AUGUSTA, April 13: Jeff Maggert leads by two and Tiger Woods lurks just four strokes off the third-round pace at the U.S. Masters but the first of the year’s four majors remains wide open going into Sunday’s final round.

Seventeen players, including 10 major winners, are within six shots of Maggert’s lead and most of them fancy they have at least a chance of securing victory at Augusta National.

“I know I’ll be in striking distance for tomorrow,” 2001 U.S. PGA champion David Toms told reporters after firing a 70 to finish in a share of third place at two-under-par 214, level with Fiji’s Vijay Singh.

“I’ve had some good stretches this week but I have to gain momentum early tomorrow.

“My short game has hung in there, and you always have the short-game factor here at Augusta. The guys that bomb it maybe didn’t play that well today.”

Singh, the 2000 champion, was surprised he ended the third round just three shots off the lead after matching Toms with a two-under 70.

“Anybody within five or six (of the lead) has a chance tomorrow,” said the tall Fijian. “I’m surprised I’m only three back today, I thought it’d be more.

“The greens are still stopping pretty well and I’m looking forward to tomorrow. But it’ll be a tough day.”

Phil Mickelson, chasing his first career major in his 43rd start, believes he will need to shoot a round of 67 or better if he is to have a chance of winning on Sunday.

“Being within four shots come Sunday, I’m in striking distance,” said the left-hander after drawing level with Tiger Woods at one-under 215 with a level-par 72.

“My swing feels fine but I think it’ll take five or six under for me (to win).

“It’s going to be difficult to shoot five or six under but it’s doable.

“I had a lot of chances to go low today but some unsolid shots led to some birdies and some solid shots led to some bogeys.”

Twice former champion Jose Maria Olazabal, following rounds of 73, 71 and 71, is only four shots behind Maggert but knows he has to get his putter working early on Sunday.

“My game is not consistent and I need to play well tomorrow,” he said. “If I make a bunch of putts, I may have a chance.”

Leading third round scores (U.S. unless stated; a-denotes amateur):

211 Jeff Maggert 72 73 66

213 Mike Weir (Canada) 70 68 75

214 Vijay Singh (Fiji) 73 71 70, David Toms 71 73 70

215 Tiger Woods 76 73 66, Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain) 73 71 71, Phil Mickelson 73 70 72

216 Jim Furyk 73 72 71, Len Mattiace 73 74 69, Jonathan Byrd 74 71 71

217 Rich Beem 74 72 71, Mark O’Meara 76 71 70, Ernie Els (South Africa) 79 66 72, KJ Choi (South Korea) 76 69 72, Fred Couples 73 75 69, Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 70 75 72, Paul Lawrie (Britain) 72 72 73, a-Ricky Barnes 69 74 75

218 a-Hunter Mahan 73 72 73, Tim Clark (South Africa) 72 75 71, Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 76 71 71, Chris Riley 76 72 70

219 Phil Tataurangi (New Zealand) 75 70 74, Retief Goosen 73 74 72, Davis Love III 77 71 71, Scott Verplank 76 73 70

220 Rocco Mediate 73 74 73, Scott McCarron 77 71 72, Justin Rose (Britain) 73 76 71, Darren Clarke (Britain) 66 76 78

221 Charles Howell III 73 72 76, Sergio Garcia (Spain) 69 78 74, Bob Estes 76 71 74

222 Loren Roberts 74 72 76, Nick Faldo (Britain) 74 73 75, Craig Parry (Australia) 74 73 75, a-Ryan Moore 73 74 75, Shingo Katayama (Japan) 74 72 76, Billy Mayfair 75 70 77

223 Jeff Sluman 75 72 76, Robert Allenby (Australia) 76 73 74, Adam Scott (Australia) 77 72 74, Brad Faxon 73 71 79

225 Jerry Kelly 72 76 77, John Rollins 74 71 80

226 Kevin Sutherland 77 72 77, Kenny Perry 76 72 78, Pat Perez 74 73 79

227 Craig Stadler 76 73 78—Reuters