Westwood Holds Masters Lead

Professional golf is rife with stories of third-round leaders spending nauseating, sleepless nights before heading out to the course for the final 18 holes.

On the eve of the 2010 Masters tournament's final round, it's not difficult to imagine Lee Westwood heading for one of those nights.

There's a lot that could be riding on the Englishman's nerves.

For starters, he's held the overnight lead in a major golf tournament only once before - on Friday. That night, he shared the 36-hole lead with countryman Ian Poulter at 8-under-par 136.

Then, during Saturday's third round, Poulter came back to the pack after a 2-over 74. But Westwood stayed solid, carding his third consecutive round in the 60s with a 4-under 68, good for a 12-under 204 total and a one-shot lead.

Also giving Westwood reason for concern - the players congregated just behind him on the leaderboard.

One stroke back is Phil Mickelson, he of the two green jackets and a fan favorite on the PGA Tour. And tied for third place, three more strokes back, is Tiger Woods, he of the four green jackets, 14 major titles and immeasurable intimidation.

In new territory with two of golf's giants lurking behind him on the leaderboard? Yeah, Westwood's got a few things to think about before teeing off on Sunday.

Working in his favor, though, is the momentum he built during Saturday's third round.

Westwood carded just one bogey on the day - on the par-3 12th hole - in an otherwise smooth round. He turned in three birdies in the first eight holes, and followed his lone bogey with back-to-back pars, a birdie and three consecutive pars to close out his round.

Woods' finish Saturday was a bit more of a rollercoaster.

The world's No. 1 golfer, who took nearly five full months away from the game while dealing with personal issues that stemmed from revelations of extramarital affairs, is playing in his first tournament of the 2010 season.

He's back in his usual spot - in contention heading into the final round at Augusta National - but he had to scramble Saturday to get there.

After turning in just four bogeys total over the first 36 holes, Woods had five on Saturday, including three in a stretch of four holes on the front nine, when he became visibly upset with his play.

After opening with birdies on two of the first three holes, Woods bogeyed the par-3 fourth hole, the par-3 sixth and the par-4 seventh to wind up 1-over through seven holes. After errant shots on each hole, Woods shouted expletives that were audible on the CBS television broadcast.

The golfer, who has promised to clean up his language and show a more positive demeanor on the course, apologized after his round.

"I was playing as hard as I could and my emotions got the best of me," he told ESPN.

Two more bogeys followed on the back nine, but Woods countered those with four birdies, including three in a row on holes 13, 14 and 15.

In all, he finished the round with seven birdies, six pars and five bogeys for a 2-under 70 to sit four strokes behind Westwood.

Tied with Woods at 8-under was playing partner K.J. Choi, and Fred Couples was another stroke back at 7-under.

Third-round leaders:
Lee Westwood 67-69-68-204
Phil Mickelson 67-71-67-205
K.J. Choi 67-71-70-208
Tiger Woods 68-70-70-208
Fred Couples 66-75-68-209

Sources:
The 2010 Masters Tournament - Leaderboard, PGA Tour
Bob Harig, The Masters: Tiger Woods scrambles on Saturday to stay in contention, ESPN