Australia’s odds at keeping the green jacket have lengthened but the dream remains alive after Adam Scott and John Senden battled hard during the third round of the US Masters.
With the famous greens getting harder and faster by the second at Augusta National the Australian duo dropped down the leaderboard but remain in the mix if they can find some Sunday magic.
Senden fired a three-over 75 to drop to one-under-par for the week, falling from second outright to a tie for 10th, but is just three shots off the lead.
Defending champion Scott struggled royally to a four-over 76, dropping him from a tie for third into a tie for 16th at one-over-par.
With six shots between the Queenslander and the lead he will need to overcome a margin only reeled in three times in Masters history.
But he will also face the fact no one has come from outside the top 10 since Art Wall Jr in 1959.
Young American phenom Jordan Spieth, in his first Masters at just 20 years of age, signed for a two-under 70 to be in the equal lead at five-under.
The Texan is looking to become the first debut winner since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 and the youngest ever winner of the green jacket.
2012 Masters champion Bubba Watson joined Spieth at the top after shooting a 74 on Saturday.
American Matt Kuchar (68) and Swede Jonas Blixt (71) will attempt to capture their first major title from a shot back at four-under, tied for third.
Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez shot the round of the tournament with a 66 to move into a tie for fifth with American Ricky Fowler (67).
Senden, who started in the final group in second place, dropped four shots in the opening seven holes while Scott, starting in a tie for third, dropped as many shots in the first five holes to severely dent their hopes.
Senden bogeyed the first and third holes with a birdie on the second before three-putting the fifth for another bogey and making a mess of the seventh to make a double bogey.
He then attempted to resurrect his challenge.
A routine four on the par five eighth changed his momentum and a hole later the 42-year-old cracked a stellar approach into nine that went within a whisker of dropping for an eagle before a tap in birdie.
But a poor drive led to a bogey on the 11th making life difficult once more.
Trying not to tread water Senden missed a gettable birdie at the 12th but tapped in a nice birdie on the 13th to sit just four back once more.
A wild drive on the final hole ensured he would finish with a bogey.
Scott missed a short putt on the first to start the rot, went long on the par three fourth and eventually took double bogey and three-putted the fifth for another bogey.
The first Australian to win the green jacket made birdie on the eighth but then gave it right back with another bogey for an opening nine of 40.
His mediocrity didn’t end there after a uninspiring par from great position on the 13th and a poor approach to the 14th led to another dropped shot.
A birdie on the 17th at least gave the 33-year-old something to smile at.
Earlier Jason Day shot a two-under 70 to move to two-over for the week and a tie for 18th.
Steven Bowditch shot a 74 to be four-over and tied 29th while amateur Oliver Goss shot 76 to be seven-over tied for 42nd on his 20th birthday.
