2013 Masters: Aussies line up for green jacket

Adam Scott, Marc Leishman and Jason Day have positioned themselves for a shot at claiming Australia’s first ever green jacket  at the 2013 Masters.

2013 Masters scores (through three rounds)
-7 Brandt Snedeker Angel Cabrera
-6 Adam Scott Marc Leishman
-5 Jason Day
-4 Matt Kuchar
-3 Tim Clark Tiger Woods
-2 Rickie Fowler Steve Stricker Bernard Langer Lee Westwood Jim Furyk

American Brandt Snedeker and former Masters champion Angel Cabrera will form the final pairing at tomorrow’s final round of the 2013 Masters.

Video: Adam Scott, Marc Leishman and Jason Day post-round interviews

Australian golfers Adam Scott, Marc Leishman and Jason Day jostled for position around the top of the leaderboard all day and it wasn’t until the final two holes when they relinquished top position as Snedeker and Cabrera took the lead courtesy of some great birdies over the closing holes.

We are looking at a very interesting leaderboard, with the likes of Tiger Woods, Tim Clark and Lee Westwood still very much in the hunt for the green jacket. Perhaps the most amazing aspect of the leaderboard is the presence of two time Masters champion, Bernard Langer (1985, 1993).

So what about the Aussies? Do we dare to dream?

Adam Scott (-6)
Scott hasn’t been in the spotlight as much as Day and Leishman this week, but he has forged together three decent rounds of golf to find himself in the second to last group tomorrow, paired with Leishman.

Scott looked to be struggling with the putter as he made his way towards the back nine today. He three putted for the first time this week at the par-4 10th hole and two birdie putts slid to the right of the hole on the 11th and 12th. The long putter soon got hot with two good putts for birdie at 13, followed by a fantastic up and down for birdie at the 15th. Scott’s birdie at the difficult par-4 17th hole will give him huge confidence going into the final round.

Scott appears to be our best chance, especially if he makes a few decent putts over the opening nine holes.

Marc Leishman (-5)
Five birdies and five bogeys made up Marc Leishman’s round today. Like Friday, he fought hard to stay in the hunt. Leishman’s birdies at the 13th and 16th looked effortless but they were interleaved with a couple of three putts to be a couple of shots back.

It’s hard to know just how Leishman will go. Leishman looks capable of shooting a low score tomorrow and he is no stranger from coming from behind to win. He’s such a big hitter that you’d expect him to make birdies tomorrow on the par-5s, but can he keep the bogeys off his card?

Jason Day (-5)
Only Day’s final two holes marred what was otherwise a really solid day at Augusta. After making par on his first 12 holes, Day made birdie at the par-5 13th to assume outright lead for a short period before three putting the final two holes to drop two shots.

Day’s driving and putting (until that point) looked really solid and only his approach shots were sliding out right a little. If he can correct that, he can win this thing. I liked his attitude post round.

“I’ve got the opportunity to be the first Australian and obviously the opportunity to win my first major.” Day said.
Yes, if Day wins tomorrow, he’ll win more majors.

John Senden
Sendo must be feeling a little left out right now after shooting a pretty wild 3-over par round and see himself almost out of contention. He doesn’t have a lot to lose now and the lack of pressure could see Senden make a few early birdies to give himself a chance at a top-10 finish, and an automatic invitation next year.