Spieth on the verge of Masters history

By Simon Lewis

Spieth on the verge of Masters history

By Simon Lewis

Jordan Spieth stands on the brink of Masters history as he heads into the final round at Augusta National bidding to set records tumbling in the fabled major.

A rock solid third-round 70 put the 20-year-old Texan rookie into a share of the lead with midway leader Bubba Watson and if Spieth is to realise his longest-held dream and close the deal on Sunday he will eclipse Tiger Woods as the youngest champion since the tournament began in 1934 and the first debutant victory since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

“You just draw on memories of guys that have made the putts on the last hole, from Phil (Mickelson) to Tiger to last year with Adam (Scott) on 18 and then on 10. You just dream of what it would mean and how cool it would be and all those putts I hit when I was real young with my friends on trying to make it to win the Masters.

“You know, I would love the opportunity to test it tomorrow.”

That he has the chance is in large part down to co-leader Watson, the 2012 champion whose three-shot advantage at the start of Saturday's play was undone by a two-over-par 74 that left both Americans on five under, one ahead of compatriot Matt Kuchar and Sweden's Jonas Blixt.

Watson's third round on a day when temperatures rose above 80 degrees Fahrenheit and Augusta National's greens firmed up even more was erratic to say the least. The left-hander began with a bogey five, moved on to an eagle at the par-five second and ended with a bogey on 16 followed by two crucial six-foot par-save putts that ensured Watson will partner Spieth in Sunday's final pairing.

And the former champion said he was looking forward to his duel with the rookie.

“He's young, nerves are no big deal to him,” Watson said. “I've won one, so I've got that going for me, you know, but if I play bad, I still have a green jacket so that's the positive I have to go for.

“We re all trying to win the same trophy. We are all going to be nervous and we all know what it means to our career, for our status to move forward in the game. So it's going to be tough for everybody, not just guys that have never won.”

While the leaders will tee off last at 2:40pm local time (7:40pm Irish time) on Sunday, Rory McIlroy will have a two-hour head start after a third-round 71 improved his position from 51st after two rounds to a tie for 24th on three over par, eight off the lead.

There may be 17 players within six shots of the lead and with genuine hopes of winning, but McIlroy is resigned to aiming for a career-best Masters finish, a tie for 15th place in 2011 having been left to rue his second-round 77 on Friday.

“I don't know what it is. I seem to throw in a high number every year. Last year it was a 79, this year it was a 77. At least it's getting a little better,” said McIlroy having been first out on Saturday morning, playing with a marker.

“It's just turning those 77s and the high ones into 72s or 73s, that's the real key for me around here.

“I know when I get it going I can make a few birdies and I can shoot the scores. But it's just making sure that I don't let a round get away from me, like it sort of did yesterday. I've been saying that the last three years I've been coming here, I still haven't figured out how to do it.

McIlroy added: “My best finish here is 15th, which isn't really anything to shout about, so it would be nice to play well tomorrow, shoot something in the mid-to-high 60s and maybe finish the week in red figures.

“I think a good goal would be to have my best finish ever at Augusta and go from there. It wouldn't be the week that I would have wanted from the start, but the way the last two days have went it wouldn't be a bad way to finish the week.”

Fellow Irishman Darren Clarke lies two shots further back on five over following a one-over 73.

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