Masters Day 3 Wrap Up

Brandt Snedeker and Angel Cabrera will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Masters after firing rounds of 69 at Augusta National.

Adam Scott – who came so close in 2011 – is one back on six-under-par, with the Australian duo of Marc Leishman and Jason Day sharing fourth on five under.

Snedeker, currently second in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup standings despite a month out with injury, remarkably dropped no shots at a firm and fast Augusta.

He parred his first 12 holes before finding two birdies on the back nine’s two par 5s - the 13^th and 15^th - and following the latter with a tap-in birdie at the par-3 16^th.

Cabrera’s round was more topsy turvy, but six birdies, including two in his last three holes, were enough to offset his three bogies at two, 12 and 13.

The 2008 Masters champion, currently ranked 269 in the world, will be confident heading into Sunday’s final round, an emotion also shared by Scott.

The Australian mixed four birdies with one bogey to sit one ahead of his compatriot Leishman, who dealt admirably with the pressure of weekend contention in his first Masters appearance.

Overnight leader Day, a third Australian in the top five, three-putted the final two holes for bogey to enter the final round two adrift of Snedeker and Cabrera.

Matt Kuchar, who came so close last year, shot a fine 69 to finish Saturday alone in sixth on four-under-par, one clear of diminutive South African Tim Clark and world number one Tiger Woods.

Clark, an early starter, rose 30 places with his best-of-day 67, while Woods – controversially penalised two shots earlier in the day when many felt he should have been disqualified – compiled a solid 70 to lie within striking distance of the leaders.

Elsewhere, it was a poor day for the British contingent, with Rory McIlroy carding a double and a triple en route to a 79, David Lynn stumbling to an 80 and Justin Rose falling out of contention with a three-over-par 75.

Three things to look out for on Sunday:

The course to stay tough: Augusta officials were clearly hurt by statements claiming first round conditions were too placid, and reacted accordingly. Don’t expect things to get any easier on Sunday.

Someone to charge on the back nine: With two eagleable par 5s and a par 3 that often sees hole-in-ones, expect someone to put together a scintillating run on the back nine.

Woods to end wait: Only one player ahead of Woods has a major championship to his name (Cabrera). The 14-time major champion is right where he wants to be.