Masters 2012: How Saturday's action happened

That is all from me for now, I’ll be back at the slightly earlier time of 19:00 GMT tomorrow for what could be one of the greatest Masters Sundays of all time.

00:15 – Mickleson came home in 30 to shoot his 6-under 66 and he has to be my favourite for to slip into the green jacket tomorrow. He has since told the press room he hit a 235-yard 5-iron through the back of 15, a problem I’m sure we are all familiar with….

00:05 – Couples and Dufner tidy up on 18 to end round three’s play. Neither had a day to remember, both shooting disappointing 75s.

23:55 – Dufner, our overnight leader, gets one safely away on 18. He’s currently two over par for his round. Oosthuizen leaves his third in the fringe and continues to make bogey to finish 3-under for the day and two off the lead. Westwood follows him in for a level-par round of 72, which just won’t cut it on a Saturday at The Masters.
23:55 – Dufner, our overnight leader, gets one safely away on 18. He’s currently two over par for his round. Oosthuizen leaves his third in the fringe and continues to make bogey to finish 3-under for the day and two off the lead. Westwood follows him in for a level-par round of 72, which just won’t cut it on a Saturday at The Masters.

23:55 – Dufner, our overnight leader, gets one safely away on 18. He’s currently two over par for his round. Oosthuizen leaves his third in the fringe and continues to make bogey to finish 3-under for the day and two off the lead. Westwood follows him in for a level-par round of 72, which just won’t cut it on a Saturday at The Masters.
23:48 – McIlroy almost gets a reprieve at 18, inches away from holing out from the fairway for eagle. He settles for birdie and a 77 total, while playing partner Garcia is two better with a 75.
23:48 – McIlroy almost gets a reprieve at 18, inches away from holing out from the fairway for eagle. He settles for birdie and a 77 total, while playing partner Garcia is two better with a 75.

@NCGmagazine How to solve a problem like Sergio?Arm round the shoulder,some sound putting advice or, if you’re Wayne Grady, ‘give him a good uppercut’

23:40 – Westwood and Oosthuizen both go close on 17, but only one of them makes a birdie… it is the South African, who moves to 8-under and one off the lead, four ahead of Westwood.

@NCGmagazine Still a chance of the final-day pairing we were all dreaming of – Tiger and Rory. But nearer 3pm our time than Augusta’s.

@JustinOuzts So many things can happen on a masters Sunday. Looking forward to tomorrow. Phil is rolling. What a back nine.

23:33 – Watson sends one down the 18th, as unorthodox as ever, but it makes little difference. Ahead on the green and compatriot Kuchar makes a great closing birdie to finish on 5-under and four off the lead.

23:30 – Fewer players out on the course now as the final groups come down the stretch. Watson stays four back after a par at 17, he’s not out of this yet. Oosthuizen very unlucky on 17, while Garcia hits a magnificent approach to the same hole 17, he’s got a 12 footer for birdie.

@NCGmagazine Hanson this week – yet to par the 1st, two 2s at 12, yet to bogey any of 15-18 and played 17 and 18 in three under. Bit different Sunday

23:20 – Couples can’t quite carry the water with a 3-wood from the light rough on 15 and he finds the wet stuff. Garcia makes birdie on 16 and McIlroy stays at 1-over. Westwood ends up short but dry on 16.

23:16 – Westwood makes back-to-back birdies down 14 and 15 and moves to 4-under. Has he left it too late?

23:12 – Mickelson for birdie on 18, from 10 feet…..and he’s made it! Much to the joy of the galleries who erupt. The American ends the day with a 66, 8-under and one off the lead.

23:10 – Watson makes a birdie on 15 to get to 5-under as Oosthuizen makes that clutch putt on 15 to stay two off the lead. McIlroy’s dreadful round continues as he almost finds water with his second on 15. Kuchar’s five foot par putt on 16 lips out and he drops to 4-under.

23:07 – Hanson taps in for birdie on 18 and that’s comfortably round of the week, a 65 for the Swede. Mickleson makes up for his tee shot by bending one into the heart at 18 and the galleries greet him as if he’s just given them all memberships at Augusta.

