Masters notebook: Tiger Woods' Grand Slam bid on life support at Augusta National

From WorldGolf.com News Services

The Grand Slam bid that Tiger Woods had said was "easily in reason" earlier this year isn't looking so easy now.

Woods enters the final round of the Masters Sunday alone in fifth place, six shots back of leader Trevor Immelman. The world's No. 1-ranked player has never come from behind in the final round to win in any of his 13 major tournament titles and has never overcome a deficit of more than five strokes after 54 holes in his professional career.

"I've got a lot of work to do tomorrow," Woods told reporters after his round Saturday. "Obviously with the conditions are supposed to be pretty blustery (Sunday) and a little cooler, again, you've got to hang in there and be patient out there because it doesn't take much to make a high number."

Woods kept himself in contention with a bogey-free round of 4-under-par 68. It marked the first time since 2005 that he has shot below 70 at Augusta National Golf Club.

Despite the good round, Woods was left wondering what might have been. He missed four consecutive putts of less than 15 feet on the front nine and failed to convert an eight-footer for birdie on the par-5 15th.

"This is the highest score I could have shot today," Woods said. "I hit the ball so well and I hit so many good putts that just skirted the hole. But, hey, I put myself right back in the tournament."

The last time a player overcame a six-shot deficit to win the Masters was in 1996 when Nick Faldo rallied to beat Greg Norman. Of course, Faldo needed a little help for Norman.

In 1956, Jackie Burke Jr. achieved the largest final-round Masters comeback when he overcame an eight-shot deficit. Burke was aided by Ken Venturi - then playing as an amateur - who shot a final-round 80.

Most likely, Woods will require a similar collapse from Immelman, or Brandt Snedeker, who is two strokes off the lead at 9 under. Steve Flesch is third at 8 under and Paul Casey is fourth at 7 under, two shots ahead of Woods.

"There's not as many guys ahead of me, but it all depends on obviously, what Trevor and Brandt do back there, how low they go," Woods said. "They have two par-5s they can reach, and 17 if you drive the ball in the fairway you're going to have a short iron in there.

"So hopefully I can stay within striking distance tomorrow and as of right now, I am. But a lot of it is depending upon what they do coming in."

Zach Johnson driving to defend

After a disappointing round of 76 on Friday that knocked Zach Johnson out of contention, the defending Masters champion bounced back with a 4-under 68 in the third round. He enters the final round in a nine-way tie for seventh place at 2-under 214.

"Well, Saturday is kind of that moving day as they say," Johnson said of his performance in his post-round press conference. "Somebody just asked me if I put a number in my head and I certainly didn't do that.

"I thought if I could post a good number, you never know where it would take me. You never know what this course will bring."

Phil Mickelson's surprising slide

With rain softening the course and creating some favorable scoring conditions Saturday at Augusta, Phil Mickelson endured a surprisingly difficult day.

The two-time Masters champion struggled with his control and hits putting on the way to a 3-over 75. That performance left "Lefty" nine shots off the pace and in a logjam at seventh place.

"I don't know where it really came from because I felt like I was hitting the ball well," Mickelson told reporters. "I was hitting some good putts. I don't know what happened.

"It was a disappointing day, obviously. I didn't play very well, and it was a day where there were some low scores out there. The greens were soft, the rain softened the course and I thought there were some low scores — I just didn't shoot one of them."

Mickelson wasn't alone. Ian Poulter also shot 75 in the third round to join Mickelson at 2-under 214 for the tournament.

Cinderella story

Of all the players in serious contention for the green jacket Sunday at the Masters, perhaps no one is more thrilled to be in the hunt than Steve Flesch.

After all, Flesch needed a pair of victories late in the 2007 PGA Tour season just to finish among the top 30 on the final money list an earn a Masters bid. Now, he's three shots off the pace with 18 holes to play.

"I have nothing to lose," Flesch told reporters. "Nobody expects Steve Flesch to do much in the Masters tournament, but I have a big heart and I'm a gritty competitor and I want to play well and I'm showing a few of my wares this week."

April 13, 2008