AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, April 12: Fred Couples withstood a host of American rivals seeking their first major title to take a two-stroke lead into Sunday's final round of the 62nd Masters. But the 1992 champion here at Augusta National Golf Club was far from comfortable as a dozen others moved within five strokes, threatening to make the Easter final far more tense than the American veteran wants.A last-hole bogey put Couples at one-under par 71 for Saturday's third round and six-under par 210 through 54 holes at the year's first major. It was a disappointment despite an eagle on the 13th hole.
Couples, whose father died of leukemia last November, could be the first to lead all four rounds here since Ray Floyd in 1976. "This is extremely big. It's like the seventh game of the National Basketball Association championship. There will be a lot of people trying to beat me and I'm all for it. I can't wait," said Couples.
Neither can such challengers as defending champion Tiger Woods. "People behind Freddie willhave to make birdies. He is playing real well rightnow," said Woods, who enters Sunday five strokes off the pace.
Phil Mickelson shared the lead at one point, but bogeys on the final two holes dropped him to 69 and a share of second with fellow Americans Paul Azinger and Mark O'Meara at 212.
Jim Furyk and David Duval were another stroke back while Scott Hoch, Jay Haas and Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal, the 1994 winner here and top non-American in the field, finished at 214.
Mickelson came as close as third here in 1996 and in the 1994 PGA Championship. Haas, 45, has won no title in five years and never a major. Furyk, a sixth-year pro, was fourth last year at the British Open for his top major result. Duval has never cracked a major top-10. Hoch blew his best chance here in 1989, missing a two and a half foot putt and losing a playoff to England's Nick Faldo.
O'Meara, whose 68 was his lowest weekend round in 15 Masters appearances, has three third-place major finishes, twice at the British Open and onceat the US Open.
Woods fired his second consecutive par 72 to join Montgomerie, Els and Nicklaus in sharing 10th at one-under 215. "Today was probably one of the best 72s I have ever shot," Woods said.
Scores after 54 holes:
210 - Fred Couples 69-70-71; 212 - Mark O'Meara 74-70-68, Paul Azinger 71-72-69, Phil Mickelson 74-69-69; 213 - Jim Furyk 76-70-67, David Duval 71-68-74; 214 - Jose Maria Olazabal (Spa) 70-73-71, Jay Haas 72-71-71, Scott Hoch 70-71-73; 215 - Colin Montgomerie (Gbr) 71-75-69, Jack Nicklaus 73-72-70, Ernie Els (Rsa)75-70-70, Tiger Woods 71-72-72; 216 - Davis Love 74-75-67, Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe) 74-75-67, Darren Clarke (IrL) 76-73-67, Matt Kuchar 72-76-68, Justin Leonard 74-73-69, Scott McCarron 73-71-72; 217 - Mark Calcavecchia 74-74-69, Jeff Maggert 72-73-72, Ian Woosnam (Gbr) 74-71-72; 218 - Willie Wood 74-74-70, John Huston 77-71-70, Brad Faxon 73-74-71; 219 - Stewart Cink 74-76-69, John Daly 77-71-71, Michael Bradley 73-74-72, DavidToms 75-72-72, David Frost (Rsa) 72-73-74; 220- Craig Stadler 79-68-73, Andrew Magee 74-72-74, Fuzzy Zoeller 71-74-75, Steve Jones 75-70-75; 221 - Steve Elkington (Aus) 75-75-71, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 75-73-73, Tom Kite 73-74-74; 222 - Corey Pavin 73-77-72, Paul Stankowski 70-80-72, Lee Westwood (Gbr) 74-76-72, Lee Janzen 76-74-72, Bernhard Langer (Ger) 75-73-74, John Cook 75-73-74; 224 - Phil Blackmar 71-78-75; 226 - Joel Kribel 74-76-76; 227 - Gary Player (Rsa) 77-72-78.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
