Of course, Spieth pulled off the shot, finding the putting green in two shots before making a birdie 4.
Justin Rose birdied five of his last seven holes for a 5-under 67 that leaves him tied with Garcia at minus-6.
Saturday had something for everyone at the Masters, including the promise of more to come. But he has put himself into position for another top-three finish - and quite possibly his second green jacket - by playing gorgeous golf ever since that 9 made its unwelcome appearance.
Jordan Spieth said he did Rickie Fowler no favors Sunday. "I felt I could continue it today".
Earlier in the round, Garcia raced out to 8 under to sit alongside Rose through nine holes, before hitting two bogies on 10 and 11. He narrowly missed the eagle putt.
It appeared for a short time that Garcia's charge had gone off track, when his score of bogey at the par-four 10th was changed to a triple-bogey on the leaderboard.
Next is Spieth, who opened with 75. Spieth made a quadruple bogey at the par-5 15th in Round 1. I already knew I had a chance and we did what we needed to do today.
Garcia, who once complained the golf gods conspired against him when he lost a playoff in the 2012 British Open, had the gods on his side Saturday in Amen Corner.
"I had chills from about 75 yards out and to have everyone here to support me, what an honor", Hagestad said. "That's all you want", Rose said. But really, it starts on the back nine on Sunday.
Rose could use another back nine like he had Saturday.
After starting steadily with five straight pars, Spieth got to one under for the day and tournament courtesy of a 44-foot birdie putt on the sixth.
He was runner-up in 2014 when he led in the final round, he triumphed in 2015, breaking several Masters records in the process and then he finished second a year ago having led by five strokes entering the back nine.
His birdie putt missed, too.
Putin calls for UN investigation into Syria chemical attack
Russian Federation is the Syrian regime's main ally in the nation's six-year-long civil war. On Sunday, Haley said "we don't see a peaceful Syria with Assad in there".
Spieth said he needs some time to regroup.
That gave the 37-year-old Spaniard two putts from 12 feet for the victory, and his putt swirled into the cup.
Garcia and Rose were at 6-under 210.
Rickie Fowler is three shots behind, while Charl Schwartzel is another stroke back. Fowler and Spieth in the penultimate group. "That's the challenge I'm looking forward to".
"I don't think anyone is going to put themselves far enough out front where they can cruise in", Fowler said. Hoffman had climbed to 7 under for the tournament, but he bogeyed No. 14 and then hit his tee shot in the water at 16.
Rose did all his work on the back nine, birdieing five of the last seven holes.
The past two years, he has held the 54-hole lead comfortably.
"It's exciting waking up and you have a chance to win your favorite tournament that you've dreamt of winning and competing in since you were a kid", he said.
"I don't even know how much it would mean to be able to join both of my idols as a Masters victor", he said.
Also two shots back are Ryan Moore (69 on Saturday) and Hoffman, who had 72.
The day started with Hoffman, Garcia, Fowler and Belgian Thomas Pieters tied for first at 4 under. That group includes world No. 2 Rory McIlroy, who was only five shots behind despite not shooting under par either of the first two rounds.
Rose was optimistic about his chances of claiming the coveted green jacket by winning, but was grateful just to be in with a chance. He was six shots behind.
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