Spieth, Watson tied after three rounds at 5-under

Jordan Spieth is one round away from becoming the youngest Masters champion.

Spieth carded 2-under-par 70 Saturday and is tied for the lead through 54 holes. With his 5-under 211 total, Spieth is tied with 2012 Masters champion Bubba Watson.

Spieth and Watson, who shot 74 in the third round, will be in the final pairing Sunday.

Matt Kuchar, bidding for his first major title, posted 68 and is tied for third place with Jonas Blixt (71) at 4-under. Miguel Angel Jimenez carded the day’s low score, 66, and is tied for fifth place at 3-under with Rickie Fowler (67). Lee Westwood (70), Jim Furyk (72) and Thomas Bjorn (73) are tied for seventh at 2-under 214.

Fred Couples, the 1992 Masters champion, shot 73 and is tied with reigning U.S. Open champion Justin Rose (69), John Senden (75) and Kevin Stadler (72) at 1-under 215.

Defending Masters champion Adam Scott bogeyed the first hole for the second day in a row and never got on track. Scott shot 76 and is at 1-over 217.

Rory McIlroy went off first with noncompeting marker Jeff Knox. McIlroy, who shot 71 and said he lost by one to Knox, is at 3-over 219.

Watson entered the day with a three-shot lead over John Senden. After making eagle at No. 2, Watson extended his lead to four. He struggled from there. After making bogey at No. 4, he three-putted the par-3 sixth hole for bogey – his first three-putt of the week – and added another bogey at No. 7. Later, he had another three-putt for par at No. 13.

Watson failed to get up and down from off the right of the green at No. 16, and the ensuing bogey dropped him into a three-way tie with Spieth and Blixt.

Spieth, 20, bidding to become the youngest Masters champion (Tiger Woods set the record at age 21 in 1997) and the first first-timer to win the tournament since 1979, birdied Nos. 14 and 15 and moved within a shot of the lead. He parred out and took the clubhouse lead.

Blixt bogeyed No. 17 and fell one shot off the pace.