23:05 – The current scores on the door: -9 Hanson;-7Mickelson, Oosthuizen; -5 Kuchar, B Watson; -4Mahan, Harrington, Stenson, Crane, Dufner.

23:03 – Shot gone for Lawrie on 14 as Mickelson won’t be happy off the tee on the last. Kuchar grinds out his third straight par to remain 5-under as Oosthuizen comes up well short on 14. Watson on 15 and he’s on in two.

23:00 –Mickleson misses his putt to tie the lead with Hanson. The Swede, a hole ahead, stiffs it to a couple of feet, he’s got that for a two shot lead.

22:57 – Stenson pushes his par putt wide on 18, he’s in with a round of 70 and 4-under overall. Westwood ends up with a bogey to go to 2-under Mickleson is looking ominous up 17.

22:53 – Hanson takes outright lead on 8-underand what a way to do it, holing out from 30 foot.

22:50 – Mickelson makes a par on 16 as Ben Crane makes a long one on 15, his fourth birdie in a row, to put him 4-under. Westwood is having a nightmare at 13 and quite frankly, the less said the better…

Courtesy of deputy editor Mark Townsend @NCGmagazine Peter Hanson: once had breakfast and played a hole together. He had fruit and a par, I had a bacon sandwich and knifed one into some bund.

@NCGmagazine There will never be a more laid-back pairing in a Major than Couples and Dufner? Unless Cheech and Chong somehow get an invitation.

22:47 – Couples all over the flag at 12 and makes back-to-back birdies to move to 4-under and Stenson drains a tester for par at 17. Birdie on 13 for Lawrie, who is managing to just about hang in there.

22:43 – In case you’ve undoubtedly lost track, the leader board as it stands is: -7 Hanson, Mickelson, Oosthuizen; -5 Stenson, Kuchar; -4Mahan, Harrington, B Watson, Lawrie, Couples, Dufner.

22:35 –That birdie from Mickleson makes it a three way lead again on 7-under. Bubba hits back from bogey at 11 with birdie at 13 to get back to 4-under.

@KeithPreece That was no chip, just pure genius lob perfection !!!!

21:30 – Mickleson does what only he can do at 15. Only way to describe it is magical. Up-and-down he is the best the game has ever seen. Surely?

@NCGmagazine Lots of players still complaining about mud balls. Isn’t preferred lies the fairest solution?

@ANorrby can’t believe BBC think its ok to give post round interview job to vaughn etc

Got to agree Andrew, he’s done some work with Sky but they should give it to a golf specialist. I’d give my left testicle to be there at Augusta!

21:25 – Back on the course and Westwood leaves it on the trap on 12 and makes a 4. Hanson rolls in a birdie putt on 15 and takes the outright lead on 7-under. Oosthuizen parachutes in to within a about two feet on the par 3 12th, while Kuchar lips out and slips to 5-under. Dufner misses a sitter on 10 to drop back to 3-under, McIlroy is 7-over for 11 holes but makes a two on 12.

@plantgolfrview the feed maybe behind but the banter/commentary is timeless #TheMasters #golf

@NCGmagazine Mickelson – since that 7 and search in the cabbage patch he has had 11 birdies, three bogeys and an eagle. No dropped shot for 21 holes.

21:12 – Lawrie for birdie, all across the 11th, and that’s pretty good from there. He taps in to stay 3-under. Westwood saves from 12 feet on the 10th, while Oosthuizen taps in for par to stay 6-under.

@Hackney1968 I’ll be dressing in the dark in the morning if I can play like that!!!! #awesome

Tweets raining in from all sides, alongside a thunderstorm of birdies so apologies for the slight delay. Some outrageous outfits out their today the hot topic amongst our tweeters. I prefer the classical look that Mr Donald usually typifies, not today though in his lime green number…

@NCGmagazine Mickelson disembarks the birdie train. And immediately heads to Platform Eagle to pick up an express connection.

22:03 – Peter Hanson stiffs it to within a few feet on 14, McIlroy’s par putt very nearly horseshoes out on 10, before deciding to dro. Co-leader and local boy Kuchar escapes the sand on 12 safely.

22:00 – No wonder Mickelson looked confident. He’s only gone and rattled in an to join the lead. Kuchar’s birdie effort at 11 just misses, he stays joint leader with Oosthuizen. Sean O’Hair moves to 4-under courtesy of birdie at 15.

