Golf: Masters contenders set for Sunday drama

Golf: Masters contenders set for Sunday drama

AUGUSTA, United States - The 78th Masters will be decided on Sunday with every indication that the drama and suspense will once again be at a premium under the Georgia pines at Augusta National.

The lead, at five under 211, is shared by former winner Bubba Watson and his 20-year-old rookie American compatriot Jordan Spieth.

But there are 13 players under par all grouped within five strokes and anyone of those could be wearing the green jacket come Sunday evening.

Here are the main candidates for Masters glory this year:

211 - Jordan Spieth (USA): The history books await him. If he wins he becomes the youngest Masters winner of all time at 20, surpassing Tiger Woods, who was seven months older when he won his first major in 1997.

- Bubba Watson (USA): The winner in 2012 has bounded back to form this year after admitting that he was knocked off kilter by his green jacket triumph. Never had a golf lesson in his life. He is a huge crowd pleaser.

212 - Matt Kuchar (USA): Long seen as a major winner, Kuchar has come close before at Augusta National in 2011 and last year. An opening 73 was followed by a 71 and then a 68. If he continues on that trajectory he should win.

- Jonas Blixt (SWE): No Swedish man has ever won a major and few would have put the unheralded Blixt in with any chance of breaking that duck before this year's tournament. But has been fearless in play so far and has a huge chance of making history.

213 - Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP): At 50, he would be the oldest Masters winner of all-time, supplanting Jack Nicklaus, who was 46 when he won the last of his 18 majors in 1986. He would also be the oldest winner ever of a major title.

- Rickie Fowler (USA): The former Walker Cup standout has been flattering to deceive for a few years. Now is the time for him to step forward and deliver, especially after a third round of 67 that propelled him into contention.

214 - Lee Westwood (ENG): A total of 63 majors and no titles is the most of any active player for the Ryder Cup stalwart. He has the game from tee to green, but can his - at times - suspect short game survive the pressures of the back nine on Sunday afternoon at the Masters?

- Jim Furyk (USA): A major winner in the 2003 US Open, the taciturn Furyk has come close several times to winning a second but always came up short, most recently at last year's PGA Championship.

- Thomas Bjorn (DEN): Enjoying a new lease on life at age 43, the Dane, over the course of his career, has three runner-up finishes in majors. Could this be the moment for him to become the first Scandinavian player to win a major?

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