AUGUSTA - Swede Peter Hanson stole the lead, Phil Mickelson made a trademark Augusta charge and Australia's hopes floundered in the third round of the Masters.
Despite starting with a bogey, Hanson threw up an impressive seven-under par 65 to move to nine-under par for the tournament, one clear of American Mickelson and South African Louis Oosthuzen. Three-time Masters champion Mickelson set the back nine alight with a six-under 30 helping him to a 66 and an eight under total where he was joined by the 2010 British Open champion Oosthuizen who carded a 68.
While the roars were many and deserved, perhaps the biggest came at the 15th when Mickelson played a ridiculously risky flop shot from behind the green and then made a putt for birdie to continue his charge.
American Bubba Watson (70) is fourth at six under par while countryman Matt Kuchar (70) is fifth at five under. Mickelson is gunning for a fourth green jacket which would tie Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods and only trail Jack Nicklaus (six).
Despite being tied fifth after five holes on Saturday, Aaron Baddeley crashed to a 77 and a tie for 38th at three-over par, leaving Geoff Ogilvy as the leading Australian at one-over in a tie for 27th.
But being 10 strokes back basically solidifies another year without a green jacket for Australia, taking the winless streak to 76 attempts.
Baddeley made a nice 10-foot birdie putt on the second before the fifth hole looked to get the better of him.
After a triple bogey on the hole on Saturday Baddeley appeared headed for another big number when his 10 metre birdie putt up a huge ridge with a double break was short and rolled all the way back to his feet.
Adam Scott, the only other remaining Australian finished at two-over in a tie for 32nd while Tiger Woods (72) joined Baddeley at three-over.