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Spieth holds four-shot lead

Another round, another record for Spieth who now holds the 54-hole record at the Masters on 16-under after a two-under par round of 70.

The American, who had only made one bogey in the first two rounds, made three on Saturday plus a double-bogey on the 17th as what was a seven shot lead quickly reduced down to four after Justin Rose’s birdie at the 18th.

It took a magnificent up-and-down from Spieth at the last to keep the lead at four after a wayward second shot into the patrons on the right, two shots the 21-year-old believed were massive in his quest for his first major title.

“It was one of the bigger putts I’ve ever hit” – Jordan Spieth

He said: “It was really big, it was huge. It was one of the bigger putts I’ve ever hit. I was very frustrated. I didn’t do any scoreboard watching until maybe like 15, because it’s just right there. I looked up and I had birdied 15, 16, and then I knew that I was six clear.

“I think I took enough time looking at that chip shot to really calm myself down and pick the right play and just trust it. When I hit the shot and went down there, I had a putt that was a little tricky, but I had full trust in it breaking to the right, and Michael had a great read there.”

Another round of 70 tomorrow and Spieth will equal the tournament record score of Tiger Woods in 1997.

Mickelson hails Spieth

‘Lefty’ took no form at all into this year’s Masters but you wouldn’t think it after recording a 67, the joint-lowest round of the day which included this monster birdie putt at the par-3 16th.

The 44-year-old three-time winner at Augusta made seven birdies and two bogeys in his round and was inches away from another at the 18th which would’ve seen him in the final pairing alongside Spieth.

Five shots back, Mickelson conceded it would be tough to catch Spieth and said the 21-year-old would make a great champion.

He said: “I think he’s playing very good golf and I think he’ll have a good round tomorrow. I think that if he were to come out on top, it would be great to have him in the Champion’s Dinner every year. He would just be a great champion.

“He’s just a classy guy. He just represents the game very well and at a very young age and he’s just got a lot of game. So if he were to come out on top, it would be wonderful for the tournament, wonderful for the game. I’m going to try to stop him, but we’ll see how it goes.”

Dream pairing of Rory and Tiger

A bogey from Dustin Johnson on the 18th gave golfing fans around the world what they were hoping for; a final day pairing of McIlroy and Woods.

After both fired in 68s on Saturday, a round Woods admitted afterwards ‘should’ve been two shots better’, the pair line-up in the third last group tomorrow at 7.30pm UK time.

Both players went out in 32 but couldn’t continue to pick up any more ground on the back nine, with both bogeying the 18th to stall any momentum heading into today, where they start ten shots behind Spieth.

McIlroy said: “I got it to eight‑under par through 15, and then a disappointing finish. But overall felt like I played pretty well; and as I say, just a little disappointed the way I finished.”

Justin’s back nine blitz

Rose birdied five of the last six holes as he recovered from a poor start for the second successive round to put himself into the final pairing alongside Spieth tomorrow.

The Englishman was two-over for the day after six holes but turned it on with seven birdies in the last 12 holes, including a brilliant chip in at the 16th and a 20ft putt on the 18th to overhaul Mickelson and get to 12-under.

Speaking after his round, he said: “I knew that if I made that putt I’d get past Phil and make it into the final group so it’s going to be nice to play in that pairing.

“Obviously playing in the final group at the Masters is something dreams are made of but I’m four back. I’ve got the opportunity to play a free round of golf and chase as hard as I can so it’s going to be fun.”

Garcia rejects bad feeling with Tiger

Much was made about the Spaniard being paired with Woods on Saturday as it’s well documented that the pair don’t see eye-to-eye, which Garcia admitted himself on his Twitter account prior to the round.

He tweeted: “It was gonna happen at some point sooner or later! Paired with @TigerWoods tomorrow but don’t you worry guys, I’m sure we’ll both be fine.”

Garcia shot a one-under round of 71 and is currently T18 on three-under and took to Twitter again to praise his playing partner’s performance.

He tweeted: “Nice round of golf with @TigerWoods he played nicely, I was ok. I think we both proved what I said yesterday! Sorry to disappoint the haters!”