Woods Leads Masters, 18 Holes From History
April 7, 2001 6:53 pm EST

By Larry Fine

AUGUSTA (Reuters) - Tiger Woods charged into the Masters lead Saturday, shooting a four-under-par 68 to seize a one-stroke advantage and put himself 18 holes away from writing some more golf history.

Woods, who began the day two shots off the pace, birdied three holes in a row from the 13th as the other top contenders stumbled. He emerged with the lead in his bid to become the first player ever to win four professional majors in a row.

The 25-year-old Woods, the reigning U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship winner, stood at 12-under-par 204, one shot better than Phil Mickelson, with Mark Calcavecchia and Chris DiMarco another shot away.

"I made a couple of putts here and there but I didn't feel I did anything great," said Woods, who stayed just off the pace for most of the round with a string of pars before going on a birdie binge just as the other players started to wobble.

Mickelson double-bogeyed the par-4 14th, where he took a six after hitting his approach shot onto the green, against the collar.

Argentine Angel Cabrera, who briefly held the lead, doubled the par-5 15th after hitting his second shot in the water.

Double U.S. Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa, David Duval and Cabrera were tied at nine-under 207.

Woods will be trying to emulate Augusta National and Masters co-founder Bobby Jones, who swept the four major championships of his day -- the U.S. and British Amateurs and U.S. and British Opens -- for a 1930 grand slam.

The final round will be a showdown for the ages as world No. 1 Woods goes after golf's greatest modern day feat in a pairing with world No. 2 Mickelson, looking for his first major title.

Calcavecchia said anything can happen on Sunday.

"Tiger is a human being just like the rest of us and he's going to be out there nervous also," said Calcavecchia.

"However, he is the best in the world and he has that going for him, which is nice."

-- Anonymous, April 07, 2001

Answers

CopyPasteReporting...

keep yer pie-hole shut about my copy/paste from now on...

-- Anonymous, April 07, 2001

Asshole BOOB, there is an enormous difference between noting the Historic moment that could happen tomorrow and the endless, mindless cutting and pasting of drive........YOU specialize in. Have you tired of posting elsewhere or reading GICC, the repository of "your" kind of BULL SHIT.

EVEN JACK NICKLAUS NEVER DID WHAT MR. WOODS COULD DO TOMORROW. AND With the U.S. OPEN HE ENTERS A NEW LEVEL OF SPORTS ACHIEVEMENT.

You might also note that HE EARNS HIS MONEY WEEKLY with no Salary Cap set by Team Owners and must call penalties upon himself should he violate the rules in what must be one of the last remaining Pure Sports going.

-- Anonymous, April 07, 2001

gee cpr, i thought pushing your buttons would be more of a challenge...do you ever get up off of your fat ass and do anything important or meaningful?

-- Anonymous, April 07, 2001

BOOB, one thing I do is lift weights daily to stay in roughly the best condition I have been in 30 years. Disposing of pinheads like you requires very little mental energy.

-- Anonymous, April 07, 2001

whatever, dude....you obviously wouldn't make it to the final round of jeopardy...

-- Anonymous, April 07, 2001

-- Anonymous, April 08, 2001

DiMarco & Woods kickin ass. Couple of kids. Love it.

-- Anonymous, April 08, 2001

Carlos...

Phil Mickelson is almost as interesting a story as Woods. He stopped Tigers 19 tour streak when he (Woods) was leading after the 3 round. He is also the best golfer on the tour to never have won a major (Norman had that moniker a few years ago). Mickelson and Woods paired as the last group is going to make an exciting 4th round. As much as I'd like to see Tiger Woods win I'd like to see Phil Mickelson win for different reasons...I'll pick Phil Mickelson in a playoff tomorrow.

-- Anonymous, April 08, 2001

I like Phil but there are many reasons that he has not yet won a Major. Most of them will be on display tomorrow.

Tiger……….-18 Els…………-15

Phil………..-14

-- Anonymous, April 08, 2001