By Geoff Long Apr 12, 2009, 0:41 GMT
Augusta, Georgia - American Kenny Perry and Argentina's Angel Cabrera broke free of the pack on Saturday to take a two-shot lead going into the final round of the Masters at Augusta.
Perry, who shared the lead with another American Chad Campbell at the halfway point, fired a 2-under-par 70 while Cabrera joined him on 11-under-par after a 69 to add to his two rounds of 68.
Campbell made a mess of two of the final three holes to drop back to 9-under, while former US Open champion Jim Furyk finished on 8-under and another American, Steve Stricker, was one shot further back.
But world No 1 Tiger Woods, chasing his 15th Major crown, and two-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson have it all to do after ending on 4-under-par.
Perry was the model of consistency for most of his round and he reached 12-under through 10 holes.
But the 48-year-old, looking for his first Major win, dropped shots on 11 and 12, and though he birdied 13, he could only par the last five holes to remain on 11-under-par.
Cabrera, on the other hand, picked up his game on the back nine to end with a 69 and tie for the lead going into the final day.
Campbell double-bogeyed the 16th hole and though he birdied the next, he finished with a bogey five to drop back to 9-under.
With the winner of 17 of the past 18 Masters having played in the final group on the Sunday, it is clear that Perry and Cabrera are in the box seat.
Those further back will have to produce something spectacular on the final day if they are to stand a chance, and they include both Woods and Mickelson.
Saturday is traditionally 'moving day' in a Major but Woods was moving in the wrong direction from the start after a horrible double-bogey at the first hole.
After driving into the trees on the left, Woods missed the green to the right of the first hole with his second shot.
The world No 1 would have been confident of getting up and down for par, but his chip was gathered up by a swale and he then three-putted, missing from around three feet to end up with a six.
Typically, though, he fought back and picked up four shots to end the day on 4-under, seven shots back, and at least in his own mind, still in the hunt.
'Today was as hard as I have ever fought,' Woods said.
'It was tough out there. I got off to a terrible start but I fought back and got myself back in it. Overall I wasn't quite comfortable and hopefully tomorrow I will have it. At least I'm in a position if I play a good round I'll be right there.'
Mickelson was less erratic but could only add one shot to his overnight total, leaving him alongside Woods on 4-under-par.
One man not quite so lucky, though, was Open and US PGA champion Padraig Harrington, whose chances of a third straight Major evaporated at the par-five ninth, where he took a nine.
To his immense credit, the Irishman bounced back to finish on 1-under-par, but his hopes of victory are gone.
'Obviously my chances went then,' Harrington said. 'These things happen in the game and you can't do much about it.
'I'm not really disappointed and I was not deflated at all. It was a 'so be it' sort of thing. I would not in any way say I have full control over my destiny.
'It wasn't to be. It's the nature of the game - my game any way. I'll build up to the US Open now.
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