Sergio Garcia has rallied to tie Justin Rose for the lead with three holes remaining at the Masters.
And it's a big part of Augusta National, which could prove to be the ultimate challenge. Sergio Garcia, who started the round tied for first, was tied with Spieth halfway through the round.
That won't make it any less exhausting, not with 15 players separated by only five shots. Suddenly, this Masters took on a sad, if familiar cast.
Nick Faldo, three-time Masters champion, has one theory. Instead of folding up this time, Garcia made a decision to fight back. "I'm still within five of the lead going into the weekend with better conditions on the way. I didn't know going into my first one if I would have five chances in my life", Spieth said. Thomas Pieters and Charl Schwartzel are also at 5 under.
England's Rose shot 67 and Garcia hit 70 to reach six under and overhaul long-time breakaway Charley Hoffman, who fell out of the lead for the first time since Thursday with a double bogey via the water at the 16th. It settled 30 feet from the flag and Spieth two-putted for his next-to-last birdie of the day, the highlight of a sparkling 68 that left him two shots off the lead heading into the final round.
"It all happened for me on the last eight holes really and the patience I showed on the front nine was pretty key to doing well on the back nine", Rose said.
The decision seems to have paid off for the 2013 U.S. Open champion as he is in prime position to grab his second major title. But there were questions about the mutual respect between the long-time rivals. "It feels like I'm right where I'm supposed to be".
Victory sees Garcia become the third Spanish victor of the Green Jacket, following on from Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal, with the 37-year-old delighted to finally win a major. "Just things began to click and I had my run".
"The most important thing is I knew where I stood", Garcia said. "It felt like a little bit of a drama maybe, but obviously with a happy ending".
He will be forced to wait for another chance to win the one Major title that eludes him as he looks to become the first European to complete the career "Grand Slam".
Spain pays homage to Masters victor , Sergio Garcia
You know about the meltdown when he kicked a sign and threw one of his shoes in a tantrum over a ruling in a European Tour event. Garcia bogeyed 10, bogeyed 11, and, already down two strokes, bounced his drive off a tree and into the bushes on 13.
"If someone has made a birdie or eagle on the back nine the leaderboard changes and everyone reacts to that, so you have to focus on yourself and block it out".
Arnie, of course, is Arnold Palmer, a four-time Masters champion whose death last June has occasioned memorials at almost every stop where golfers have gathered since.
- Jordan Spieth's mastery of Augusta National - he finished second, first and second in his three previous appearances - never materialized this time around.
The 47-year-old South African was in last place, one behind Larry Mize. He ballooned to a 75 with five bogeys in a six-hole stretch.
Sergio Garcia's tee shot was even closer, curling back toward the pond before stopping 6 feet away.
"Those last couple putts, I had confidence in them", Spieth said.
The tie for 11th is the worst finish for Spieth in his four Masters starts. That's not surprising, as no one older than 46 has won the event.
- Like Garcia, long-hitting countryman Jon Rahm arrived at the Masters with plenty of buzz.
Australian Adam Scott, the 2013 champion, is poised at three under with 2011 victor Charl Schwartzel of South Africa one further back and England's Lee Westwood and debutant Thomas Pieters of Belgium the only other players under par at one under.
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