Spieth leads the Masters, but Langer's the headline

For the seventh successive round at Augusta, 22-year-old defending champion Jordan Spieth leads the Masters, by two, but the 58-year-old Bernhard Langer and 24-year-old rookie Smylie Kaufman have loomed in contention.

Langer, who won the coveted green jacket in 1985 and 1993, fired in a third round 70 that included six birdies and four bogeys in variable windy conditions and glassy greens, to be within three shots of Spieth.

Langer is defying the sands of time.

Not to be outdone, Kaufman in his Masters debut shot 69 with four birdies and a sole bogey – like Langer, brilliant golf in the conditions.

Let’s see how Kaufman fares tomorrow in the final group with Spieth – a huge honour for a rookie.

World No.1 Jason Day could so easily have been right in the mix, but Lady Luck wasn’t on his side with birdie putts resting in the jaw at 10 and 11, and three-putting from 10 feet at the 16th.

But there was one really bright moment. At the 14th, Day was deep in the trees off the tee. Somehow he managed to get his approach within 69 feet on the hole, and drilled in right in the front door for a spectacular birdie.

Day finished the day with a 71, including four birdies and three bogeys.

He played with Langer making it the current and original world No.1 in 1986, and the German was full of praise for the Australian in a post-round interview – “It was fun playing with Jason, he’s a fine young man.”

If Langer can win his third green jacket, he will be the oldest major champion by 10 years, beating Julius Boros’ 48 years when he won the 1968 PGA.

They were the highlights on moving day at the Masters, with the biggest disappointments being Rory McIlroy and Danny Lee.

The expected fireworks of Spieth and McIlroy playing in the final group didn’t eventuate.

There wasn’t a birdie on McIlroy’s card, carding a 77 with a double at 11, and three more bogeys to fall out of contention, five shots off the Spieth pace.

Lee started the day at 2-under and well in contention, but his moving day was in the wrong direction going out in 40 with a double, three bogeys and a birdie, but worse on the way home with five bogeys and two birdies for a 79.

But I’ve left Jordan Spieth until last, because he’s a truly remarkable golfer for one so young.

He had his problems off the tee, finding trees right and left on both nines, but his recovery powers are among the best of all time. Sure he doubled the 11th and 18th, and bogeyed two other holes, but he enjoyed four birdies in a round of 73 and that two-shot lead.

He will be mighty tough to beat tomorrow, especially if he finds fairways off the tee.

Masters leaderboard after three rounds:
4-under – Jordan Spieth.
2-under – Smylie Kaufman.
1-under – Bernhard Langer, Hideki Matsuyams.
Even – Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Danny Willett.
Plus 1 – Lee Westwood, Brandt Snedeker, Soren Kjeldsen.

Other Australians:
Plus 7 – Adam Scott.
Plus 13 – Cameron Smith.