 and, at nine-over, is four shots behind the leading amateur, American Stewart Hagestad.
The big movers today were Rose (67 today) and 2015 champion Jordan Spieth, who rattled around in four-under 68 and is just two shots from the lead. Rose, a neighbour of Scott’s in the Bahamas, rolled in birdie putts on three of the last four holes, covering the back nine in just 31. A previous US Open champion, he knows how to handle the last round of a major.
Garcia (70) will play in the last group seeking his first major championship after a solid third-round performance, while Rickie Fowler (five-under) is firmly in the mix. Joint overnight leader Charley Hoffman (72) had a rollercoaster day, leading by two shots at one stage before finding the pond left of the par-three 16th and losing the lead with a double-bogey.
