After going even for much of the third round, Woods birdied three out of four holes to propel him back to where he ended yesterday at 3-under par. After sitting on even for the afternoon, Woods responded to a bogey on 11 by rattling off birdies on 12, 13 and on the infamous Amen's Corner on the 15th hole.
A rare Sunday surge by Woods could vault him into the top of the leaderboard, but that's not likely when you take into account how much Woods has struggled on the new Augusta greens and that he's never won a tournament that he hasn't led heading into Sunday.
There are some positives for Woods to take away from the Masters after three rounds. Augusta National's course is one of the toughest courses for Woods and a strong finish bodes well for the final three majors of the year. Yet, if it had not been not been for a freakish bounce off the pin that sent his ball into the water that changed the entire complexion of his weekend, Woods would be in prime position to push for the lead on the final day.
Woods will start Sunday four strokes back of leaders Brandt Snedeker and 2009 champ Angel Cabrera. Neither are household names, but they have had mixed success at The Masters. Snedeker, the reigning FedEx Cup and PGA Tour Championship winner has been in this position before. In 2008, he choked away a Masters lead on the back nine.
Aussie Adam Scott (assisted by Woods' former caddie Stevie Williams) is in third place, one stroke back of the lead. A win by Scott would be a redeeming performance after his British Open implosion. Jason Day began Saturday atop the leaderboard, but bogeyed his final two holes. Day has never won a major, but he has felt the bittersweet feeling of finishing second at the 2011 Masters and US Open.
"Anything within six on the back nine puts me in with a shout" – Tiger Woods on his hopes on Sunday (four off the lead today). #bbcmasters
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 13, 2013
