Bubba & Spieth Share 54-Hole Lead at the Masters


While 36-hole leader Bubba Watson sputtered on Saturday, 20-year-old Jordan Spieth surged at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. At the end of the day, the two players found themselves tied for the lead heading in Sunday at the Masters.

Watson, who entered the day at 7-under 137 for a three-stroke edge over the field, had an up-and-down front nine. The 2012 green jacket winner bogeyed the par-4 first, then eagled the par-5 second and from there added three more bogeys to make the turn in 2-over 38. His home half was better, with a birdie and a bogey for a 36 and a 74.

Spieth, meanwhile, carded his third straight under-par round of the tournament. He had four birdies and a pair of bogeys for a 70 to get to 5-under 211, the same total as Watson's. The two players will be paired in Sunday's final group.

"There were a couple shots I thought I hit pretty good," Watson said during a TV interview Saturday evening. "You're going to struggle out there. Getting in the last group is a boost to your confidence."

As for playing with Spieth, the 35-year-old from Bagdad, Fla., noted he's friends with the youngster from Dallas. "It's going to be fun. Hopefully, one of us is going to win. If not me, then hopefully him."

Spieth outlined in his post-round comments what he believes is the key to having success at the Masters. "Just patience - we could see the greens were so fast. It's just the Masters . . . you can't lose your focus for one minute."

Though Watson and Spieth are setting the pace, this Masters is far from a two-man race. Matt Kuchar has improved as the tournament has unfolded, carding rounds of 73, 71 and 68 to get to 4-under 212, the same number as Jonas Blixt (71). The 29-year-old Blixt is in position to become the first male Swedish golfer to win a major championship.

Though he considers his first Masters a "mental struggle," Blixt waxed enthusiastic about the pressure-packed tournament. "It's a lot of fun. It's really difficult; the greens are firm and fast. It's fantastic here."

Only two shots behind the leaders is 50-year-old Spaniard, Miguel Angel Jimenez, who fired the low round of the tournament, a 6-under 66 that included seven birdies - including five on the back nine - and a bogey.

Also at 3-under 213 is Rickie Fowler, who shot a 67. The 25-year-old Southern Californian is half the age of Jimenez.

"I love the place," said Jimenez, a 20-time winner on the European Tour, of Augusta National. "It's a beautiful place, a beautiful golf course, always manicured, and I feel great here. Doesn't matter how you play, you feel good, because everything is prepared for us the way it is.

Jimenez, whose nickname is "The Mechanic," matched the all-time Masters' record for the lowest score shot by a player age 50 or older, shared by Ben Hogan in 1967 and Fred Couples in 2010. "If you are 50 doesn't mean that you cannot play well. I'm still moving. I'm still flexible . . . the main thing is I'm doing what I like to do in my life and I'm enjoying it completely."

Fowler hopes his play Saturday can be duplicated when it counts the most - on Sunday. "So far, so good," said Fowler, who after an illustrious amateur has one victory on the PGA Tour.

"I haven't had the greatest finishes in majors . . . and I need to kind of step up and start playing well on the weekends. I want to be in contention. I want to be up there to have chances to win, and we put ourselves in a great position today so I'm really looking forward to tomorrow."

Only three behind Spieth and Watson are England's Lee Westwood (70), Denmark's Thomas Bjorn (73) and Pennsylvanian Jim Furyk (72). Four back are Britain's Justin Rose (69), Kevin Stadler (72), Fred Couples (73) and Aussie John Senden (75).

The 54-year-old Couples, who won a green jacket in 1992 and always plays well at Augusta National with 10 top-10 finishes and the victory in 29 previous appearances, didn't suffer his usual bad round on Saturday at the Masters. After three bogeys and a birdie on the front half, the Seattle native salvaged a 1-over-par round with three birdies and two bogeys on the home half.

The only other players at even-par or better are Gary Woodland (69) and England's Ian Poulter (70), who are at 216 heading into Sunday.

Tied for 16th at 1-over 217 are Americans Chris Kirk (70) and Kevin Streelman (74), and defending champion Adam Scott of Australia. The 33-year-old Scott began the third round only four back of Watson after promising outings of 69 and 72.

But on Saturday the Adelaide native struggled, especially on the outward nine where he carded three bogeys, a double on the par-3 fourth and a birdie to make the turn in 40. On the home half, Scott tacked on another bogey before making birdie at the 17th.

Two-time major champion Rory McIlroy, who made the weekend cut of 4-over par right on the number, posted a 1-under 71 to move into a tie for 24th with, among others, two-time Masters' winner Bernhard Langer. The 56-year-old German and World Golf Hall of Fame member fashioned a 73.

Other scores included a 74 by first-round leader Bill Haas, who in the second and third rounds posted a 78 and 74. Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters champion, shot a 79; Brandt Snedeker an 80; and 55-year-old Larry Mize - who won a green jacket in 1987 - had a 79 to drop to the bottom of the leaderboard.

On Saturday, two-time Masters' champion Ben Crenshaw announced that 2015 will be the final year he'll compete at Augusta National. "I made the decision that next year is my last year," said the 62-year-old, who devotes much of his time these days designing outstanding golf courses with his architect partner, Bill Coore.

"It is funny, on Amen Corner on the 13th hole on the first day, I hadn't told told (longtime caddie) Carl (Jackson) yet, but I said, 'Carl, I've been thinking about this for a long time and next year would be a good year.' I'm very, very happy with (the decision).

"I've thought about it for a long time," added Crenshaw, who missed the cut after shooting 83 and 85. "A lot of times I thought that I could have stepped down earlier. It is hard. Very hard. But I have been so fortunate. I have to look at the good things that have happened. I have to pull over and watch. I'm very resigned to being an encourager for everybody as much as I can."

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