He’s Five Back, but Woods Still Likes Chances

He had five birdies, four bogeys and one double bogey and Woods felt like somebody who just got away with something big.

“Today was one of the best 72s I’ve ever played,” Woods said. “I’m proud of the way I hung in there.”

After six holes, Woods was four over par for the day, but had birdies at No. 8 and No. 9 to get a couple of shots back.

He dropped one when he bogeyed the 10th, but birdied 12, 13 and 15, then bogeyed the 17th.

“I’m confident,” Woods said. “If I can get things rolling, execute some shots. . . .”

The defending champion begins the fourth round five shots behind Fred Couples.

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Matt Kuchar shot a four-under 68 Saturday, so maybe the 19-year-old amateur from Georgia Tech needs to start working on a way to react to all the applause he’s getting at his first Masters.

“I haven’t thought of a calling card wave yet or something like that,” Kuchar said. “I’m still trying to figure out what I should do.”

Kuchar, the U.S. Amateur champion who walked the course virtually unnoticed and watched some golf before his first-round pairing with Woods, is at even-par 216 after 54 holes with rounds of 72-76-68.

“I knew it was hard for a pro to make it to the Masters and here I am a 19-year-old amateur playing here. It’s been terrific.”

Kuchar’s 32 on the front tied a record for amateurs, held by Billy Joe Patton in 1954, Ken Venturi in 1956 and Ben Crenshaw in 1973.

At least one pro has been greatly impressed with Kuchar, for his ability to eat. Davis Love II said he caught Kuchar’s eating act last month at the Bay Hill Invitational in Orlando, Fla., and had to shake his head.

“He ate a lot,” Love said.

Kuchar said the touring pros get spoiled.

“I went to Bay Hill and they have the most wonderful buffet you could imagine. So I had to take advantage of it.”

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For what it’s worth: Love’s eagle on the 17th hole was only the third Masters eagle on that hole.

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Woods’ three-putt on the first hole was his first three-putt in his last 113 holes at the Masters.

Ben Crenshaw didn’t have a three-putt in 1995 when he won, Nick Faldo had one when he won in 1996.

Couples already has four three-putts.

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Looking back, the last time Jack Nicklaus was in contention at the Masters was in 1990 when he began the fourth round five shots behind Raymond Floyd. Nicklaus closed with a 74 and finished sixth.

In 1986, when he won his sixth Masters, Nicklaus began the fourth round tied for ninth, four shots behind Greg Norman.

Nicklaus’ round of 70 put him at one-under 215 after 54 holes, five shots behind Couples.

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Obscure fact of the day: For the 62nd time in 62 years of the Masters, no one will finish the tournament with all four rounds in the 60s. It’s the only major with that distinction.