Anirban Lahiri struggles, Spieth cruises

Anirban Lahiri's struggles on the Augusta National greens continued even though some elements of his game showed a noticeable improvement in the third round of the Masters. Three more three-putts meant he was able to come only with a two-over 74 that took his total to four-over 220 and kept him pegged in tied 50th, where he had been at the end of the second round.

Yet Lahiri was staying positive. "I am learning each round and that is what my biggest takeaway is going to be. Sure I would have loved to move up, score better, but if not, at least let me learn for future trips to Augusta."

Lahiri was solid and, by his own admission, he played better than the second day, but as many as three three-putts and some below-par putting did him in.

"I have three-putted a few times and missed real short ones this week and that has hurt," admitted Lahiri, who had found about 58% fairways and reached the greens in regulation close to 63 per cent of the times.

Lahiri, who was down to just 50% in terms of fairways found, went up to 65 per cent on the third. "I managed to get that bit about going to left of the tee, but on the greens the ball just wouldn't fall. I played pretty good for the first six-and-a-half holes and then I hit one bad shot — my approach shot on the seventh hole. I left myself in a bad position in the bunker. Yet from there where I should have made a bogey, I made a double bogey. I went four feet past and missed my bogey putt, too.

"I did that three times and those were my dropped shots. After the double on seventh; on the 11th hole I was sitting on a 20-foot birdie, but I missed that and made a bogey. Then, on the 15th, I three-putted and missed a chance for a birdie. Those were the big disappointments for me in the third round."

Talking of his putting, Lahiri said, "I was energised after making the cut after battling it out in the second round. But this frustration of nothing happening on the green was getting to me. The ball just would not go into the hole."

On the top end of the leaderboard, World No. 4 Jordan Spieth said his younger sister Ellie, a special needs teenager, was his inspiration. The American soldiered on towards his first Major after being a close second here last year.

He has been incredibly consistent and won three times since the last week of November — Australian Open, Hero World Challenge and the Valspar Championships. His last three starts have seen him finish first (Valspar), second (Texas Open) and tied second (Houston Open).

After opening with 64-66, he stayed in front and, at one stage, went to a record 18-under. He dropped a double bogey on the 17th, but still finished with a 70 that put him at 16-under 200.

Spieth, only 21, had just one bogey in his 39 holes, but then had three bogeys and one double on Saturday. He has also had 22 birdies in 54 holes.

Chasing him was Justin Rose (67), who had a brilliant 31 on the back nine after a sedate 36 on the front stretch. Phil Mickelson (67) lighted up his own game and the crowd with a 67, that looked like being even lower, but at 11-under, he is third and one ahead of Charlie Hoffman (72) at 10-under.

But the pair that was trying to really catch up with Spieth didn't manage as much as both Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy shot 68 each. They rose to tied sixth, 10 behind the leader, but their pairing for the final day will ensure a packed house, as will the expectations of Spieth's maiden Major win.