Spieth and Watson share Masters lead, John Senden 10th

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John Senden

The 20-year-old American continued his consistent showing at Augusta, carding a two-under 70 to move to the top of the leaderboard after the third round on Saturday.

Joining him at five under is 2012 champion Bubba Watson (74), who was left to lament a slow start and a bogey at the 16th hole.

Senden, who began the day in a tie for second, dropped four shots in his opening seven holes before closing his front nine with two birdies.

A bogey on the 18th saw him card a 75, which leaves him in a tie for 10th with Justin Rose, Kevin Stadler and Fred Couples.

Defending champion Adam Scott endured a nightmare third round as he carded four bogeys and a double bogey on his way to a 76 to be six shots off the pace.

Scott, who looks unlikely to take Woods' number one ranking, made yet another slow start, and was unable to recover this time around.

For the second day in a row, he dropped shots on the first, fourth and fifth holes.

Scott double-bogeyed the fourth, and while he managed three birdies without a blemish on the back nine on Friday, the 2013 champion was even-par on Saturday.

He finished with a double bogey, four bogeys and two birdies for his round.

Jason Day is one shot behind Scott at two over after a solid 70.

Just over three months shy of his 21st birthday, Spieth may well break Tiger Woods' record and become the youngest Masters champion.

Woods was 21 years, three months and 14 days old when he claimed the event in 1997 – by an amazing 12 shots – for the first of his 14 major wins.

Spieth has produced rounds of 71, 70 and 70 to start the Masters, and another similar showing could be enough on Sunday.

American Matt Kuchar (68) and Swede Jonas Blixt (71) are tied for third at four under, with several players still in the hunt.

Spieth, who claimed a PGA Tour win last year and is the world number 13, birdied the third and sixth holes – either side of his fourth-hole bogey.

A bogey at the 11th left him even-par for the round, but back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15 helped him into a share of the lead.

Spieth appeared set to be trailing Watson heading into the final round, but the left-hander – who bogeyed four of his first seven holes – dropped a shot at 16.

Locked at three under and in a tie for fifth are two players who surged into contention with strong rounds – Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez (66) and American Rickie Fowler (67).

Englishman Lee Westwood (70), American Jim Furyk (72) and Dane Thomas Bjorn (73) are a shot behind them.

Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (71) and Swede Henrik Stenson (74) appear too far back at three over.

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