@Spookyfish Bubba’s outfit it’s for charity I believe

21:55– Kuchar on 11 and he clips his second onto the front of the dancefloor. Paul Lawrie tickles in a tricky par putt on 10. Stenson lets one go at 14, the Swede back to 3-under.

21:50 – Harrington makes birdie on 18, the Dubliner in with a 68 and a share of the clubhouse lead with Mahan. Couples birdies the 8th to get back to 2-under.

@NCGmagazine Why has Bubba looked like he’s come straight from bowling left-arm over in colombo all week? Could be worse, he could be dressed like Mahan.

21:47 – Westwood with a complete misread on 9, before missing from a foot! He drops to 3-under.

21:45 – Mahan narrowly misses out on birdie at 18, ending up with a 68 and the clubhouse lead on 4-under. Westwood knocks it to 10 foot on the 9th for birdie. Mickelson looks confident on 13, he should be at -58 for this par-five over his career

@NCGmagazine Mickelson on the birdie train. This might just get exciting.

21:42 – Mahan skips his second onto the 18th as Francesco Molinari’s par putt at the last horseshoes out, leaving him on 2-under overall. Shot gone for Stenson after a poor chip at the par 5 13th. Mickleson’s round is lighting up with a long putt on 12 to move to within two of the lead.

21:47 – Westwood with a complete misread on 9, before missing from a foot! He drops to 3-under.

@NCGmagazine Mickelson on the birdie train. This might just get exciting.

@charlieb29 big names nowhere to be seen ? #leewestwood !!!

21:33 – Dufner goes tugs his second on 8 and pitches. Rose ends his nightmare final few holes with a three putt at 18.

21:30 – Mickelson makes par on 11 to stays 3-under. Peter Hanson birdies the 12th from six feet to move one off the lead. Oosthuizen makes it three on the spin to join Kuchar atop the leader board

@NCGmagazine Anyone else finding this to be an anti-climax? The much-hyped Rory-Tiger showdown never materialised and big names nowhere to be seen.

20:27 – F Molinari is in trouble from 18… McIlroy can only make par on the par-five 8th, that will feel like another shot gone. Dufner for par from 12 feet on 7… he gets it. Hunter Mahan makes his par from 10 feet on 17

21:20 – Dufner struggles at 7. Freddie Jacobsen of Sweden makes birdie at 16 to move into that dogfight at three under…

@NCGmagazine Just seen Tiger’s post-round interview. When asked about going low tomorrow he didn’t seem even slightly confident.

21:16 – The leaderboard is changing every second! Current leaders are now Henrik Stenson, Kuchar and Louis Oosthuizen at -5. Meanwhile on 17, Rose goes wild and right as the wheels continue to well and truly are fall off his wagon.

@NCGmagazine Rory +5 on the front nine. Has two doubles. Is that his chance gone? Rory +5 on the front nine. Has two doubles. Is that his chance gone?

21:13 – Mickleson makes his putt on the 10th to start the back nine with a bang, but Lee Westwood makes a bogey to slip off the lead.

21:10 – A hat-trick of birdies for Padraig Harrington at 13, 14 and 15 sees the Irishman move to just three off the pace. While Jim Furyk holes a beauty on 13 to get to 3-under.

21:06 – Mickleson opened his third round with nine straight pars but has round could now spark into life as his puts stiffs a long approach. The McIlroy-Garcia pairing may has well have not bothered, Garcia is now 4-over for the day with McIlroy one worse.

21:00 – Rose strikes his long putt up the hill on 16… only to see it roll back to his feet, where he then three puuts from for a scorecard wrecking double bogey.

@NCGmagazine Love the sound of Peter Hanson’s iron shots. Must be up there with the best ball strikers in Europe.

20:56 – Rose leaves a lengthy two putt at 16, while co-leader Dufner follows Westwood’s lead on 6 and knocks it close.

20:53 – Kuchar birdies the 7th to join the leaders, while Westwood fails to make the most of a close approach at the par 3 6th.

