Bubba Watson holds 2-shot lead heading to back nine

Seeking his second green jacket in three years, Bubba Watson enters the back nine of the Masters Tournament with a two-shot lead.

Watson, who opened the final round tied with Jordan Spieth, birdied Nos. 6, 8 and 9 and sits at 8-under. Spieth, trying to become the youngest Masters winner at age 20, led for most of the front nine but is now 6-under.

He birdied the par-5 second, then holed his bunker shot at No. 4 for birdie. After finding the greenside bunker at No. 5, Spieth bounced back in a big way. He fired his tee shot to 3 feet on No. 6 for birdie. At No. 7, Spieth trickled in a 12-foot downhill putt for another birdie to extend his lead to two.

Momentum switched in a hurry after Watson got up and down from the back of the green for birdie at the par-5 eighth. Spieth missed a 4-foot par putt on the hole. Spieth missed another 4-foot par putt at No. 9 after missing the green, while Watson rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt for the lead.

Jonas Blixt shot even on the front nine and is in third at 4-under.

Kuchar made double bogey on No. 4 after being tied for the lead at 6-under. He later ran into tree trouble at the ninth and made bogey to fall to 3-under, five off the lead.

Amateur Oliver Goss shot 75 to finish at 10-over. As the only amateur to survive the cut, he will receive the Silver Cup.