Golf News

Hanson takes one-shot lead into final round at Masters

By Peter Auf der Heyde Apr 7, 2012, 23:50 GMT

Augusta, Georgia - Peter Hanson takes a one-shot lead into Sunday's final round at the Masters after carding a seven-under 65 at Augusta National.

The Swede is on nine-under for the tournament and leads by one from Phil Mickelson. South African Louis Oosthuizen is third on seven-under, while Bubba Watson stands on six-under.

Hanson, who started Saturday's round on two-under, played his only bogey of the round on the first hole and never looked back as he had three birdies going out and followed up with five on the back nine.

The 34-year-old said that playing the first two rounds with Phil Mickelson had helped him a lot: 'It was a great experience playing with Phil, and I learnt a lot from him. I am sure I will have some difficulty in sleeping tonight, and all I want to do now is cook a meal with my family and then try to get as much rest as possible.'

Three-time champion Mickelson said that the most important moment for him occurred on Thursday when he was on the 10th.

'I knew I had to fight hard to stay in. I did not want to be too far behind. I wanted to leave myself in a position that if I got hot I could move up the leader board, and that is what happened,' he said.

'I am now really looking forward to playing in the last group on Sunday. There is nothing I like more than being in the last group at the Masters. It is the greatest thing in professional golf.'

Matt Kuchar is fifth on five-under, while Ireland's Padraig Harrington, Hunter Mahan and Henrik Stenson are tied for sixth on four-under.

Irishman Rory McIlroy, who was just one shot behind overnight leaders Jason Dufner and Fred Couples at the start of play, set the tone for his round on the opening hole as he played a double-bogey, and from there things just went downhill.

He bogeyed the fifth, played a two-over on the seventh and another bogey at the eighth to turn around on 42. He dropped a shot on the 11th but finally managed his first birdie on the 12th and added two more, but dropped another to finish on five-over for the day and one-over for the tournament.

McIlroy's playing partner Sergio Garcia of Spain likewise birdied the 12th, and the two hugged as they left the green.

'I think we both needed a hug on the 12th when we finally made our first birdie. If you can't laugh at yourself, whom can you laugh at?' McIlroy asked.

Garcia said that it was good playing with McIlroy: 'But we could not feed off each others' good energy as there was little of it. Our bad holes were really bad, and the good holes were just bad.'

On a day in which eight players held or shared in the lead, the overnight leaders Dufner and Couples found the going much tougher as they both fell behind.

They both played a three-over 75 on Saturday to stand at two-under for the tournament.

Earlier, pre-Masters favourite Tiger Woods lost his cool again as he struggled in the third round.

The four-time champion, who started the day on three-over, played just two birdies but also dropped two strokes as he shot an even par 72, which will leave him at least 11 behind the leaders at the end of the day.

Woods was visibly upset with his game, as he again threw a club to the ground in disgust after a poor shot.

He was particularly disappointed with the way he played the par-fives, where he traditionally picks up several shots. This time, he stands at just one-under for the six par-five holes over the three rounds.

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel had a disappointing three-over 75 for the day and, at six over for the tournament, will be too far behind the leaders to stand a chance to defend the title.

The final round of the Masters will be played Sunday.

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