AP – Steven Bowditch’s hopes of maiden Masters appearance were all but dashed by a bogey-riddled third round at the PGA Tour’s $US6.2 million Texas Open.
Bowditch started Saturday tied second and two shots off the pace after carding consecutive rounds of three-under 69 at the San Antonio event.
A calamitous five-over 77 third round, including four bogeys and a double-bogey on the 10th hole, means the Australian is now nine off the lead and in a tie for 19th alongside Aaron Baddeley.
The winner in Texas receives a free pass into the first major of the season if they haven’t already qualified.
The man who is in the box seat to take that ticket to Augusta National is American Billy Horschel, who is seeking his first career PGA Tour victory.
Horschel posted a two-under 70 on Saturday to maintain a two-shot lead in San Antonio, despite some windy conditions.
“It was a good round,” Horschel said after finishing 54 holes at 10-under 206.
“I felt I hit the ball pretty well. With this wind you have got to stay patient. I did a good job of that so overall it was a good day.”
Jim Furyk carded a three-under 69 to move into a tie for second place, and two-time major winner Rory McIlroy remained in the hunt by posting a one-under 71 to get into a tie for fourth.
Furyk is joined at eight-under 208 by Charley Hoffman who shot a 70.
McIlroy is tied with two others at six-under 210.
That group also comprises Ryan Palmer (68) and Bob Estes (69).
McIlroy said if he can clean up some inconsistencies in his game he has a shot at a victory on Sunday.
“It wasn’t a very good bunker shot at the last,” he said.
“It could have been a couple of shots better but I am still in a decent position going into the last day. Hopefully I can make a run at it.”
McIlroy added this event to his schedule at the last minute to finetune his game for next week’s Masters.
Horschel said he is trying not to think about the Masters.
“I can’t allow those thoughts to get in my head. I can’t forget about the task at hand,” Horschel said.
K.J. Choi (72), Padraig Harrington (70), Martin Laird (70), Jeff Overton (70) and Daniel Summerhays (73) are tied for seventh at five-under-par 211.
Despite the breezy conditions, Furyk was able to get off to a quick start with two straight birdies.
He also made birdie on the par-five No.18.
It was the third consecutive round Furyk birdied the opening two holes.
Of the top 11 players on the leaderboard, only four are in the field next week for The Masters.
