Needing his best golf on just about every shot in the final hour at the Masters, Garcia overcame a two-shot deficit with six holes to play and beat Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff Sunday for his first major after almost two decades of heartache. Spieth was 10 shots off the lead after the first round, but he backed up his 69 on Friday with a 68 on Saturday, which included five birdies and only one bogey. Thomas Pieters, also tied for the lead at the start, shot 75 to drop into a tie for ninth at 1-under.
Sergio Garcia, of Spain, hits from a hill on the 13th hole during the third round of the Masters golf tournament Saturday, April 8, 2017, in Augusta, Ga.
The Texan, 23, has never finished outside the top two in three Masters appearances, winning in the green jacket in 2015 but suffering agony past year when another quad, this time a seven at the par-three 12th, dashed hopes of back to back titles. "It was hard but it was fun to play well again, to go through a Saturday at the Masters with a chance at winning and to be up there going into tomorrow".
And it's a big part of Augusta National, which could prove to be the ultimate challenge.
Lurking menacingly alongside compatriots Hoffman and Ryan Moore on 4-under is Jordan Spieth, who enjoyed an extremely productive "Movers Day".
Saturday had something for everyone at the Masters, including the promise of more to come.
Next is Spieth, who opened with 75. The 2015 Masters champion was all but gone after a frustrating, quadruple bogey nine on the 15th hole in Thursday's opening round.
Rickie Fowler (-5) - +400 - Fowler has been playing some of his best golf over the last few weeks, and he deserves to be in this spot.
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At 5-4 in the third set, and with Britain serving to stay in the match, Mahut somehow returned two big smashes on the first point. Britain have won 17 of their last 19 doubles rubbers - only America's Bryan brothers have been able to beat them in that period.
Former world No. 1 Jason Day has found his stride at Augusta National. Charl Schwartzel, who won here in 2011 with birdies on the final four holes, shot a 68 in the third round to move to 2 under and four shots behind.
Garcia and Rose were at 6-under 210.
"I think it's a really good thing", said Fowler, who birdied all four par 5s in the third round and is at 5-under 211.
Day has struggled in recent weeks, his best finish in his last three tournaments was a tie for 23rd at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month.
Just like holding a share of the Masters lead won't dominate his night. The forecast is for little-to-no wind, sunny skies and temperatures in the high 60s.
Rickie Fowler shot a third-round 71 and trails leaders Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia by one stroke at the Masters.
In 2016 Spieth seemed certain to become only the fourth player to win back-to-back titles at Augusta when he made the turn with a commanding five-shot lead. "We weren't going to win any awards in the last two holes with me being in the woods, but the support he (Couples) gets is unbelievable".
BREAK OF THE DAY Garcia hit a 4-iron that dove into the trench short of the 13th green, but it landed just soft enough that it stayed on the bank and allowed him to chip up to 2 feet for birdie.
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