Adam Scott, Jason Day and Marc Leishman hold the weight of a nation on their backs after remaining well placed to bring Australia its first green jacket at The Masters.
Scott sits just a shot behind leaders Brandt Snedeker and Angel Cabrera in third place while Day and Leishman are just two back heading into the final round.
American Snedeker and 2009 Masters champion Cabrera of Argentina posted three-under rounds of 69 to jump to seven-under for the tournament.
Scott also fired a 69 to be at six-under while Leishman managed a 72 and Day dropped back successive three-putt bogeys on his final two holes for a 73 to sit at five-under-par.
Matt Kuchar (69) is sixth alone at four-under while South African Tim Clark (67) and world No.1 Tiger Woods (70) share seventh at three-under, four shots off the pace.
Woods was assessed a two-stroke penalty before the third round began for a improper drop in the second round.
Since Jim Ferrier debuted in the 1940 Masters tournament, 41 Australians have had at least one crack at the title but all to no avail.
On eight occasions, Australians have been bridesmaids, most recently just two years ago when Day and Scott tied for second after seeing their clubhouse lead bested by Charl Schwartzel’s four closing birdies.
On that occasion, Scott and Day played together in the penultimate group. This time Leishman will be with Scott while Day will be third to last with Kuchar.
“We’ve got an another great chance,” Scott said when asked about Australia’s duck.
“A couple of us had a look at it a couple years ago, and three of us right there knocking on the door tomorrow so there’s no better time to ever have to deal with that question again than if you go out and play good tomorrow.
“Aussies are proud sporting people, and we’d love to put another notch in our belt, just like any great sporting country.
“This is one thing that one of us would like to do tomorrow for sure.”
Standing in the way is Snedeker, who won the season-long FedEx Cup in 2012 and started 2013 in hot fashion, finishing second twice and winning at Pebble Beach before a rib injury stalled his process.
“I’ve spent 32 years of my life getting ready for tomorrow and it’s all been a learning process and I am completely, 100 per cent sure that I’m ready to handle no matter what happens tomorrow,” Snedeker said.
“I’m going to be disappointed if I don’t win, period.
“I’m not here to get a good finish. I’m not here to finish top five.
“I’m here to win and that’s all I’m going to be focused on tomorrow.
“I realise what I have to do and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that that happens.”
Cabrera, who won in a three-way playoff in 2009 as the world No.69, now has the chance to break his own record as the lowest-ranked player in history to win the Masters.
“Tomorrow it’s more about execution and about patience,” said the world No.269.
“I don’t think it’s a big advantage that I’ve won before. It’s more about patience.
“In 2009, I was nervous, anxious but now I’m very comfortable. I know what I’ve got to do tomorrow to be able to get the win.”
