(USATSI)
On yet another day when controversy swirled around the loblolly pines of Augusta National Golf Course–this time involving world no.1 Tiger Woods–the end of the day finally brought some semblance of order as Brandt Snedeker and Angel Cabrera took a share of the 54-hole lead into the final day.
Snedeker and Cabrera each shot 3-under par 69’s to finish at 7-under 209 through 54 hole.
Snedeker opened up with twelve consecutive pars before picking up his first birdie at the par-5 13th. Two more birdies would follow at the 15th and 16th holes as “Sneds” finished his round without a bogey. The 2012 Fedex Cup champion is seeking his first victory in a major and was not shy about his feelings for Sunday.
“I’ve spent 32 years of my life preparing for tomorrow. I’m going to be disappointed if I don’t win. Period.”
Cabrera, ranked 269th in the world, came back after bogeys at the 12th and 13th holes dropped him from 7-under par back to 5-under. A birdie at the par-3 16th where his ball came to rest about three feet from the hole was followed by a closing birdie at the 18th. Cabrera, nicknamed “El Pato” for his duck-like walking style, is seeking his second green jacket.
Australia will be on full alert as three Aussies, Adam Scott (69) to finish at 6-under 210, 18-hole co-leader Marc Leishman (72) and 36-hole leader Jason Day (73) to finish at 5-under 211 are among a group of eleven players within five shots of the leaders.
Rounding out the top of the leaderboard:
Matt Kuchar (69) 4-under 212
Tim Clark (67) 3-under 213
Tiger Woods (70) 3-under 213
Rickie Fowler (70) 2-under 214
Steve Stricker (71) 2-under 214
Bernhard Langer (72) 2-under 214
Lee Westwood (73) 2-under 214
Jim Furyk (74) 2-under 214.
Before defending champion Bubba Watson (playing alone) teed off, rumors swirled around Augusta National and social media that Woods might be facing a disqualification for a rules violation stemming from an improper penalty drop at the 15th hole on Friday. It was ultimately decided by rules officials and the green jackets that Woods would only incur a two-stroke penalty which meant he would begin the day five shots off the lead rather than three shots.
Here is the statement from Fred Ridley, chairman of the Masters Competition Committee:
“In preparation for his fifth shot, the player dropped his ball in close proximity to where he had played his third shot in apparent conformance with Rule 26. After being prompted by a television viewer, the Rules Committee reviewed a video of the shot while [Woods] was playing the 18th hole. At that moment and based on that evidence, the Committee determined he had complied with the Rules.
After he signed his scorecard, and in a television interview subsequent to the round, the player stated that he played further from the point than where he had played his third shot. Such action would constitute playing from the wrong place.
The subsequent information provided by the player’s interview after he had completed play warranted further review and discussion with him this morning. After meeting with the player, it was determined that he had voilated Rule 26, and he was assessed a two stroke penalty. The penalty of disqualification was waived by the Committee under Rule 33 as the Committee had previously reviewed the information and made its initial determination prior to the finish of the player’s round.”
Rule 33-7 states:
“A penalty of disqualification may in exceptional individual cases be waived, modified or imposed if the Committee considers such action warranted.”
Augusta favorite Fred Couples, who had started the day one shot off the lead, struggled with a 5-over par 77 to fall seven shots off the lead at 216.
Rory McIlroy, who had made some noise early with a birdie at the 3rd hole, faltered late with bogeys at hte 7th and 9th holes and double bogeys at the 11th and 15th holes. The two-time major winner slipped to a 7-over 79 to finish at 5-over 221.
“It’s disappointing, especially after such a good start. I was only a few off the lead going into 7th hole today and then all of a sudden I play 7 through 11 in 5‑over par and basically my chances in the tournament are gone,” McIlroy said after his round.
Also struggling on Saturday was three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson who collapsed with a 5-over 77 to end his 54 holes at 8-over 224.
And Chinese sensation, Tianlang Guan, 14 years old continued Masters story with a 5-over 77 to finish one shot behind Mickelson and one shot ahead of Keegan Bradley who blew up with an 82.