20:48 – Rose can’t make his up-and-down and bogeys 15. Conditions at Augusta look favourable, with only the lightest of breezes, but the overnight leaders appear to be falling apart. McIlroy and Garcia are both 3-over for the day and Couples is 2-over and just played an awful second to the 5th.

20:43 – On the par-three fourth, Dufner’s putt breaks left to right and slides past the hole to see him return to 5-under. Meanwhile, Watson birdies the 6th to go to 3-under.

20:40 – Agony for Rose, he hits a seemingly beautiful shot over the water into 15, only to see it stop for a few seconds and trickle back into the water. He’ll now have an up-and-down to save his par.

20:35 – Are we on the verge of anothr McIlroy meltdown? The youngster adds another bogey to his scorecard to fall to 1-under.

20:30 – Rose hits a fine shot into the 14th and curls a five-footer into the cup to move to 4-under.

20:27 – Snedeker bogeys the last but still must be happy with the clubhouse lead after a fine 68.

20:25 – Dufner moves into the outright lead with a birdie at the 2nd. The American has come close in a major before, losing last year’s US PGA to Keegan Bradley in a play-off.

20:22 – Couples drops another shot at the 2nd and he’s back on 3-under. There, he’s joined by Sean O’Hair, who’s birdied the 8th, and Jim Furyk, who’s birdied the 9th.

@NCGmagazine Poulter out in 36. Sound a bit boring? Parred 1st, then went birdie-birdie-bogey-bogey-birdie-birdie-bogey-bogey.Unlikely to birdie 10&11

20:16 – Rose can only par 13 but Francesco Molinari goes one better at the same hole to move 3-under and into tied-6th. Kuchar, one off the lead, attacks the fifth green and will have a chance for birdie and a share of the lead. Sergio has dropped another shot at the 3rd and is back to 2-under. Lefty Mickelson is still parring everything.

20:10 – Harrington has missed his putt on 12, but on the bright side Westwood has moved into a share of the lead with a birdie at the 2nd. As it currently stands we have: -5 Westwood , Dufner; -4 Couples, Kuchar, Oosthuizen; -3 Rose, Stenson, B Watson, Garcia, O’Hair;

20:05 – Hunter Mahan sinks a monster at 12 for birdie to join that huge group on 2-under. Matt Kuchar, birdies the par 3 4th to move to 4-under. Brandt Snedeker is so far 5-under through 17, with the best round of the day. Harrington’s tee shot at the 12th is a peach, leaving him just below the hole with an excellent chance of a two.

20:01 – Rose has navigated the 12th safely and found the light rough on the par 5 13th. Overnight leader Couples has not had the best of starts though, bogeying the 1st to leave Dufner alone atop the leader board.

19:58 – Brandt Snedeker birdies the 16th to become the ninth player on 2-under, three off the lead. Jason Dufner and Fred Couples, our leaders, are also finally under way.

19:52 – Westwood makes a par at the first while one Tiger Woods finishes up with a level par 72 to remain 3-over and surely out of the running. Can he come back? Have your say at @jake0reilly #ncgmasters.

19:49 – Miguel Angel Jimenez makes an indifferent start to his round, with a birdie at the 2nd appeasing for a dropped shot at the 1st.

19:47 – Rose makes his par down 11. Thing haven’t gone so well today for world number one Luke Donald, who ends the day at 7-over. He said: ‘I’ve not played that badly. I’ve driven it as well as ever here. My irons haven’t been sharp enough, or my short game.’

19:44 – From the needles McIlroy punches a good-looking shot under the branches but it doesn’t hold the green and he ends up with a double. Garcia also makes a hash of the 1st and walks off with a bogey 5..

19:41 – Rose meanwhile pars the 10th, and finds the 11th fairway. Veteran Phil Mickleson has safely pared each of the opening three holes.

19:40 – Sergio Garcia & Rory McIlroy are both wayward off the 1st. The Spaniard goes left into the sand before finding the green, while the Northern Irishman goes right into the pines.

19:33 – He was probably the least fancied of the Brits this week but Justin Rose is off to a stormer in Georgia. The Englishman has just moved to two off the lead after his third consecutive birdie.

23:48 – McIlroy almost gets a reprieve at 18, inches away from holing out from the fairway for eagle. He settles for birdie and a 77 total, while playing partner Garcia is two better with a 75.