Gwinnett Daily Post

AUGUSTA — Around the green on No. 9, suddenly the crowd rallied around Matt Kuchar.

The Georgia Tech graduate ran in putt from about 20-feet for his third birdie of the day going out 3-under and taking a share of the third-round lead at the Masters.

Kuchar, playing in his sixth Masters, got a big smile on his face when the putt dropped and the growing crowd at the midway point erupted, many shouting “Kuch” as he acknowledged the support.

At 6-under for the tournament, Kuchar is tied for the lead with Louis Oosthuizen, who played the front nine 2-under, and a red-hot Phil Mickelson who just eagled No. 13 and is 4-under on his round.

Peter Hanson is a stroke back, but charging. The Swede is 3-under through 13 holes.

Both overnight leaders, Jason Dufner and Fred Couples, have fallen hard earlier in their rounds Saturday. Couples has lost three strokes, starting the day with a two straight bogeys before taking a double on No. 5. Dufner is 1-over on the day with bogeys on Nos. 4 and 6.